Here is a look at today's local headlines:

MOM'S WORDS: Jurors in Brian Minton's trial sat through horrific testimony. But, as Tammy Grubb reports, equally if not more emotional were the words of Steve and Julie Bailey, the parents of Josh Bailey.  Read interviews with three jurors in today's paper.

OCCUPY'S NEXT PHASE: The alternative commencement at UNC is under way this morning alongside the main event. Read why some activists are protesting New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as UNC's commencement speaker and what's next for the movement. Monica Chen reports.

DUAL LANGUAGE REPORT: If you're a betting person, the recommendation to end Dual Language Mandarin instruction is probably DOA after massive opposition. But turning Frank Porter Graham into a Spanish magnet elementary? More complicated, Dave Hart reports.

For those who missed it, Chapel Hill's cell phone ban is on hold (new towing rules too), the county commissioners are getting close to deciding whether to put a sales tax on the ballot for mass transit (read what Benjamin Haven and James Carnahan have to say about that), and Virginia Lee graces us with her first guest column, 'Stories Grandmama never told me.' (I met 'V,' a few months ago and she dropped the opening line of today's column in conversation. I said you have to write about that, and so she did.)

I caught "Marley" yesterday at the Chelsea. If you've already seen the Avengers or comic book movies aren't your thing, this documentary is a riveting, rollicking look at reggae icon Bob Marley, an amazing, creative life cut short at 36.

Thanks for reading,

Mark

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

HOTEL, APARTMENTS PROPOSED: A developer will bring a plan to the Town Council later this month for a hotel and student apartments at the corner of Estes Drive and MLK Boulevard across from Amity Church. The change would require a rezoning and appears aimed at serving the future Carolina North campus planned for across the boulevard.

UNPAID SCHOOL LUNCH TAB: The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education wants to forgive about $45K in unpaid lunch tabs. In some cases, parents owe more than $600. Tom Hartwell reports the board voted 4-2 against sending the unpaid bills to a collection agency.

BRUSHSTROKES: BEIJING: In this month's visual arts column Debbie Meyer interviews Barbara Tyroler about her exhibit opening this month at the FedEx center on the UNC campus. Debbie has also started a monthly arts feature in our sister publication, The Durham News.

Former Mayor Ken Broun responds to Chas Gaertner's downtown criticism in today's letters (Broun has bought a unit in 140 West and says the project is a sign of good things to come). Also in today's letters, writer Judy Hogan says poet Jacki Shelton Green needs your help.

And in other news today, look for a report later today on last night's meeting of the Chapel Hill Community Policing Commitee (lots of talk there about what defines a "critical incident" and how to respone to one), and we'll get opening arguments in the first trial associated with the nine accused killers of Josh Bailey four years ago. Tammy Grubb is in the courtroom.

And tonight, Dave Hart will be in Carrboro for a forum for candidates for the Orange County Board of Commissioners District 1 seat: incumbent Pam Hemminger, Chapel Hill Town Council member Penny Rich and former Carrboro Alderman Mark Dorosin are seeking two seats.

Thanks for reading,

Mark

Two young men accused in the murder of Josh Bailey (left), a mentally ill man forced to dig his own grave and then shot two years ago, pleaded guilty today and will testify against the other suspects at trial.

Jack Johnson II pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. He faces up to 30 years in prison, but Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour postponed sentencing until after he testifies.

Eight other defendants still face charges related to Bailey's murder.

Ryan Lee pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact in a murder and to kidnapping. He will serve 12 to 15 months in prison on the kidnapping charge and will be sentenced on the murder accessory charge after he testifies.

Bailey, 20, was found dead in September 2008, his body shrouded in plastic, in the woods of northern Chatham County. Prosecutors say he was abducted in July by acquaintances he thought were friends.

Bailey died from a gunshot wound to the back of his head and may have suffered a second shot that broke his rib, according to a medical examiner's report.

"This young man was forced to dig his own grave," wrote Dr. Kevin Greene, who examined the body.

Greene also said Bailey's ribs and leg bones showed "tool marks." Authorities say some of Bailey's killers dug up his body from the crime scene off Twisted Oak Drive in Chapel Hill and reburied it near Jordan Lake in Chatham County about a month after the shooting July 29, 2008.

Look for more on this story in tomorrow's News & Observer.

What is it like to have a friend murdered and you are left with only the memories?

Anna Hosford, the young woman I wrote about in today's story on the walk for Josh's Hope, told me her friend Josh Bailey used to always listen to this song on her computer, "Good Morning Beautiful."

So I just looked it up. It's by Steve Holy off an album called "Blue Moon." You can watch Holy sing it here, and here are the lyrics: 

Good morning beautiful
How was your night
Mine was wonderful
With you by my side
And when I open my eyes
And see your sweet face
It's a good morning beautiful day

I didn't see the light
I didn't know day from night
I had no reason to care
But since you came along
I can face the dawn
Cause I know you'll be there

Good morning beautiful
How was your night
Mine was wonderful
With you by my side
And when I open my eyes
And see your sweet face
It's a good morning beautiful day

I'll never worry
If it's raining outside
Cause in here with you girl
The sun always shines

Good morning beautiful
How was your night
Mine was wonderful
With you by my side
And when I open my eyes
And see your sweet face
It's a good morning beautiful day, yeah

A good morning beautiful...day

Good morning beautiful
A beautiful day
Good morning beautiful
Good morning beautiful
A beautiful day
Good morning beautiful day
A beautiful day
Good morning beautiful

Anna Hosford only has to look at her wrist to remember her friend Josh Bailey. A tattoo on the inside, just above her palm, reads "Smile JB."

Hosford, a slim, pretty 21-year-old from Durham, had transferred to UNC from Wake Forest her sophomore year. She'd take her homework to Caribou Coffee where she met Bailey. Friendly, with an easy smile, he became a good friend, watching "Anchorman" and other Will Ferrell moves in her dorm room and listening to Rascal Flatts.

"I had a lot of difficulty that year," she says. "When I was sad, he would write me notes and say smile."

Hosford was one of about 100 walkers and supporters yesterday in the Walk with Purpose. The fundraiser for the Mental Health Association in Orange County will help provide housing and other services for other young people like Bailey, who had bipolar disorder and learning disabilities, and Hosford, who has bipolar disorder.

Josh's godmother, Lyn Giddens, organized the walk. His parents, Steve and Julie, who works as a family advocate at the association, pinned buttons on T shirts with their son's picture.  

Bailey's body was found last summer near Jordan Lake. An autopsy determined he had been forced to dig his own grave and then shot in the head and the body later moved. Six young men are charged with murder.      

At Sunday's walk John Holt, 20, wore a blue T-shirt that said "In loving memory Joshua McCabe Bailey." He'd gone to McDougle Elementary and played basketball with Bailey growing up.

"My mom had told me," he said. "I knew when he was missing it probably wasn't a good sign."

Bailey was supposed to come to a cookout about two months before he was killed. "I hadn't seen him for years, but it didn't work out, " Holt said. "I wish I could have seen him more recently than I did."

Holt wore the blue T-shirt to a hearing for one of the people charged in connection with Bailey's murder. "I think it meant a lot to his parents," he said. "We're not gonna forget who he is."