FOIA Request to Yancey County regarding vendor payment registers on January 15, 2026.
On January 15, 2026, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Yancey County in North Carolina by High Country Times. The request seeks access to vendor payment registers maintained by the county for the period from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. Specifically, the records requested include the names of vendors paid by the county, dates and amounts of payments made, and descriptions of goods or services purchased.
High Country Times is a media organization dedicated to delivering comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. The requestor is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that assists media companies and public advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies using Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website here.
The requester has also sought a fee waiver citing their role as a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to these public records is deemed essential for fulfilling professional responsibilities such as holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency.
In related educational news within Yancey County, it was reported that out of 136 senior students taking the science portion of the ACT in Yancey County school districts during the 2022-23 school year, only 34 students (25%) were considered ready for college.
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.
