Wake County is giving its citizens a look inside the county’s checkbook via a new online feature that tracks expenditures. John Locke Foundation Fiscal Policy Analyst Joe Coletti assesses Wake’s new tool and the broader question of the need for government transparency. Coletti is a driving force behind JLF’s transparency Web site — www.nctransparency.com — which functions as a portal to North Carolina government agencies — state and local — and their online documents and budget information. Coletti explains how the site works and what citizens can learn. Then we turn to K-12 education. A Wake County judge recently blocked the governor’s plan to consolidate power over North Carolina’s public schools through a new appointed school CEO. The judge ruled that the state constitution assigns much of that CEO’s powers to elected Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson. You’ll hear reaction from Atkinson and her attorney, former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr of the N.C. Institute for Constitutional Law. Speaking of courts, concerned citizens and media outlets often end up in court when government agencies refuse to surrender public records. Legislation moving through the General Assembly would make it easier for watchdogs who win their court fights to collect attorney’s fees from the government. You’ll hear a defense of the bill from Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake, along with criticism from Paul Meyer of the N.C. League of Municipalities.  That’s followed by a look at our state’s forced annexation law. North Carolina is one of the few states that allow forced annexation. Legislators pushing for annexation reform say the state needs to offer property owners more protection from cities and towns. You’ll hear highlights from their discussion. And finally, John Locke Foundation President John Hood details the latest developments in the cases of three convicted North Carolina political types: former House Speaker Jim Black, former U.S. Congressman Frank Ballance, and former state GOP Chairman Sam Currin. All three have been in the news recently. Their cases remind us of the occurrences of public corruption in North Carolina. Hood recaps the cases and the implications for citizens.