Today starts with a trip to Raleigh for the editors retreat. I've been asked to talk about some of the ways we try to reach out to readers on our community papers: features like our front page My View columns, solicited guest commentary, fun stuff like the Best Shot and more. I'll also talk about active vs. passive journalism and ways we are trying to involve you, the readers, in the news gathering process.

Before we get to the headlines, I want to say thanks again to columnist Robert Wallace and all the Durham News My Viewers who read at the Regulator last Wednesday night. We had a great turnout, and I was moved by several of the essays. It's one thing to read these as they come in by email; quite another to hear folks like Kifu Faruq read them aloud. I had a blast.

In today's news:

PRAYER VIGIL: In today's N&O (too late for today's DN) read how police are still seeking the killer(s) of Guess Road restaurant owner Mohammed Sundal and how you can help the family as they prepare to now leave the Triangle. Here is the link.

CRUELTY CASE: As we first reported on www.thedurhamnews.com last night, read how the APS of Durham is trying to find a home for Remy, a pit bull boxer mix found tied up with no food or water last summer. Her former owner pleaded guilty yesterday to misdemeanor cruelty to animals (if you go to the link and look at the photo in full view you can see the ribs). Here is the link.

LEAVING LINCOLN: In today's print DN, Jim Wise write about Alta Green, one of the displaced Lincoln Apartment tenants. Jim was there to write and photograph Housing for New Hope workers help Green relocate. But as he notes, many other families still wait for help. Here is the link.

We've got a killer photo from staff photojournalist Chuck Liddy of rehearsals for this week's Christmas-themed play at Southern High School, columns by Connie Campanaro on Durham's disconnected youth and by Margaret Coates on why it's time to protect primates used in medical research. Plus ArtsWeek, local sports and more.

Coming up Dec. 19: Our 2012 Current Events Quiz, and a chance for you to win free movie tickets.

Thanks for reading,

Mark

Some schools show Obama; others want parental consent

You've probably already heard about some of the controversy about President Barack Obama's address to students Tuesday. We ran a story yesterday about what some of the local schools and politicians are saying.

Durham Public Schools say it'll be up to individual principals to decide whether or not to stream the speech. But I know one school that'll definitely be watching: Southern High is getting a visit the day of the speech from Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson.

The White House is sending officials from different departments to schools around the region to encourage students to work hard and watch the live streams with classes.

Obama is not the first president to directly address students, but he's being accused of pushing a political agenda during the height of the health care debate. Then again, the White House is planning to release an advance copy of the speech Monday to quell parental fears.

What do you think about Obama's plan to speak directly to students Tuesday?

Two weeks ago, we blogged about Lisa Pineiro, CEO of Technical Services Inc., as a heads up about her effort to recruit more females to the construction and contracting industry.

On Saturday, we brought you the full story about her work with female students over at Southern High School.

In case you missed it, there was also an audio slide show.

Though Southern High School has a separate Construction and Architectural Design Academy within the school, few female students end up participating.

But the field can be rewarding and lucrative. Lisa Pineiro, CEO of Technical Services Inc., wants to encourage female students to explore the field.

Pineiro (pictured here) has recruited more than a dozen Southern cheerleaders to spend the next three Thursdays learning how to use hand tools in carpentry.

Once they complete their basic training, they'll assemble playground equipment for a Habitat for Humanity house next month.

Pineiro, who lives in Bahama, says if other students see the popular cheerleaders -- often the girliest girls at school -- to explore a field that's traditionally seen as a man's world, then maybe more young women will catch on.