Kelley Shannon

City of Odessa commits to closed-door meeting reform after newspaper’s lawsuit

FOIFT2018-03-21T12:50:59-05:00

By Corey Paul Odessa American Originally published March 20, 2018 The Odessa City Council will start keeping audio recordings of all closed-door meetings instead of written summaries, making it easier for the public to hold the officials to account if future violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act seem apparent. The agreement stems from a settlement between the City of Odessa and the Odessa American in a lawsuit filed by the newspaper in June 2017. The suit alleged that the City Council violated the state open meetings law weeks earlier, when a majority voted to oust the head of the board [...]

City of Odessa commits to closed-door meeting reform after newspaper’s lawsuitFOIFT2018-03-21T12:50:59-05:00

Media law experts say arrest violated citizen journalist’s First Amendment rights

FOIFT2017-12-19T16:09:30-06:00

By Julia Wallace Laredo Morning Times Originally published Dec. 17, 2017 The recent arrest of Priscilla Villarreal, better known as the Facebook star/citizen journalist Lagordiloca, on misuse of information charges is novel, and potentially a violation of her First Amendment rights, according to several media law experts. Villarreal was charged Wednesday with two counts of misuse of information. Police said she received or solicited information from one of their own in order to obtain a benefit. The cop, a 19-year veteran, has been placed on administrative reassignment pending the outcome of internal and criminal investigations. Villarreal regularly received information about arrests, [...]

Media law experts say arrest violated citizen journalist’s First Amendment rightsFOIFT2017-12-19T16:09:30-06:00

Austin American-Statesman sues city of Austin over city manager secrecy

FOIFT2017-11-01T02:33:58-05:00

By Philip Jankowski and Elizabeth Findell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Oct. 31, 2017 The American-Statesman has sued the city of Austin after officials denied requests under the Texas Public Information Act to disclose the identities of finalists for city manager. The Statesman filed the suit Tuesday in a Travis County district court as the Austin City Council began the first of two days of interviewing finalists. The lawsuit seeks disclosure of the city manager candidates’ names. The Statesman has independently confirmed the identities of four of the candidates. “The residents of Austin will be paying the salary for a new city manager, [...]

Austin American-Statesman sues city of Austin over city manager secrecyFOIFT2017-11-01T02:33:58-05:00

Austin vs. Watauga? City claims competition to keep city manager candidates secret

FOIFT2017-10-30T16:34:04-05:00

By Elizabeth Findell Austin American-Statesman Originally published Oct. 27, 2017 Austin can’t allow the public to know who might become its next city manager because it’s in competition with Watauga, Sachse and other small Texas cities for the best candidates, an assistant city attorney argues in a letter to the Texas attorney general. Austin begins interviews Tuesday in its nationwide search to replace former City Manager Marc Ott, who resigned more than a year ago. In March, City Council members voted unanimously to try to keep candidates for the job — even finalists — secret until they make a final decision. The council [...]

Austin vs. Watauga? City claims competition to keep city manager candidates secretFOIFT2017-10-30T16:34:04-05:00

Garland Police keeping tight grip on documents two years after ISIS attack

FOIFT2017-08-02T14:58:21-05:00

By Todd Shepherd Washington Examiner Originally published Aug. 1, 2017 Police in Garland, Texas, are refusing to release documents that could show an FBI agent allowed a terrorist attack to go ahead in 2015, in order to avoid blowing his cover. Police are still saying key documents can't be shared because the investigation is still "pending," even though the police chief said just days after the attack that they did not believe there were other suspects, and the two known assailants were killed on the scene. The 2015 attack was the first ISIS-backed act of terrorism on U.S. soil. The tight [...]

Garland Police keeping tight grip on documents two years after ISIS attackFOIFT2017-08-02T14:58:21-05:00

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