This week Texas Watchdog is highlighting local Texas heroes who have fought for greater government transparency. Please come back all week to see different Texans profiled for their work in making government more open to us all. Some are government officials. Others are regular folks. All have succeeded at making government a little more open.

Today, read about an effort for open government in the growing town of Big Spring, Texas.

Read an earlier story about how school volunteer and mother Peyton Wolcott launched a national movement to post school check registers online. Also check out our video about how Houston public officials keep the public from hearing key speeches -- and how that is starting to change.