There used to be two big independent papers in the Triangle: Spectator and Independent.
The former was full of information about local events, movies, restaurants. The latter had some of the best political and social writing anywhere.
Then, several years ago, the two papers fused into one and Independent Weekly was born, putting together the best of both worlds. It is an indispensable weekly read for the Triangle folks.
Chapel Hill has its own local indy paper - the Daily Tar Heel (which I should get into the habit of getting regularly).
Now, Carrboro is getting its own - the Carrboro Citizen. The first issue is due on March 21st. The founders are Robert Dickson and Kirk Ross who is the former editor of Independent Weekly as well as a busy blogger, running Exile on Jones Street, The Cape Fear Mercury and The Mill, on top of being a front-pager on Orange Politics and BlueNC.
As Kirk explains, The Mill will serve as the newspaper's blog, and Exile on Jones Street and Cape Fear Mercury will serve as editor's blogs, putting out ideas for citizens to dissect before the final version makes it into the paper, as well as getting article ideas from the local citizens.
Carrboro Commons is a student-oriented local paper, while Carrboro Citizen will be targeting the town more than gown. The two should work in synergy with each other.
You can learn more about the project in Raleigh News & Observer, Carrboro Commons, Chapel Hill News and Daily Tar Heel (again here), as well as on blogs like Orange Politics, Citizen Will, Yesh, The Mill and The Real Paul Jones.
I am looking forward to this very much, knowing the people behind it. I hope they put a newspaper rack here in Southern Village so I can get it promptly every week (I am in Carrboro every Tuesday night, and the CC will be coming out on Wednesdays).
