FOIA Request to Town of Ruth regarding new or amended contracts on February 1, 2026.
On February 1, 2026, Old North News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Town of Ruth in North Carolina. The request seeks access to records under the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. ยง132-1. Specifically, the media organization is requesting copies of new contracts and any amendments to existing contracts that were executed, approved, or became effective during the immediately preceding calendar month.
The requested records include details such as contract or amendment titles, names of contracting parties, effective and approval dates, contract amounts or amended values, and descriptions of the goods or services covered. Old North News has emphasized that this request is for records that currently exist and does not require the creation of new documents. The organization has also expressed a preference for receiving these records in electronic format.
Old North News has stated that this request is made in the interest of gathering information for public dissemination. As a member of the media involved in reporting news to the public, they argue that access to these public records is essential for holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency. They have also requested a fee waiver based on their role as media professionals.
The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating governmental agencies and promoting transparency through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
