When Xpress asked each of Buncombe County’s state-level representatives if they would support the new transparency measures contained in House Bill 64, only Republican Sen. Chuck Edwards gave an unequivocal yes.
Tag: open records
Showing 1-21 of 25 results
Search for documents leads to reform at A-B Tech
An investigation conducted by Xpress resulted with A-B Tech vowing to change the way it stores emails, look at the length of time it stores communications and consider other improvements to how the school processes open records requests.
Off the records: no easy way to access Asheville’s housing complaints
Concerns about substandard rental housing in Asheville are nothing new. But assessing the extent of the problem has proved to be a slippery slope: Although tenant complaints are a matter of public record, there's no easy way to access or search them.
Apodaca proposes making violations of open records, public meetings laws a misdemeanor
State Sen. Tom Apodaca is sponsoring a bill that would make violations of the state’s open records and public meetings laws a misdemeanor. Currently, civil action is the only way to enforce those laws.
Judge rejected evidence room lawsuit against DA on technicality
Part of Judge Bradley Letts’ written order dismissing the evidence room open records lawsuit filed by a local media coalition (including Xpress) has been filed. The order dismisses the part of the lawsuit against the Buncombe County District Attorney’s office on the technical grounds that it was misnamed in the lawsuit.
Judge dismisses APD evidence room open records lawsuit
Today, Sept. 6, Xpress and the other media outlets involved an an open-records lawsuit against the Buncombe County District Attorney’s office and the city of Asheville received word that Judge Bradley Letts had dismissed their push for the release of an audit of the Asheville Police Department evidence room.
Attorneys lay out arguments in evidence room audit lawsuit
Attorneys for an alliance of local media (including Xpress), the city of Asheville and Buncombe County District Attorney Ron Moore laid out arguments before Judge Bradley Letts this morning over whether or not an audit of the Asheville Police Department evidence room should be released. Letts will likely issue a ruling within the next 30 days. Photo by Max Cooper.
District attorney, evidence room auditor file affidavits in open records case
Buncombe County District Attorney Ron Moore and Mike Wright, who audited the Asheville Police Department’s old evidence room, have filed affidavits in response to the open records lawsuit from local media (including Xpress), seeking the release of the audit.
Affidavit filed as evidence room lawsuit nears its day in court
Lawyers representing a coalition of local media (including Xpress) have filed an affidavit to bolster the case for the release of an audit of the Asheville Police Department evidence room. The lawsuit goes before a judge Sept. 4.
City Attorney’s request for APD audit recommendations
In this July 26 letter, City Attorney Bob Oast requests that Buncombe County District Attorney Ron Moore release part of the undisclosed Asheville Police Department evidence room audit containing recommendations for improving the facility’s practices.
Asheville evidence room public records lawsuit goes to court Sept. 4
The lawsuit filed by five local media outlets, including Xpress, to obtain the Asheville Police Department evidence room audit will go before Judge Bradley B. Letts on Sept. 4.
Asheville City Council preview: evidence room, water, skateboards and more
It promises to be a busy meeting for Asheville City Council tonight, as it receives the first public report focusing on the evidence room audit. But that’s not all: allowing skateboarding downtown and state legislation on the possible take-over of the city’s water system are also before Council.
Council will hear first public presentation on evidence room audit July 24
A Blueline Systems representative will give City Council a July 24 presentation on the Asheville Police Department evidence room audit the company completed earlier this year. The content of the presentation, requested by Mayor Terry Bellamy, is unknown.
The evidence room audit lawsuit
The full legal complaint from a coalition of local media calling for the release of the audit of guns, drugs and money missing from the Asheville Police Department evidence room.
Local media sue DA, city of Asheville over evidence room records
Xpress and four other local media outlets are suing District Attorney Ron Moore and the city of Asheville, seeking to make public the audit of guns, drugs, and money missing from the Asheville Police Department evidence room.
Missing evidence, concealed report
The Asheville Police Department will hire a new evidence-room manager, but an audit of absent items remains under wraps despite a mounting media push for disclosure.
APD Chief stays mum on evidence room details, looking for new manager
Speaking with media this morning, Asheville Police Department Chief William Anderson wouldn’t answer questions about the extent of missing, guns, drugs, and money from the APD evidence room, or when the public will see the unrevealed audit. The APD is looking for a new, civilian evidence room manager, something Anderson believes will hasten “the healing process.” Photo by Max Cooper.
State office denies request for APD evidence audit, more local media join push for release
The state administrative office of the courts has denied a records request from local media for the audit of the Asheville Police Department evidence room, but a NC Press Association attorney maintains the audit should be public record. Meanwhile, more media have joined a push to release the audit.
Asheville’s local media call for DA to release evidence room audit
Today, an array of local media has united in a call for District Attorney Ron Moore to release the audit of missing guns, drugs and money from the Asheville Police Department evidence room. A joint statement declares that Moore’s actions in ignoring open records requests for months “are not in compliance with either state law or the practices of transparent government.”
Two months later, District Attorney still won’t release evidence room records
More than two months ago, Xpress requested a copy of the audit of the Asheville Police Department’s evidence room from District Attorney Ron Moore. We have received no reply. According to attorneys from the North Carolina Press Association, the audit should be public record, and Moore’s behavior violates the state’s open records law.
Is Asheville’s government transparent?
Readers, we’d like to know your experience with local government transparency, especially with regards to open records.