In addition to providing people with compelling stories and photography, newspapers supply the raw materials to piece together ransom notes demanding more newspaper subscriptions. Demand to be informed with today’s Groupon: for $10, you get a six-month subscription to the Howard County Times (a $24.99 value).

Each Thursday morning residents peer onto their doorsteps in eager anticipation of the weekly news as recounted by Howard County’s local reporting source, the Howard County Times. Daily stories inform on the happenings of regional politics regarding everything from mayoral job-creation strategies to educational plans to replace chalkboards with giant Etch-A-Sketches. Reporters follow the exploits of high-school and rec-league athletes in the sports section as readers express their concerns and opinions in letters to the editor. Stay in touch with local commerce by exploring business reports or simply try out a new movie or restaurant on the advice of an entertainment columnist's popular scratch-and-sniff reviews.