Casino Vote Divides Lumbee Tribe
Some tribal members say they support gaming but question who should hold the power to make big decisions.
RECENT STORIES
Bladenboro Gets $1.6 Million to Prevent Flooding
The project, funded by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, aims to improve drainage and keep water away from downtown.
Bladen County Board of Commissioners Remains Intact
Bladen County Commissioners dropped a proposal to decrease its number of representatives after criticism from residents and advocacy organizations.
UNC Health Southeastern Partners with Local Nonprofit to Improve Care
The director of the Robeson County Church and Community Center director called the partnership “revolutionary” for health care access in rural areas.
UNC Pembroke Wants To Train More STEM Teachers
A new program will offer free tuition to students who pledge to teach math and science in the Sandhills.
Should Bladen County Have Fewer Commissioners?
The county’s governing board is larger than most in N.C. But some skeptics fear shrinking it could diminish Black voters’ power.
North Carolina’s Medical School Boom
New schools in Charlotte and Fayetteville—and soon Wilmington—could help ease the state’s doctor shortage.
Bladen County School Closure Puts Summer Camp at Risk
Men and Women United for Youth and Families hosts a 10-week program at East Arcadia School, which will close in June.
In Wide-Ranging New Exhibition of Native American Artists, Ancestral Knowledge Animates the Stories of Today
‘Stories Told By Breath: Native American Voices in North Carolina’ is on display at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design through September 26.
Politics / Government
Columbus County Agrees to Pay Lawyer Fees In Our Public Records Case
A judge ordered the county to cover partial costs of lawyers who have represented The Assembly and Border Belt Independent in the case.
Thom Tillis to the Lumbee Tribe: ‘Make Me Proud’
Tribal members gathered to celebrate federal recognition–and to honor their ancestors and lawmakers who helped along the way.
Border Belt Schools Say They Need More Local Money to Fill Budget Gaps
Meanwhile, county leaders say they are also struggling to keep up with rising costs for services.
Border Belt Counties Push Back Against Proposed Changes to Property Taxes
Local leaders say counties should determine property revaluations and tax rates, not the North Carolina legislature.
Education
Data Point: How Many Border Belt Students Get Private School Vouchers?
More students in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson, and Scotland counties received taxpayer-funded Opportunity Scholarships this year.
These UNC System Schools Want to Create Three-Year Degrees
Eleven of the system’s 16 universities proposed new reduced-credit undergraduate programs, which are gaining popularity across the country.
Teachers From Across N.C. Rally for More Pay, Better Funding
At least 20 districts closed on Friday as thousands of educators gathered outside the General Assembly for the “Kids Over Corporations” event.
A Family’s Fight for Education Spans Generations
Long before the Leandro case began in 1994, Angus Thompson’s ancestors advocated for equality in Robeson County public schools.
Health
What the Medicaid Deal Means for the Border Belt
The legislature approved $319 million to keep the program afloat for more than 3 million recipients across North Carolina.
Behavioral Health Urgent Care Set to Open in Robeson County
The facility will be open 24 hours a day to help patients who are experiencing a mental health or substance misuse crisis.
State Approves Plans for Two Hospitals Near Brunswick-Columbus County Line
N.C. regulators gave the preliminary go-ahead to Columbus Regional Healthcare System and Novant Health to build hospitals seven miles apart.
Cape Fear Valley Health Names Daniel Weatherly as New CEO
After a five-week search, the Cape Fear Valley Health System Board of Trustees named Daniel Weatherly as its new chief executive officer on Wednesday.