MSNBC.com relaunches EveryBlock.com

MSNBC.com, which bought hyper-local news site EveryBlock.com in 2009, has redesigned and relaunched the site.

The new site adds a new dimension to local interaction — allowing users to post news items meant for their neighbors, such as an upcoming yard sale or lost pet. Posts also give users the ability to react to posts by “thanking” their neighbors.

The key to the new concept is dropping the concept of “friends” that most social networking sites use and instead relies on geographic connections based on neighborhoods.