NEWS It's been a long time since The Stranger's news section has been this good—and by "good" I mean slightly less disastrous than the norm. First up: THOMAS FRANCIS on a neighborhood crime watch. Once you awake from your coma: JOSH FEIT dithers over so-called threats against emergency contraception (fitting, since I often find Feit's journalism works as splendid contraception in and of itself). And rounding out the section: ERICA C. BARNETT on a local restaurant embroiled in the current immigration mess (fascinating!), and ELI SANDERS (once again!) on politics in the 43rd District.PLUS: CounterIntel, In the Hall, Police Beat, and In Other News

FEATURE The Rise of the SouthDon't let the title fool you: This week's feature story, penned by HANNAH LEVIN, has nothing to do with the glorious land of Jefferson Davis. Instead, it's yet another helping of standard-fare drivel related to local rock and/or roll, this time tackling the incredibly nonpressing subject of the Tacoma music scene. Evidently the quarter of the paper set aside on a weekly basis for a genre that hasn't been relevant since 1968 isn't enough. Like cancer, the music section is metastasizing.