Robeson County Faith Group Opposes Plan to Move Confederate Statue to a Public Park
The Ministers for Justice group says the courthouse monument should not be in a highly visible location.
RECENT STORIES
‘Death By a Thousand Cuts’
EOD techs have the highest rate of suicide in the service. Veterans say there’s been little progress on protecting them.
Data Point: Border Belt Counties Are Among the Most Economically Distressed in N.C.
Bladen, Columbus, Robeson, and Scotland counties rank among the most challenged in four key economic development indicators.
State Board of Elections Will Set Early-Voting Schedule in Columbus County
The local elections board disagreed on whether to offer Sunday early voting for the 2026 primary in March.
Bladen Community College to Host Child Care Academies to Train Future Teachers
North Carolina awarded grants to 15 colleges to offer free training to child care specialists to address the statewide shortage.
Columbus Regional and Novant Health Make Their Case for New Hospital Plans
Both health care systems had public hearings this month about their proposals to build community hospitals along the U.S. 74 corridor.
How Tupac Came to Rest in North Carolina
The cremated remains of the rapper, still omnipresent three decades after his death, now lie in a Lumberton grave.
Fayetteville-Based Company Wants to Give Workers with Criminal Records a Second Chance
D3 Delivery received funding from the city to pilot a program aimed at helping people who were incarcerated or recovering from addiction.
After Decades of Fighting, Congress Recognizes the Lumbee
President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes Lumbee recognition, into law.
Politics / Government
Who’s Running in Bladen County Elections in 2026?
Voters will cast ballots in national, state, and local elections in a March primary and November general election.
Who’s Running in Scotland County Elections in 2026?
Voters will cast ballots in national, state, and local elections in a March primary and November general election.
Who’s Running in Robeson County Elections in 2026?
The filing period ends December 19 for next year’s election, when voters will cast ballots in national, state, and local elections.
Congress Includes Lumbee Recognition in Defense Spending Bill
The North Carolina tribe has been seeking full federal recognition for more than a century. The latest effort comes after President Trump began pushing for Lumbee recognition.
Education
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott Donates Millions to Community Colleges in Border Belt
The philanthropist gave Robeson Community College $24 million and Bladen Community College $12 million.
UNC System Weighs Requiring Course Syllabi to be Public
Campuses have reached different conclusions about whether syllabi are public records. Now the UNC System wants to dictate that they are.
Head Start Closures Leave Robeson County Families Scrambling for Child Care
Southeastern Community Action Partnership closed three Head Start sites in Robeson County because of the government shutdown.
Robeson County School District is Almost Off the State’s Low-Performing List
Robeson County schools came close to getting off the state’s low-performing list last school year, a sign of academic improvement for the district.
Health
Scientists Say This Chemical Could Cause Irreversible Harm. It’s Everywhere in Eastern N.C.
The discovery of TFA in blood and water samples raises questions about Chemours’ role in adding to the pollution burden.
How Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Is Shaking Up Health Care in N.C.
Some on the private market are already seeing higher premiums for 2026, and others who rely on Medicaid could lose coverage.
How Rural N.C. Lowered Overdose Deaths—But Will Struggle to Keep Pace
After years of fighting rising rates of overdoses, communities have been reversing the trend.
Border Belt Sees Drop in Fatal Drug Overdoses
Bladen, Columbus, Robeson, and Scotland counties saw significant decreases in the number of fatal drug overdoses in 2024.