A majority of statewide political candidates say government agencies that illegally withhold public records should have to pay the legal fees of those who sue to get records, a new survey shows.

Some information that never sees the light of day is concealed by accident, such as water records. Amid such goofs -- and deliberate bids for secrecy -- hope dawns for broader change to ensure transparency.

Drescher:A legislative panel recently held four days of hearings regarding the conduct of a state lawmaker.

Several say information on retirement pay is not on hand; press lawyer says it should be public.

The State Treasurer's Office is no longer making public the pensions of state retirees, citing a prohibition in a 2007 law.

A judge blocks the release of names in a Durham police sex inquiry.

Court rejects N&O suit against Easley.

Journalist refused to leave meeting on airport land loan.

Attorneys for the town of Kitty Hawk and a local newspaper debated Wednesday whether state law entitled the newspaper to legal costs incurred in a successful public records lawsuit against the town.

Under the Dome:State Rep. George Cleveland wants to make it tougher for public officials who refuse to produce public records. He wants to tag them with a misdemeanor offense.

Chatham artist Gretchen Lothrop was a reluctant gadfly at first. But being denied public records repeatedly and then winning in court on behalf of open government has made her a sunshine warrior.

Elected and appointed state officials scrambled Thursday to complete new economic disclosure statements for an ethics panel that legislators made more powerful last year after examples of its weaknesses.