NC Open Government

From the Mountain Xpress (5/21/12): On May 11, the Asheville Police Department's new chief, William Anderson, met with reporters to announce that the APD will hire a new evidence-room manager as part of a "healing process." It's been more than a year since news of missing guns, drugs and money wounded the department's reputation.

From WECT6 (5/4/12): The mayor of Sunset Beach is trying to get his hands on documents that show just how much town employees are making, but he claims to be blocked from that information.

From the Hickory Daily Record (5/2/12): The Hickory City Council meeting on Tuesday was an exercise in open government. A Hickory resident took advantage of a statement on the agenda to force discussion on an issue, and the state's open records law was illuminated for all to hear.

From the Watauga Democrat (4/29/12): This week, the Watauga Democrat found it necessary to put practice into action.

From the Asheville Citizen-Times (4/27/12): It's time to lift the veil of secrecy hiding the findings of an audit report completed three months ago, a review designed to shine a light on what happened to guns, drugs and cash that went missing from the evidence locker at the Asheville Police Department.

From the Shelby Star (3/14/12): It's Sunshine Week. The term doesn't refer to the arrival of daylight saving time. Instead, the week of March 11 to 17 stresses the importance of the public’s right to access government records and attend proceedings.

The News and Observer won a national award Friday for its reporting on the state's restrictive personnel law and the impact the law has on keeping public employees' misconduct secret.

From USA Today (4/22/12): Note to the Kansas and Maryland winners of last month's $656 million lottery jackpot: Count your anonymous blessings.

From the Asheville Citizen-Times (4/21/12): District Attorney Ron Moore will consult with the state attorney general’s office about whether to release a closely-guarded audit of the Police Department evidence room.

From the Fayetteville Observer (4/7/12): Emails sent by employees at government agencies are usually open to public inspection and may be copied, forwarded or published by anyone.