Here's a look at today's local headlines:

First, watch OrangeChat later today for news about last night's county commissioners and aldermen meetings.

GRAFFITI GROWS: According to Chief Hutchison anyway, who says the anarchists are "marketing their territory." I called the only anarchist I know, but he said he hasn't seen an increase and told me to go look online. I had better luck in Durham, where Impact Team manager Darryl Hedgepeth called me back three times to make sure we reported how the Bull City handles its graffiti problem. Thank you, Darryl.

BIG BOX VS. BIG BUILDER: A couple of months ago now outgoing Chapel Hill economic development officer Dwight Bassett told me a Chatham WalMart could deal a crippling blow to retail demand in the southern part of Chapel Hill (Read Obey Creek). Now local business leaders including the Obey Creek developers are saying not necessarily. Read Dave Hart's story. 

THE COST OF COMPETITION: I wondered if Faith Gardner's family might think we overemphasized the finances of her competitive riding.  I had asked correspondent John Sharpe to rework the story after a first draft to play up how hard the family works to support her hobby. But Faith's mom, Adrienne wrote us a note this morning:

"It was a pleasure to work with both your writer and photographer, both of whom were so nice and professional. Mr. Sharpe was very careful to get all the details correct and I think he did a great job."

And ... Tom Hartwell reports on the closing of Pope's hardware in Cole Park Plaza in the second of our new semi-monthly business features, Lynden Harris says some kids need to be treated like kids when they break the law, and Hillsborough is considering a possible 6-cent-tax rate increase, about a $110 increase on a $200,000 house. The town is getting an early start on budget season, telling folks what it's looking at so residents can have meaningful input in this spring's budget talks.

And there's more ... Ed Holland makes OWASA's case for Jordan Lake (not everyone will agree). John Wooding has a prescritpion for culling Orange County's deer herd. And Daniel Becton gives a shout out to CHCCS guidance counselor Mary Gratch.

Thanks for reading,

Mark