Television used to portray small towns as tolerant, brimming with life lessons. 'Where have you gone, Barney Fife? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you....'

While newspapers in the big cities struggle, the small town press is finding things are going a bit better. People count on the local paper.

The Brookings Institution and the New York Times are convinced the federal government spends "vastly more" per person in rural areas than in the cities. Why do they continue to get this story wrong?

Having to move from one cell-phone company to another takes a trip around Robin Hood's barn, a dozen calls, and several "shorter than usual" waits. Beth Bingman would like to speak with some (else) at AT&T.