Joe Larsen

Texas Supreme Court ruling shields contract details

FOIFT2015-09-25T14:09:47-05:00

By Aman Batheja The Texas Tribune Originally published Sept. 25, 2015 Over the objections of Attorney General Ken Paxton's office, the Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling in June making it easier for private companies to keep secret details of their contracts with the state of Texas and local governments, a move that public information advocates warn is ripe for abuse. In a 7-1 opinion, the justices ordered Paxton's office to block the release of some information contained in a lease between Boeing and the Port Authority of San Antonio because the aerospace manufacturer said making the details public could prove [...]

Texas Supreme Court ruling shields contract detailsFOIFT2015-09-25T14:09:47-05:00

Abbott withholding records with Paxton’s blessing

FOIFT2015-08-26T15:08:38-05:00

By Jay Root The Texas Tribune Originally published Aug. 25, 2015 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently added his voice to the Republican uproar over Hillary Clinton’s email scandal, congratulating a GOP presidential hopeful for saying foreign countries know more about her electronic communications than the U.S. Congress does. But Abbott, too, often uses a private email address for official government business, and in many years as a state elected official has often decided less is more when it comes to disclosing the communications. He has argued recently, for instance, that he is a "member of the public" in order to shield [...]

Abbott withholding records with Paxton’s blessingFOIFT2015-08-26T15:08:38-05:00

AG’s office to rule on request for district attorney emails

FOIFT2015-08-10T14:27:40-05:00

By Kristen Mosbrucker The Monitor Originally published Aug. 7, 2015 EDINBURG — The Texas Attorney General’s office is set to decide whether or not Hidalgo County’s district attorney must release about 1,000 emails sent to and from Ricardo Rodriguez, the district attorney since Jan. 1. The Monitor filed a public information request May 26 under the Texas Public Information Act, that allows public access to information held by governmental agencies. The original request sought an electronic copy of all documentation related to communication including emails, text messages and phone calls made or received by Rodriguez and several of his staff members. [...]

AG’s office to rule on request for district attorney emailsFOIFT2015-08-10T14:27:40-05:00

Some Texas records now closed in wake of state Supreme Court ruling

FOIFT2015-07-30T16:56:46-05:00

By Steve Miller Texas Watchdog Originally published July 30, 2015 An economic development group in Fort Bend County is no longer subject to the state’s open records law in the wake of a game-changing state Supreme Court ruling in June. The Texas Attorney General Office’s open records division has ruled the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council is not a public body, reversing a ruling it made in March regarding the same group before the high court edict. The new AG ruling concludes that under the provisions of the Supreme Court decision, the Fort Bend council is not subject to open records because it has [...]

Some Texas records now closed in wake of state Supreme Court rulingFOIFT2015-07-30T16:56:46-05:00

Victoria County sheriff declines to release ex-deputy’s records in excessive force investigation

FOIFT2015-02-19T15:25:34-06:00

By Jessica Priest Victoria Advocate Originally published Feb. 17, 2015 The Victoria County Sheriff is refusing to release records about a former deputy under investigation for excessive use of force. Sheriff T. Michael O'Connor said Tuesday that he must consult an attorney before complying with the Victoria Advocate's open records request for the employment application and personnel file of former Sgt. Daniel Bettes. O'Connor also would not release the dashboard camera video of Bettes stopping a motorist Oct. 10 because it is being used in a Texas Ranger investigation. He said the video motivated the sheriff's office to take action against [...]

Victoria County sheriff declines to release ex-deputy’s records in excessive force investigationFOIFT2015-02-19T15:25:34-06:00

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