NC Open Government

From the Fayetteville Observer (11/16/08): Some Fayetteville City Council members are perturbed their closed-door talks about boosting the city manager’s salary have become public.

Seven out of 10 residents in North Carolina say they are interested in a television channel that would televise state legislative sessions and legislative committee hearings, according to data compiled in the most recent Elon University Poll.

A representative from the Sunshine Center at Elon University will present at the Future of News Seminar Nov. 19 in Chapel Hill.

A four-member faculty of academics and attorneys will conduct a seminar titled "What You Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings in North Carolina" Nov. 20 in Raleigh. Lorman Education Services is offering the daylong seminar for continuing education credit. Sunshine Center Assistant Director Dale Harrison will serve on the faculty, conducting a session titled “Sunshine Legislation in North Carolina: Current Conditions and a Forecast for the Future.”

From the Fayetteville Observer (11/19/08): The Fayetteville City Council may have violated the North Carolina Open Meetings Law when it met behind closed doors to discuss personnel matters, according to two advocates for open government.

From the Citizen-times.com (11/8/08): Among the 50 states, North Carolina ranks in the middle of the pack for open, ethical and accountable government, a national watchdog group says. The Better Government Association's "Integrity Index" released last month ranks North Carolina No. 23.

The Sunshine Center reached out Oct. 21 to the coast of Carolina with its fall 2008 workshop titled, “North Carolina Sunshine Laws from the Capitol Building to the Courtroom.” Speakers explored key developments in the North Carolina General Assembly, including a bill to explore televising state government.

From the Raleigh News & Observer (10/22/08): Three years of scandals and the imprisonment of three former or current legislators have soiled North Carolina's capital. Now the Democratic and Republican candidates for governor are promising to hose it down.

From the Independent Weekly (10/01/08): The Meeker Majority on the Raleigh City Council lately lacks Meeker.

From The Chronicle (10/02/08): Although the Board of Trustees has no legal obligation to open its meetings to the press, members of several media outlets said a press blockage will limit transparency and coverage of the 36-member group.