Dozens of news outlets filed multiple requests for public records of the shootings in Uvalde, Texas in May. To expedite their efforts, they formed a coalition, writing letters to the Uvalde mayor and the state attorney general. In response to public records requests, local government agencies can release the information or claim an exemption, in this case that an investigation is ongoing. Those seeking the information can then appeal to the attorney general. (Vanity Fair, July 19, 2022, by Charlotte Klein)
In June, Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin expressed his frustration with law enforcement’s lack of transparency in its investigation. (CNN, June 7, 2022, by Eric Levenson and Rebekah Riess)