I’m happy to report that, in no small part due to you sharing your voice, the Administration yesterday revised the proposed FY2026 budget to restore funding for The Laurel Independent at a level that will enable them to continue operating this coming year.

Thank you to everyone who replied to the online poll I created to gather your feedback – it was helpful to know resident’s interests first-hand, and also played a role in demonstrating the breadth of community support for the local paper. Thank you also to those who expressed a “no” – I also heard your voice and the good reasons you shared. In my mind, there’s now space to continue exploring the possibilities for our paper and how best to support the connectedness it can foster for our community.

If you’re so inclined, please also consider making a small monthly donation to the paper as part of helping them continue their work.

Thank you again and please don’t hesitate to reach out on this or any other budget items you may have a question on!