Alex Pearlstein

Even humble burgs like Mount Airy, N.C., inspiration for Mayberry on the "Andy Griffith Show," are experiencing the trend. A local tobacco warehouse there will be redeveloped into 43 market-rate apartments. Has technology made location irrelevant?

Differences between largely rural, conservative northern Maine and the more urban and progressive southern half of the state are growing wider, with conflicts coming to a head over the preservation of Maine's famous North Woods.

Fittingly, the woman who was celebrated as the Detroit Piston's one-millionth fan of the season had recently been laid off work. With their local economy continuing to struggle, Detroiters take solace in the success of local professional sports.

Poway, California, wants to take the afternoon off on May 22. In an attempt to reduce community stress and bring families together, the town will celebrate Family Focus Night between the hours of 5 and 9 p.m.

Preservationists, historians, and amateur urban sleuths are scouring U.S. neighborhoods to identify and protect as many of the 70,000 to 100,000 "kit" homes made by Sears, Roebuck and Company as possible.