NEWS: NC lawmakers are scheduled to vote on a bill this morning that would kill off public access to autopsy reports and overhaul the makeup of a commission that works to ensure low-income criminal defendants get adequate representation. #ncpol

STORY--> theog.io/goto?url=https…

“The public records and public information compiled by the agencies of North Carolina government or its subdivisions are the property of the people…. the people may obtain copies of their public records [] free or at minimal cost unless otherwise specifically provided by law.”

wral.com/story/facing-o…

Dear reader, you cannot

NC State says it plans to halt processing public records requests for a week in late May. Can you suspend the public’s right to know? 🧵

The public records office processes and responds to all requests. By suspending operations in the public records office for a week, NC State’s making it near impossible to receive public records “as promptly as possible” as required by state law. NC OpenGov

Last year, NC lawmakers gave themselves the power to sell or destroy any of their records. #ncpol #ncga

Today Sen. Sen. Graig Meyer proposed undoing that, but he was quickly shot down.

My story: wral.com/story/nc-legis…

Check out what some of our sustaining members are doing in Asheville. Get involved and organize in your communities for better transparency for your elected leaders!

Add Benton Sawrey to the “Nice List” nine months ahead of schedule. More lawmakers from across the political spectrum should be more transparent about their public business.

Contrast this recognition with the work of all of our Sunshine Award winners and you’ll quickly see some ways we can make North Carolinians more informed, engaged and prosperous.

#SunshineWeek tip from FOIA Nate📄 at The Washington Post. For #federal #FOIA requests, ask for an estimated date of completion. That's in the law. #transparency #opengovernment

North Carolina lawmakers should be doing everything they can to improve the public's access to information, not cutting them out of the loop. That's why #SunshineWeek is so important in the Old North State and across the country.

This #SunshineWeek , state sunshine laws are under attack in states across the country. American Oversight is dedicated to the fight for open government transparency but this fight for accountability is facing increasingly aggressive obstacles. #FoiaFriday

We talked with NC Local about our annual Sunshine Awards. Check in to see some of the bright spots around the Tar Heel State #SunshineWeek

An honor well deserved! Congratulations Michael Hewlett on winning the NC OpenGov’s Sunshine Award.

Michael dug into a 1980 case of a 16 year old Black youth accused of raping a 57 y/o white woman.

Sentenced to life in prison, the case -> 10yr max today

theassemblync.com/politics/crimi…

The 2024 NC News & Information Summit is well underway on the campus of North Carolina Central University 🦅 So many passionate local news and media professionals here to ensure the sustainability of the fourth estate. 📰 💻 #NCNewsInfo24

At the NC News & Information Summit today and am back in full conference doodle mode #NCNewsInfo24

I sent email below to all electeds in Town of Cornelius this morning regarding their unanimous vote on Monday night to approve $241K in #assetforfeiture expenditures with ZERO discussion. The residents of Cornelius deserve elected officials who won't rubber stamp asset forfeiture.