OpenRural puts public records online
From PBS: Storing paper records in the attic of a police station might sound like a practice from the distant past, but that's what I learned happens in at least one rural North Carolina county. In...
View ArticleCelebrating a society built on open government
From Smoky Mountain News: In this day of Twitter and the blogospere, an increasing number of everyday citizens are turning into reporters who shine a light on the inner workings of our government. We...
View ArticlePress attorney contests DOJ argument to keep records confidential
From Times-News: GRAHAM — An attorney representing the Alamance News has filed a motion in response to the U.S Department of Justice’s argument against providing documents covered by a joint...
View ArticleTransparency lags for NC lawmakers, advocates say
Despite widespread interest, efforts to make the North Carolina Legislature more transparent through better audio and video coverage have failed, panelists at an open government forum said on Monday....
View ArticleEditorial: Government Transparency Act: Its time has come
Before heading back to Raleigh for the short session, lawmakers predicted the legislature would devote its time this year to The Three E’s – education, environment, economy. We’d like to add another...
View ArticleAdd transparency to government employee records
Before they headed back to Raleigh for the short session, lawmakers predicted the legislature would devote its time this year to The Three E's — education, environment, economy. We'd like to add...
View ArticleDueling bills address transparency of NC pension fund investments
The ongoing feud over the transparency of state pension fund investments between state Treasurer Janet Cowell and the State Employees Association of North Carolina has spawned dueling bills in the...
View ArticleOpen data partnership between city and county of Durham, NC
Open data has found the most innovation at the local government level. While not taking away from the efforts of data.gov and the state initiatives, local data has more impact on the day to day lives...
View ArticleOUR VIEW Compromise keeps government open
All North Carolinians deserve to know when their local governments hold special meetings or plan public hearings. State lawmakers have a unique opportunity this year to preserve that right and save...
View ArticleNC open government group hosting Sunshine Day event
The North Carolina Open Government Coalition is hosting its annual Sunshine Day event on March 16 in Durham to bring awareness to public records and open meetings laws in the state. The event will be...
View ArticleNewsmakers video: The Best & Worst of WNC Open Government
At its Newsmakers forum held on March 17, Carolina Public Press hosted some of the state’s top open government advocates and reporters for a live interview and public question and answer forum about...
View ArticleNC legislature passes bill limiting execution transparency
RALEIGH — A bill that would allow quicker changes to North Carolina's execution process and block information about the manufacturing of lethal injection drugs has passed the legislature and is going...
View ArticleNorth Carolina: Making Transparency a Top Priority
RALEIGH — There are some really good things on the table as the budget conferees discuss, debate, compromise, and finalize North Carolina’s government spending for the next two years. Allocating more...
View ArticleLawmakers concerned about UNC system board’s closed meetings
The University of North Carolina system’s Board of Governors will meet Friday to hear a report on faculty compensation and take action on a legislative request – two weeks after giving controversial...
View ArticleOpen government group compiles data on all traffic stops in North Carolina
A nonprofit civil rights organization — with support from the White House — has launched a website that will contain up-to-date information about nearly 20 million traffic stops made by every police...
View ArticleNorth Carolina school board to consider remote participation but only for...
Craven County Board of Education members may soon have the opportunity to participate in board meetings without being present. On Tuesday, a new policy allowing members to remotely join in the...
View ArticleCOALITION SUES NORTH CAROLINA OVER CONSTITUTIONALITY OF ‘ANTI-SUNSHINE’ LAW
Raleigh, N.C. – A coalition of animal protection, consumer rights, food safety, and whistleblower protection organizations filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the constitutionality of a North...
View ArticleNorth Carolina moves toward regulating police body cameras
Police-worn body cameras would be regulated for the first time in North Carolina under legislation that will be considered this year. A legislative committee on Thursday approved a draft bill that...
View ArticleNews groups win round in North Carolina public records fight
The McCrory administration has lost a round in its court fight against news organizations that contend the state has systematically defied its own public records law. That law requires that most...
View ArticleNC among states to limit access to police videos
Amid a growing outcry over police shootings of black men, many states are taking actions to restrict public access to police video shot by dashboard and body cameras. In North Carolina — where Keith...
View ArticleNC Gov. McCrory claims immunity from public records claim
A lawyer for Gov. Pat McCrory told the state Court of Appeals Tuesday morning that the state should be immune from any judgment finding the current administration either cannot or does not comply with...
View ArticleNC: Judge Denies WFAE Journalist's Petition for Police Shooting Video
This week, WFAE’s Lisa Worf has taken listeners through the process of seeking a court order to compel Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department to release video of a police shooting. On Thursday,...
View ArticleNC: Military panel skirts open-meetings law
Last week, a state commission that advocates for the military dodged a public discussion of a controversial wind-energy project. In doing so, government-transparency advocates say the panel appears to...
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