Displaying items by tag: public records

Along with public health, the COVID-19 pandemic is testing government transparency in North Carolina. 

RALEIGH — N.C. Senate leaders say they value government transparency — especially given the COVID-19 pandemic. A bill recently filed in the House presents an opportunity for those senior officials to show commitment to the state’s “sunshine laws.”

Want to know how much your police chief and school principal are paid? How about a full rundown of your city council’s spending during that out-of-state conference? The information’s yours for the asking.

RALEIGH — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper raised $605,649 — 7% of his 2019 campaign funds — from residents of New York and California, based on a Carolina Journal analysis of his campaign finance reports. But details about Cooper’s fundraising trips to those states are hard to come by.

RALEIGH — The plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the University of North Carolina System over transparency issues hope their case will pave the way for greater openness and accountability at UNC.

RALEIGH — A court battle over legislative redistricting escalated Tuesday, July 2, into a tug-of-war over records that may or may not be considered public.

The presumption of innocence.

It’s a hallowed maxim of American jurisprudence.

HAMLET — Federal officials say the Hamlet Police Department failed to comply with requirements regarding weapons acquired through the Law Enforcement Support Services Program.

RALEIGH — When describing access to public records, “slow” is the first word that comes to mind, Ken Eudy, a senior adviser to Gov. Roy Cooper said Monday, March 11, during a talk on government transparency at Elon University.

RALEIGH — “Chapel Hill professors question group’s public records requests.”

“Governor and NC media settle dispute over McCrory’s records.” 

“Public records lawsuit filed against state Rep. Beverly Boswell.” 

All real headlines. All spanning North Carolina’s news cycles over the past decade. All present important questions about transparency and access to government records, which are, by statute, open to everyone — not just journalists — for inspection.