North Carolina lawmakers are returning to Raleigh this week, but they’re not giving the public many details on what they plan to vote on. Both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate are due back in session Wednesday. A spokeswoman for Republican Senate leader Phil Berger said the Senate might have votes that…
Tag: North Carolina open government
Changes to Indian Trail public records policy raises questions
From wsoctv.com: INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. — Proposed changes to the public records policy in Indian Trail are raising questions about government transparency.
Tuesday evening, the Town Council will vote on the proposal, which civil rights experts said could limit citizens’ access to information.
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Under the new policy, residents would have to prepay a 75 percent deposit for any records requests that could exceed $100.
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Press 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 confidentiality and protective order in its lawsuit against Sheriff Terry Johnson.
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Lawsuit claims Carolinas HealthCare System violated public records law
From CharlotteObserver.com: A Charlotte attorney contends in a lawsuit that one of the nation’s largest public hospital chains, Carolinas HealthCare System, has violated the state public records law by keeping secret the terms of a legal settlement.
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Jonathan Jones named director of North Carolina Open Government Coalition
From North Carolina Open Government Coalition: Jonathan D. Jones, currently an assistant district attorney for Durham County, will become director of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition and Sunshine Center in mid-August. He also will teach courses in Elon University’s School of Communications.
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North Carolina lawmakers approve bill opening private campus police records to the public
From The Fayetteville Observer: The General Assembly has approved a bill that would open police records on all private school campuses to the public.
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The legislation requires campus police at private colleges and universities to publicly disclose records, including narrative descriptions surrounding arrests and 911 calls.
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NFOIC’s State FOIA Friday for April 26, 2013
A few state FOIA and local open government news items selected from many of interest that we might or might not have drawn attention to earlier in the week. While you're at it, be sure to check out State FOIA Friday Archives.
New Mexico court nixes damages against NM attorney general
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Only one law enforcement agency fully complies with public records request
From Port City Daily:
One week after Port City Daily sent public records requests to five municipal law enforcement agencies, only one agency fully complied with the public records request.
On Friday, March 8, Port City Daily sent a public records request to Wilmington, Leland, Wrightsville Beach, Surf City and Carolina Beach police departments.
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Open government needs enforcement
North Carolina’s open government laws are good. But enforcement is weak.
A Republican state senator from Wilmington is trying to add muscle, proposing a bill to make it a misdemeanor for public officials to unlawfully close meetings or deny access to records.
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The innards of state government, courtesy of public record and sunshine laws
From The Progressive Pulse:
Public records in the North Carolina offer a chance to peer into the depths of state government, and see what is and what isn’t working.
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