Inquiring mayors want to know:

"This is going to be the last stop where citizens are going to need to tell the council, 'Stop, don't issue the bonds, we don't want you to increase taxes over the next X number of years as we amortize that debt," [Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy] said. "I ask for that, I want to see that, because I've heard from citizens that our taxes are too high and I don't want to hear from citizens next year, after it's too late, 'We really didn't want you to spend $16 million on the library.' "

- heraldsun.com: Mayor solicits public on library expansion, 9/10/08

So let's tell him.

Looks like Tropical Storm Hanna will veer to the east of us, but things can change, and either way we're in for a pile of rain this weekend. What are you doing to get ready?

It's August, and the students' return just adds to the overall sweat quotient of Chapel Hill...

This week we discussed the closure of a path that connects Village Drive in Chapel Hill to Pleasant Drive in Carrboro through Estes Park apartments. The trail crosses private property, but also includes the only access point to a town-owned parcel of land, and also provides the only safe route for pedestrians and cyclists between Estes Drive and downtown.

With Orange County restoring the hours at it's branch locations, I thought I'd ask how often you tend to use them. I know mnay people go to the Chapel Hill Library, which is separate from the County system, but for the purposes of this question, just tell us how often you go to any municipal or county library in Orange County (ie: not UNC).

In the comments, please tell us what's your favorite library and why.

This week, the Independent Weekly reported that the News & Observer, which owns the Chapel Hill News, is eliminating the positions of the publisher Brenda Larson, editor Don Evans, and Carrboro beat reporter Meiling Arrounarath.

Felicia Gressette is the N&O's vice president of marketing, and she will now be filling in for the two publishers being eliminated from four local papers. She says of the changes: "I honestly don't think the readers will notice a thing." Spoken like a true marketing hack, madam!

This week's poll question is: Will you notice the change at the Chapel Hill News?  Please discuss how it may change your reading habits or your information diet in the comments.

OK, we were pretty critical of the local media last week. Now let's give credit where it's due. What's your favorite local media outlet - especially for coverage of local issues? Tell us why in the comments.

I am limiting it to radio, print, or online publications (ie: no TV) with some journalistic mission and specific coverage of Orange County and who have at least some paid staff. (In alphabetical order.)

I am in Minneapolis at the National Conference for Media Reform so I thought I'd ask what y'all think about our local media choices in Orange County. Do they provide enough coverage of the isues that matter? Is it accurate and trustworthy? Are they investigating the dark corners that are in need of sunlight?

And since we are talking about grades in school, if you had to grade our local media outlets, what would you give them?

Please answer what you think should happen. You can discuss whether or not it will happen in the comments.