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The most powerful local government body in rural, mountainous western North Carolina is the county commission. And once that body enters into closed session -- that is, removes itself from the public eye to discuss vital issues affecting thousands of people and hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funds -- residents are essentially cut out of decision making, or, in some cases, even knowing what decisions are being made at all. This Carolina Public Press investigative series removed the secrecy to bring the public back into the process, in an investigation that ultimately prompted the release of meeting details and, in some cases, the first-time development of local policies regarding closed county commission sessions.