Final rules for school meals take the cake

I never imagined I’d have to file a public records request for a cupcake recipe.

But when the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction last month declined to reveal “the names of the submissions in the dessert category” of the School Nutrition Association of North Carolina’s annual culinary arts contest, as I termed my ask in a chatty email, I knew it was my journalistic duty to follow the pastry. Since my only intention was to connect with a few talented bakers working in school cafeterias, I was beguiled by the possibility that the information I sought could be damaging.