Legal
79 results total, viewing 21 - 40
We often get questions on the hotline about obtaining security footage of newsworthy incidents that occur in or around K-12 schools or on school buses. Because these incidents almost inevitably … more
The climate surrounding officer-involved fatalities is, in a word, dynamic. Whether a shooting or shootout, deadly force incident to an arrest or the service of a warrant, or a high-speed chase … more
Back on March 10, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency in North Carolina “to coordinate response and protective actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” and with … more
The N.C. Court of Appeals handed down some very good news for journalists this month. The case arose after the arrest of Wesley Walker for an assault. WTVD’s Ed Crump emailed the Wake County … more
My long-time client, mentor and friend Frank Daniels Jr. died on June 30. He was 90 years old. For 20 of the 26 years he served as publisher of The News & Observer, I was privileged to defend the … more
In January of this year, the Enhance Local Government Transparency Act (N.C. Senate Bill 473) made some important changes to our conflict-of-interest laws for public officials. Most notably, the bill … more
We all know that public records are the property of the people and that, generally speaking, public agencies can only charge you the costs of actual duplication – the cost of the paper, the ink … more
We all know that North Carolina law requires public bodies to follow the open meetings law, which essentially means three things: publishing notice, allowing public access and keeping minutes.  … more
The NC Public Records Law applies to public business documents made or received by a public agency or official.  G.S. § 132-1(a).  It doesn’t matter if they exist on an … more
Please see the attached guide as a reference to frequent questions on newspaper advertising. If you still have questions contact the NCPA legal hotline (919) 833-3833 or NCPA office (919) … more
If you’ve made a recent request under the NC Public Records Law, you may have noticed that some government agencies -- UNC-CH, Wake County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and the city … more
  If you are covering a public body that has resumed meeting in person but is forcing you to participate remotely, they are breaking the law.   Over the past year, the pandemic … more
Elizabeth City Mayor Bettie Parker declared a State of Emergency that was amended on April 27 to impose a city-wide curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. This statement is to clarify that the curfew is not … more
With the General Assembly about to head home early last Friday morning, one of the strongest “right to know” voices in the NC House, Rep. Josh Dobson, advanced a public records … more
Once again, journalists find themselves at the intersection of indispensability and danger.  You are uniquely poised to be the eyes and ears of the public, to stand in their shoes, to report … more
Reporters covering government in the last two months know public bodies have changed their way of doing business. Members of the press were granted essential worker status, but that didn’t mean … more
     The Washington Post reports Capitol Hill is paralyzed over a failure to agree on a temporary remote Congressional hearing and voting bill.  Yet as Congress grapples … more
  Continuing on the theme of government transparency and how you get the information you need to cover the developing COVID-19 crisis, I have outlined here some principles to … more
MASSIVE FORGIVABLE LOANS – AKA GRANTS – TO GET YOU THROUGH THE PASS The CARES Act authorized $349 billion in loans, including a Paycheck Protection Program, which can be used to fund … more
As the toll of the coronavirus rises daily, we are getting calls about what to do if you cannot put out your print newspaper.  That might happen either because your advertising drops to the … more
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