A couple of updates for you from past columns are timely this week:

Last week, I wrote about a complaint from Ted Lingenheld that crime in northern Wake County, where he lives, is not listed in the North Raleigh News' Police Report. As I explained, we get that complaint occasionally.

We traditionally have listed only crimes within the city of Raleigh because the Raleigh Police Department gives us crime data in a form easier for our limited staff to work with than the information we get from the Wake County Sheriff's Office, which patrols areas outside the city.

I promised to take another stab at it; Phyllis Stephens, spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office, publicly pledged to work on it.

I'm pleased to report that Stephens, working with an information technology specialist from her office, has found a solution.

The new arrangement still isn't completely ready, but the efforts already have paid dividends. If you look at today's Police Report, you will notice that the first item -- the one that we call the "lead brief" and devote the most space to -- is about break-ins in homes in northern Wake.

As they say, knowledge is good.

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In February, I wrote about George Smith, a 70-year-old North Raleigh resident who had been evicted from his apartment. Smith lamented the plight of senior citizens. Despite a long, productive career as a chef and food service manager, illness and a mix-up in which he double paid a bill had reduced him to being homeless.

Smith is living with a friend. A former neighbor of his, Judith Valerie, took up a collection and is helping him find a new apartment. Other friends have promised more help.

With Valerie's help, Smith has enough money for a security deposit for a new apartment, but he said his application is being blocked by his old apartment, Shellbrook Apartments. They say he owes money for the condition in which he left the apartment, according to Smith.

Smith said he couldn't help that because had to leave in a hurry -- he was evicted. A representative of Shellbrook refused to comment.

We'll keep you posted.