Border Belt Independent

24/07/2024

Kaden Thompson is a 19-year-old author who explores his Lumbee heritage through his work. "A lot of our elders are dying," he says. "And a lot of knowledge is going with them because a lot of this is not documented."

By exploring historical events of his people, 19-year-old Lumbee author Kaden Thompson brings cultural identity to the forefront.

12/07/2024

Every North Carolina county but one is experiencing drought conditions. But Columbus County is bearing the brunt of the dry summer and is the only county in the state in an “extreme drought.”
https://borderbelt.org/columbus-county-nc-farmers-struggle-during-drought/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3dAzn6uocemZ5hTqSLoQVaYr5z0d1OrbMkZTHHNE_E3vsfl_Dk5FvMDZA_aem_0JsoBJtK_oY4UqEF0OJKDA

Columbus County in southeastern North Carolina is in an “extreme drought,” according to the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council.

11/07/2024

Robeson County, once a Democratic stronghold, has swung sharply toward Republican candidates. We interviewed dozens of people about the upcoming presidential election.

Many voters in Robeson County, NC, said Donald Trump better aligns with their views on immigration, the economy and social issues.

07/07/2024

When Whiteville decided to install sensors to detect gunshots, the police chief said the devices would allow officers to respond more quickly to emergencies and ease residents’ fears. But some other law enforcement agencies that have turned to the technology quickly abandoned it.

Flock Safety is expected to install between 20 and 30 sensors on the western side of Whiteville by the end of July.

28/06/2024

Critics of so-called "copaganda" reality shows say the episodes give viewers the wrong idea about what policing in America really looks like.

The Robeson County Sheriff's Office says its foray into "On Patrol: Live" will increase transparency. But will it really?

27/06/2024

Greg Cummings and Allen Dial have been locked in a political quagmire since the November election, when Dial won by 19 votes. Cummings challenged the results all the way to Wake County Superior Court, where he argued that at least 11 voters cast ballots from outside town limits.

Following an evidentiary hearing on Tuesday, the Robeson County Board of Elections was expected to decide the next step: Dismiss Cummings’ protest and allow Dial to become mayor, recount the votes, or order a new election. But the board delayed its decision, citing a possible conflict of interest.

✍️ Ben Rappaport

Full story: https://borderbelt.org/robeson-county-elections-board-delays-ruling-on-pembroke-mayor/

26/06/2024

The board cited a possible conflict of interest in its decision to hold off on next steps to resolve allegations associated with last November's election.

The Robeson County Board of Elections delayed ruling on the Pembroke mayor case, citing a possible conflict of interest.

25/06/2024

Mison Mickle pleaded guilty to charges related to three sexual assaults at the university in Scotland County.

A former St. Andrews University student-athlete pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting three women on campus in North Carolina.

25/06/2024

Scotland County was the first county to pilot the Cuts and Conversations program in North Carolina. The county also became one of eight in the country to pass a proclamation making June Men’s Health Month at a recent commissioners’ meeting.

🌰 https://borderbelt.org/fighting-back-against-prostate-cancer-in-scotland-county
✍️ Ben Rappaport

20/06/2024

🎨 How would you define art? Can it really be defined?

The Border Belt Independent spoke with three artists from Laurinburg who show that there is art to everything we do and how you can make a career out of it in the process.

Left to right: Keith Stephens, 42, is an art teacher at Scotland High School. Gwen Rainer, 73, is a retired educator who taught at Scotland High School. Sommore Terry, 27, is a fifth-grade math teacher in Laurinburg and studio owner of Creative Expressions Dance Academy.

📱 Read more: https://borderbelt.org/get-to-know-three-laurinburg-artists/

18/06/2024

“This is my community chair,” said Greg McMillan, a barber in Wagram whose shop hosted an event geared toward men's health. “And anything you want to say in it, from girl problems to cancer, I’ll listen.”

Scotland County was the first in NC to host the Cuts & Conversations program aimed at raising awareness about prostate cancer.

15/06/2024

Cynthia Mitchell, who has been the director of Beverly’s Day Care in Columbus County for 36 years, has always had a tough job. But it’s gotten even harder since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused a drop in enrollment and a spike in supply costs.

Funding from North Carolina’s Child Care Stabilization Grants helped Mitchell stay afloat. Since 2021, the pandemic relief program has infused over $960 million into child care centers across the state to pay staff and cover other costs.

Mitchell said she used the money allocated to Beverly’s Day Care to give employees raises and pay for sick leave. “It helped out a lot,” she said.

But money from the stabilization funds is set to run out at the end of June, which advocates say could lead to the closure of as many as 1,500 child care centers throughout the state. Child care advocates are urging state lawmakers to free up money in the budget to keep the program going. The state is projected to have a $1 billion budget surplus this year.

📱 Link in bio for full story
✍️ Story by Rachel Baldauf
📸 Photos by Les High

14/06/2024

With pandemic money for child care centers set to run out, advocates warn that some facilities will be forced to close, reduce staff or raise tuition. The situation is especially dire in poor communities like those in rural southeastern North Carolina, where families who need child care are already more cost-burdened.

Funding from North Carolina’s Child Care Stabilization Grants have helped child care centers stay open. But the money is set to go away.

12/06/2024

Robeson and Scotland counties grew between 2020 and 2023, as did much of rural North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robeson and Scotland counties grew between 2020 and 2023, mirroring population increases across much of rural North Carolina during COVID.

10/06/2024

School leaders in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties have asked county commissioners to bump up funding to increase employees’ pay and fill gaps left by the loss of federal COVID-19 relief money.

School boards in rural southeastern NC are asking for increases in local spending to fund mandatory salary raises and fill pandemic gaps.

04/06/2024

“It’s all just lies out there,” Kamuri Vereen, who is graduating from Fairmont High School. “It’s like, why should I vote for you? You’re not really going to make a change here, you just want the power.”

Some graduating seniors at Fairmont High School don't plan to vote in November because they doubt change will happen in their community.

31/05/2024

Two stabbings in less than a month at Scotland Correctional Institution in Laurinburg have brought renewed scrutiny to the prison that has been plagued with reports of mistreatment, unsafe conditions and overcrowding.

Two recent stabbings highlight safety concerns at Scotland Correctional, one of North Carolina’s largest prisons.

29/05/2024

Want to win a $50 Walmart gift card?

The Border Belt Independent has launched a new audience survey to help improve our newsletter and our coverage. If you fill it out, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $50 Walmart gift card. It takes less than five minutes and will be a huge help to us.

Thank you for supporting the Border Belt Independent. We're conducting this survey to find new ways we can improve our newsletter to better serve our readers.

22/05/2024

Hurricane Florence dumped 36 inches of rain on Elizabethtown in 2018, the storm’s highest rainfall total in the state. Like most municipalities across rural southeastern North Carolina, the Bladen County town lacks any budget to prevent flooding and erosion caused by heavy rainfall.

Like most municipalities across rural southeastern North Carolina, Elizabethtown lacks money to prevent flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

17/05/2024

The Emerging Technology Institute asked the town of Red Springs to reimburse $1.1 million in state taxpayer funds for “service, salaries and goods” related to a military training center and STEM education venture, NC Newsline reported.

The NC Office of State Budget and Management questioned possible reimbursements for ETI in the town of Red Springs.

16/05/2024

https://borderbelt.org/qa-stacie-kinlaw-roar-robeson-county/
Helping prevent child abuse and adverse childhood experiences is a goal of this Robeson County group.

15/05/2024

Horace Locklear was the first Native American licensed attorney in North Carolina and the second Native American to serve in the state General Assembly.

Horace Locklear, a Robeson County native and Lumbee trailblazer in North Carolina law and politics, died on May 5, 2024. He was 81.

14/05/2024

Scotland County Schools is one of 17 school districts in North Carolina that are part of the pilot program for SparkNC, which teaches students about technology like robotics and animation.

Scotland County Schools is one of 17 school districts in North Carolina that are part of the pilot program for SparkNC.

09/05/2024

Robert A. Worley was suspended from his duties as a Columbus County magistrate on Wednesday after being accused of using private court records for personal use.

Robert A. Worley was suspended from his duties as a Columbus County magistrate, North Carolina court documents show.

08/05/2024

We asked local teachers why so many school employees are leaving. Their answers reveal a system of changing demands, long hours for little pay and a lack of involvement from parents.

By Ben Rappaport [email protected] It’s an epic vocal trio of Aaron Burr, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Tensions are rising within George Washington’s presidential cabinet. Jefferson can’t take it anymore. “If there’s a fire you’re trying to douse,” Jefferson raps in th...

07/05/2024

https://borderbelt.org/qa-with-jenny-phelps-bringing-community-together-for-the-special-olympics/
Jenny Phelps says organizing a large event like Special Olympics Scotland County is challenging, but it will warm your heart.

Jenny Phelps coordinated Special Olympics Scotland County for the first time this year. The athletes bring a smile to your face, she says.

07/05/2024

In case you missed it: A superior court judge denied an appeal in a case alleging voter bribery in Robeson County’s primary election.

A Wake County Superior Court Judge denied an appeal in a case alleging voter bribery in Robeson County’s primary election.

06/05/2024

Robeson ranked third and Columbus ranked sixth in the study, which looked at the number of traffic deaths per 10,000 people between 2018 and 2021.

Robeson and Columbus counties are among the top 10 most dangerous counties in the United States for drivers, according to a new analysis.

01/05/2024

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01/05/2024

https://borderbelt.org/qa-with-amber-bellamy-dream-center-makes-positive-impact-in-community/

Amber Bellamy didn't think she'd come home after graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill, but she's had an impact on thousands of children who have come through its doors.