Texas Public Information Act

UT-Austin Cancels Regent’s Records Requests

2013-09-30T20:24:12-05:00

By Reeve Hamilton, Texas Tribune Originally posted, 08.07.13 Over two dozen boxes containing open records requests from the University of Texas system have been retrieved for use by UT Austin. (Image source: Texas Tribune) Kevin Hegarty, the chief financial officer and custodian of records for the University of Texas at Austin, informed the University of Texas System on Monday that all pending records requests from embattled Regent Wallace Hall are considered “cancelled, effective immediately.” The House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations is in the process of investigating Hall’s behavior as a regent and considering whether or not to [...]

UT-Austin Cancels Regent’s Records Requests2013-09-30T20:24:12-05:00

Robert Moore, Zahira Torres of El Paso Times to be honored with James Madison Award for reports on school cheating scandal

2013-09-19T16:32:30-05:00

AUSTIN -- El Paso Times editor Robert Moore and former Times reporter Zahira Torres, who together did extensive reporting on a school test-rigging scandal, are the recipients of the 2013 James Madison Award presented by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. The award is given annually to those who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to upholding the principles of the First Amendment. It will be presented Aug. 9 during the foundation’s Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference in Austin. Using the Texas Public Information Act, Moore and Torres obtained thousands of documents detailing how the El Paso Independent School District superintendent [...]

Robert Moore, Zahira Torres of El Paso Times to be honored with James Madison Award for reports on school cheating scandal2013-09-19T16:32:30-05:00

Open government in Texas is getting more open thanks to new state laws

2013-09-19T16:34:50-05:00

By Dave Lieber, Dallas News Published: 25 July 2013 11:04 PM Don’t fall off your chair when you hear this, but the Legislature has enacted major changes in how Texans can monitor their local, county and state governments. These changes are for the better for both officials and the public. Texas is the first state in the nation to create a new way to monitor the work and deliberations of government officials. Each government, whether it be city council, school district, county commissioners court or a state agency, is now allowed to create an Internet message board where officials, both elected [...]

Open government in Texas is getting more open thanks to new state laws2013-09-19T16:34:50-05:00

Parkland Memorial Hospital refuses to release costly report on executive compensation

2013-09-19T16:37:34-05:00

By Sherry Jacobson Originally posted 7.23.13 Top officials at Parkland Memorial Hospital have been working since last fall on a tough issue related to executive compensation. The hospital’s board of managers wasn’t sure it was paying top Parkland managers enough money to keep them from leaving for better-paying jobs. The hospital has experienced a sweeping overhaul of top managers since it failed a series of government inspections in 2011. Last fall, the board approved a $150,000 contract with Sullivan Cotter and Associates, a compensation consultant based in Chicago and Detroit. The firm was asked to produce a report showing how much [...]

Parkland Memorial Hospital refuses to release costly report on executive compensation2013-09-19T16:37:34-05:00

Davis, other Texas lawmakers to address annual FOIFT conference

2013-09-19T16:47:21-05:00

Sen. Wendy Davis, vice-chair of the Senate Open Government Committee, will be the luncheon keynote speaker at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas annual conference Aug. 9. Davis, D-Fort Worth, proposed a package of transparency bills during this year’s regular legislative session related to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Another of her open government bills ultimately included important updates to the Texas Public Information Act. For his open government and First Amendment efforts, Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, will be honored at the FOIFT conference luncheon with the inaugural Open Government Lawmaker of the Year Award. Hunter, [...]

Davis, other Texas lawmakers to address annual FOIFT conference2013-09-19T16:47:21-05:00
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