Last month, the Dallas City Council passed a ban on pedestrians loitering on medians. The city stated that it saw the measure as a public safety necessity to protect drivers and pedestrians. Civil rights groups, however, immediately criticized the measure. Now, the...
Public schools have an obligation to uphold the best interests of their students. However, this broad mandate is open to interpretation from every teacher, principal, board member, administrator, student and parent. As many public school employees are finding out,...
Everyone has heard of prosecutors. They are the attorneys who work for the state to take criminals off the streets. While most people have an idea of what prosecutors who work for the district attorney’s office do, fewer people probably know about the duties of...
Public meetings are a cornerstone of every municipality. They allow officials to discuss important issues, give members of the public a platform to make their voices known and allow officials to interact with the public. Efficiency, professionalism and courtesy are...
Cities and counties throughout the state are preparing for the upcoming general election. One of the foremost topics on voters’ minds is the integrity of their vote: Will the elections be fair? Is there potential for voter fraud? Will all votes get a fair count? To...
The Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) allows members of the public who wish to address their local government to add items to the official meeting agenda. This is a positive way to involve residents in their local governments' decisions. Still, it can add too many issues...
The worker shortage has affected workplaces at the federal, state and municipal level throughout the country. In Texas, government agencies and other public entities are struggling to find employees to fill crucial job positions. To retain current employees and...
One of the most important laws regarding government transparency in Texas is the Public Information Act. It grants members of the public the right to request government records, as long as the records are not confidential. All government entities must comply with this...
Oil and natural gas are a significant source of revenue for the Texas economy. However, many corporations such as financial firms are distancing themselves from fossil fuels, preferring instead to use renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. In an...
Texas is facing legal heat from no less than six of its own cities. These suits are coming hot and fast due to a number of municipal matters. These are issues that no other type of measure seems able to quell. As a result, real estate, financial, and legal authorities...
