March 2019
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