Texas Public Information Act

Ex-town secretary sues, alleges she was fired for refusing to destroy recording

FOIFT2014-04-21T14:56:52-05:00

By Dianna Hunt Denton Record-Chronicle Originally published April 18, 2014 The former town secretary of Shady Shores has filed a lawsuit against the town, alleging she was fired because she refused orders to destroy a tape recording of a public meeting. The suit by Sarah Swanson accuses members of a Town Council subcommittee of violating state law by destroying the recording. Tampering with a government record, including the destruction or altering of records, is a misdemeanor offense. Swanson was fired Feb. 12. “Because of her refusal, her employment was terminated,” according to the lawsuit, which was filed after-hours Thursday in Dallas [...]

Ex-town secretary sues, alleges she was fired for refusing to destroy recordingFOIFT2014-04-21T14:56:52-05:00

Houston Open Government Seminar, FOI info galore, April 30

FOIFT2014-04-09T13:45:00-05:00

By Mary Flood Houston Chronicle Originally published April 8, 2014 The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the Texas Attorney General’s Office will hold an Open Government Seminar in Houston Wednesday April 30 at South Texas College of Law. The morning training in the state’s public meetings and public records laws is free, starts at 9 am and is aimed at “government employees, journalists and members of the general public who want to learn more about the Texas Public Information Act.” The afternoon session on open meetings costs $50. Here is the press release about the event: FOI Foundation partners [...]

Houston Open Government Seminar, FOI info galore, April 30FOIFT2014-04-09T13:45:00-05:00

Report: UT regent might have broken the law

FOIFT2014-04-09T18:21:28-05:00

By Nolan Hicks San Antonio Express-News Originally published April 7, 2014 SAN ANTONIO — University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall likely committed impeachable offenses — including abusing his office and possibly breaking state and federal law — in his campaign to oust University of Texas at Austin president Bill Powers, according to a draft report prepared for the Texas House committee investigating Hall. The 176-page draft, made available to committee members Friday and obtained by the San Antonio Express-News, alleges Hall leaked confidential student information in apparent violation of state and federal law in an attempt to silence critics in [...]

Report: UT regent might have broken the lawFOIFT2014-04-09T18:21:28-05:00

Why Texas wants to keep secret its supplier of execution drugs

FOIFT2014-04-02T14:42:37-05:00

By Michael Graczyk Associated Press Originally published April 2, 2014 in The Christian Science Monitor HOUSTON - Texas is set to execute its first inmate with a new batch of drugs, but the state prison agency remains determined to keep its supplier a secret, citing threats of violence to pharmacies that sell drugs used in lethal injections. Since obtaining a new supply of the drug pentobarbital two weeks ago, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice had cited unspecified security concerns in refusing to disclose the source and other details about the sedative it plans to use to put inmates to death. But in a [...]

Why Texas wants to keep secret its supplier of execution drugsFOIFT2014-04-02T14:42:37-05:00

DMN: Force elected officials to publicly vote on open records issues

FOIFT2014-04-01T15:39:48-05:00

By Scott K. Parks The Dallas Morning News Originally published March 31, 2014 Among friends, keeping secrets is a good thing. Not so much when it comes to governments keeping secrets from citizens. Local governments in North Texas have a penchant for secrecy. They routinely deny citizen requests for public records under a system that only a crook or a government-paid lawyer could love. First, a little background. The Texas Public Information Act allows any citizen to file a written request for records kept in government file cabinets or computers. The law applies to local governments, state agencies, the Legislature and [...]

DMN: Force elected officials to publicly vote on open records issuesFOIFT2014-04-01T15:39:48-05:00

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