Newberry Publishing Co. v. Newberry County Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse

**What Happened** Newberry Publishing Company, a newspaper, sued the Newberry County Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse to get access to records under South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The newspaper wanted to see a criminal investigative report, but the government agency refused to release any part of it, claiming the entire document was protected from public disclosure. **What the Court Decided** The South Carolina Supreme Court sided with the newspaper and overturned the lower court's decision. The court ruled that government agencies cannot simply refuse to release entire documents when only some parts contain sensitive information. Instead, agencies must review documents carefully, separate the confidential portions from the public information, and release the parts that can legally be shared with the public. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling strengthens workers' rights to access government information that could affect their workplace or community. When government agencies investigate employers or workplace issues, workers and the media can now demand to see non-confidential parts of those reports. This promotes transparency and helps workers stay informed about investigations involving their employers or local government agencies.