Reader Donna Bickford, who wrote us a guest column after correspondent Amanda Keener's recent stories on human trafficking, emailed us today that the Polaris Project has upgraded North Carolina from Tier 2 to Tier 1 status among the 50 states based on legislation to combat the problem.

There are an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 trafficking victims -- essentially modern-day slaves -- in the United States, and North Carolina is among the top 10 states where trafficking has been reported, according to agencies that work on the problem.

The Washington-based Polaris Project began tracking anti-trafficking laws in 2007 when only 28 states had anti-trafficking criminal statutes. As of July 31, the number of states with anti-trafficking criminal statutes, including the District of Columbia, has grown to 48 with sex trafficking offenses and 50 with labor trafficking offenses.

As of July 31, 2012, 21 states are now rated in Tier 1, up from 11 states in 2011. Tier 1 states have passed "significant laws" against trafficking. Twenty-eight states (55 percent ) passed new laws to fight human trafficking in the past year, according to the Polaris Project.

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

CATS GET MORE ROOM: Some community members have been asking the county to give cats at the animal shelter more room. Now Orange County Animal Services director Bob Marotto says changes are being made to do just that. Find out what's happening in Tammy Grubb's story.

FAIR TAXI FARES: My View columnist Mark Zimmerman says the town is going to drive taxi companies out of town with a heavyhanded regulatory approach. The town already faces a lawsuit over its towing rules and will revisit its food truck rules after no one applied. Are the taxi rules heading down the same road? Tell us what you think at editor@newsobserver.com

GROUPS TARGET MODERN SLAVERY: We didn't plan it to coincide with today's national news, but today we start a 2-part look at what groups in the Triangle are doing to fight human trafficking. North Carolina ranks eighth among the states, according to groups raising awareness about the problem. Amanda Keener has our report.

Dave Hart reports how Ernie Dollar and the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill are adapting to the digital age. Ryan Cocca sits in with the folks at Fusion Youth Radio, and sports editor Elliott Warnock and recreation columnist Randy Young tag team on ... fishing. Do make time to read Elliott's wonderful column, and check out Randy's photo on page 9.

What's on your mind? And thanks for reading,

Mark