Joe Larsen

San Antonio City Council closed meeting spurs debate on transparency, Texas law

2018-05-30T14:43:53-05:00

By Jan Ross Piedad Texas Public Radio Originally published May 24, 2018 Texas Public Radio's program "The Source" recently focused on the dispute sparked when the San Antonio City Council met behind closed doors to discuss whether the city should submit a bid to host the Republican National Convention in 2020. Joe Larsen, an attorney on the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas board, was one of the program's guests. See the full story and listen to the radio program at the link below. http://tpr.org/post/san-antonio-city-council-closed-door-meeting-spurs-debate-transparency-texas-law  

San Antonio City Council closed meeting spurs debate on transparency, Texas law2018-05-30T14:43:53-05:00

Calhoun Port Authority’s hiring of Farenthold could be illegal

2018-05-18T14:41:15-05:00

By Jessica Priest Victoria Advocate Originally published May 18, 2018 The Calhoun Port Authority apparently violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when it hired former Congressman Blake Farenthold as its lobbyist. The Victoria Advocate is investigating its legal options in challenging the May 9 action on behalf of the public. “This is one of the most clear-cut examples of a notice violation that I’ve ever seen,” said longtime media attorney Joe Larsen, who serves on the board of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. Larsen said the notice the port posted at the Calhoun County courthouse May 4 was too [...]

Calhoun Port Authority’s hiring of Farenthold could be illegal2018-05-18T14:41:15-05:00

Texas prison system stalls release of public information on executions

2018-02-15T14:08:16-06:00

By Jolie McCullough The Texas Tribune Originally published Feb. 15, 2018 The cloud of secrecy surrounding Texas executions has grown a little darker lately. After death penalty defense lawyers claimed the state’s first two executions of the year were botched because of old lethal injection drugs, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has stalled the release of public information regarding the state’s supply of lethal doses. Without providing a reason, the department told a Texas Tribune reporter last week that it would take an estimated 20 business days — until the day before the state’s next scheduled execution — to provide information on [...]

Texas prison system stalls release of public information on executions2018-02-15T14:08:16-06:00

Six current, ex-members of Pasadena economic development board indicted for private meetings

2018-01-25T14:48:26-06:00

By Brooke A. Lewis and Mark Collette Houston Chronicle Originally published Jan. 23, 2018, updated Jan. 24, 2018 Six current and former members of Pasadena's economic development board were indicted Tuesday by a grand jury for holding two private meetings in November 2016 with a contractor. Board members Ernesto Paredes and Emilio Carmona, former board President Roy Mease and ex-board members Brad Hance, Jackie Welch and Jim Harris were all indicted for violating the Texas Open Meetings Act, according to a news release from the Harris County District Attorney's Office. If convicted, the six could face one to six months in jail and [...]

Six current, ex-members of Pasadena economic development board indicted for private meetings2018-01-25T14:48:26-06:00

Texas cities mum on specifics of proposals to lure Amazon

2018-01-11T18:43:54-06:00

By Jamie Stengle Associated Press Originally published Jan. 11, 2018 DALLAS - While Texas cities vying to land Amazon’s second headquarters have been vocal about why they think they should win, they’ve resisted releasing copies of their proposals. Requests by The Associated Press for information related to the proposals were met with replies including arguments that such information can be kept secret because it would give an advantage to competitors. Some cities did release employees’ emails relating to the bids. A release of emails from Houston offered clues, including a draft of the proposal’s two-page executive summary that said it could [...]

Texas cities mum on specifics of proposals to lure Amazon2018-01-11T18:43:54-06:00
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