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We are the Sunshine Center of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition. If you are a records or meetings holder or someone seeking access to records or meetings, we hope this site will be a useful resource. Check out our educational resources about open government.
From the Charlotte Observer (5/23/13): The case between four former media members and the City of Charlotte, over negotiations between the city and the Carolina Panthers for stadium improvements, is expected to be heard by a judge Thursday afternoon.
From the Winston-Salem Journal (5/16/13):North Carolina’s Open Meetings Law appears to provide strong protection of the public’s right to see its government in action. In fact, however, the law has too many loopholes that allow secrecy.
From the Greenville Daily Reflector (5/12/13): The scope of North Carolina’s Open Meetings Law turns on the smallest of phrases. Broadly setting forth the principle that the people’s business should be conducted in public view, the law specifies those few instances that an elected body “may” hold a closed session. That puts in the hands of officials the option — though not the necessity — of holding discussion behind closed doors in certain circumstances.
From the Watauga Democrat (5/2/13): The Boone Town Council met in closed session for the fifth time Wednesday to discuss the county's threatened lawsuit, part of an ongoing saga that has raised concerns for many residents about the transparency and openness of local elected officials.
From NOLA.com (4/25/13): LSU must "immediately produce" the names of the people its board of supervisors considered for the university presidency, an East Baton Rouge Parish judge ruled Thursday. Judge Janice Clark issued the ruling less than three hours after the conclusion of oral arguments in the case, which was brought by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune and the Advocate against the university.
From the Burlington Times-News (4/22/13): In one of the more predictable spring events, the N.C. League of Municipalities has stated its opposition to a bill now in the N.C. Senate that would make it a misdemeanor for local governments to illegally withhold release of a public record upon request.
From the Raleigh News & Observer (4/8/13): It is time to open up North Carolina’s government operations to the public view. The North Carolina legislature has a great opportunity this year to make state and local governments more ethical and efficient.
From the Raleigh News & Observer (4/5/13): The news conference laying out Gov. Pat McCrory's plan for Medicaid managed care took an unexpected turn when a reporter asked about transparency.
From the Daily Tar Heel (4/5/13): A year and a half is a long time to wait for most things, but especially something that the state of North Carolina requires be given to you quickly.
From the Charlotte Observer (4/2/13): A Charlotte lawyer on Tuesday accused the Charlotte City Council of violating North Carolina’s open meetings law when it agreed in closed session in January to support a tax hike for renovating Bank of America Stadium.
From WBTV (4/2/13): By all appearances, it was a blast from the past because most of the plaintiffs in the case used to deliver the news on television in Charlotte.
From NBCSports.com (4/2/13): In January, Charlotte City Council agreed in a closed session to support a tax increase that would pay for renovations at Bank of America Stadium.
From the Spring Hope Enterprise (3/28/13): A new fee adopted by the Middlesex Board of Commissioners for extensive public records requests may violate the state's Public Records law, according to the North Carolina Press Association.
From the Port City Daily (3/28/13): A bill that would make concealed carry permit holder and pistol permit holder information private in North Carolina has made its way through the state House.
From WNCT (3/27/13): Do you have a right to know who owns a concealed weapon?
From the Lumina News (3/27/13): Violations of public records and open meetings laws could be a misdemeanor crime under a bill sponsored by Sen. Thom Goolsby.
From the Wilson Times (3/26/13): Lawmakers who want to strengthen open meetings and records laws and punish officials who violate them face formidable opposition from state employees groups.
