On the cover

• A cloudy state of transparency: In North Carolina, shifting whims of government officials limit access to public records

 

News

• Quick Takes, Pages 2-5

• Collins’ decision on amendments called unusual, dubious, ‘sticky,’ Page 6

• Second redistricting reform bill emphasizes rules and transparency, Page 7

• UNC report shows ‘serious deficiencies’ in response to protests and Silent Sam’s fall, Page 7

• Ballot fraud may go well beyond Robeson, Bladen counties, political consultant says, Page 8

• New election for vacant seat in 3rd Congressional District set for July 9, Page 9

• Large field of contenders expected to try to succeed Jones in 3rd District, Page 9

• Whistleblower concerns raised as Cooper won’t let employees talk to ACP investigators, Page 10

• Cooper staffer’s pipeline inquiry prompts warning against extortion from national governor’s group, Page 10

• Timeline: Gov. Roy Cooper and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Page 11

• Gov. Roy Cooper settles lawsuit between media organizations and Pat McCrory, Page 12

• UNC-Chapel Hil professors view public records request as a form of intimidation, Page 12

• How other states compare when it comes to transparency, Page 13

• Lights, camera, legislative action, Page 13

• How transparent are North Carolina’s counties?, Page 13

• Polls, Page 24

 

Interviews

• Brooks Fuller: Coalition works to education people about open government, Page 18

• Don Carrington: The successes, frustrations of public records investigations, Page 19

Opinion

• Terry Stoops commentary: Lawmakers unwise to reconsider master’s pay for teachers, Page 14

• Mitch Kokai commentary: AOC’s proposal shines light on tax-rate debate, Page 15

• Jay Schalin commentary: UNC crisis exposes academia’s feckless mind-set, Page 16

• Kristen Blair commentary: Challenging myths about competitive college admissions, Page 17

• Douglas Oliver commentary: Colleges should stop forcing students to live on campus, Page 17

• Editorial: Lawmakers should be rule makers, not cartographers, Page 20

• John Trump commentary: Time to wake up and reform the way North Carolina controls liquor, Page 22

• Michael Walden commentary: Is it even possible to fix Social Security?, Page 22

• Andy Taylor commentary: President can still make the deal look like art, Page 23

• Becki Gray commentary: Funding surplus in N.C.? The money is already spent, Page 23

 

Commentary by John Hood

• Amendment decision endangers Democrats, Page 21

• Well-intended programs can do harm, Page 21

• Columns can change political views, Page 21