Colin Donohue

From the Atlantic Wire (2/25/13): The Cherokee Scout of Murphy, North Carolina, has printed an absolutely groveling apology to its readers and to the local sheriff for even asking the sheriff for public records of those with concealed carry gun permits. Publisher David Brown writes, "We never meant to offend the wonderful people of this community," in a letter noticed by media blogger Jim Romenesko. Again, this is discussing public records that, according to North Carolina law, the sheriff legally is legally required to make public. The editor who made the public records request was subsequently threatened on Facebook.

From the High Point Enterprise (2/24/13): "Let the sunshine in!" If you are 50 or older, that prompt already may have you humming the tune to "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In," which peaked at No. 1 for six weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in March of 1969.

From the Wilmington Star-News (2/23/13): State Sen. Thom Goolsby filed a bill Thursday that would criminalize violations of the open meetings and public records laws, meaning violators could face up to 20 days in jail.

The Sunlight Foundation has released a new app called Open States that will allow users to find their state legislators, review votes and track bills.

From the Port City Daily (2/22/13): State Sen. Thom Goolsby, R-New Hanover, on Thursday filed a bill that would make it a misdemeanor—punishable with jail time—to violate the state’s open meetings and public records laws.

From The Wilson Times (2/21/13): Officials who refuse to release public records or shut North Carolina residents out of open meetings could face criminal penalties under a bill filed Thursday.

From WWAY.com (2/21/13): Sen. Thom Goolsby says it's time officials who violate state public records and open meetings laws are punished. That's why he's filed a bill that would could send violators to jail.

From the Gaston Gazette (2/20/13): The North Carolina Supreme Court is now weighing an issue stemming from an Elon University matter that will have a ripple effect on every private college in the state with a campus police department. Must law enforcement at private colleges be as open with arrest and other records as their law enforcement counterparts in counties, cities and towns?

From The Wilson Times (2/19/13): Names of North Carolina concealed handgun owners would be kept confidential under a bill that state Sen. Buck Newton is backing.

From the Winston-Salem Journal (2/18/13): A case that started with the arrest of a 19-year-old Elon University student in 2010 for underage drinking and resisting an officer is forcing the N.C. Supreme Court to decide whether campus police at private colleges must be as transparent as their municipal law-enforcement peers.