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Scotland County Voter Guide 2024

By Sarah Nagem and Ben Rappaport Scotland County voters will cast ballots in federal, state and local races this fall. Early voting begins Oct. 17 and ends Nov. 2. See locations and times here. Election Day is Nov. 5, when polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Find your polling place and see a sample ballot here. At the top of the …Read more Continue reading Scotland County Voter Guide 2024

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Robeson County Voter Guide 2024

By Sarah Nagem and Ben Rappaport Robeson County voters will cast ballots in federal, state and local races this fall.  Early voting begins Oct. 17 and ends Nov. 2. See locations and times here.  Election Day is Nov. 5, when polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Find your polling place and see a sample ballot here.  At the top of the …Read more Continue reading Robeson County Voter Guide 2024

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Columbus County Voter Guide 2024

By Sarah Nagem and Ben Rappaport Columbus County voters will cast ballots in federal, state and local races this fall.  Early voting begins Oct. 17 and ends Nov. 2. See locations and times here.  Election Day is Nov. 5, when polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Find your polling place and see a sample ballot here.  At the top of the …Read more Continue reading Columbus County Voter Guide 2024

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Bladen County Voter Guide 2024

By Sarah Nagem and Ben Rappaport Bladen County voters will cast ballots in federal, state and local races this fall.  Early voting begins Oct. 17 and ends Nov. 2. See locations and times here.  Election Day is Nov. 5, when polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Find your polling place and see a sample ballot here.  At the top of the …Read more Continue reading Bladen County Voter Guide 2024

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Trump promises full recognition for the Lumbee. He’d still have to go through Congress

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  At a rally in Wilmington on Saturday, Republican Donald Trump said he would sign legislation granting the Lumbee tribe full federal recognition if he is elected president.  “The Lumbee tribe has been wrongfully denied federal recognition for more than a century,” Trump told the crowd. “Today I am officially announcing that if I am elected in November, I will sign legislation …Read more Continue reading Trump promises full recognition for the Lumbee. He’d still have to go through Congress

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Why we’re suing Columbus County

By Carli Brosseau and Sarah Nagem Last year, we revealed that dozens of people had been subpoenaed as part of a wide-ranging federal investigation into abuses of power on the part of former Columbus County Sheriff Jody Greene and some of his deputies. Greene, who made national news after a local TV station aired a recorded phone call in which he referred to deputies as …Read more Continue reading Why we’re suing Columbus County

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CDC unveils strategic plan aimed at combating rural health issues

By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org  The Office of Rural Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled a new strategic plan last week aimed at combating health issues in rural areas across the country. The new plan, which was developed alongside local partners like the N.C. Office of Rural Health, outlines a vision for the next five years to combat health issues like obesity, …Read more Continue reading CDC unveils strategic plan aimed at combating rural health issues

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UNC Pembroke, known for its diversity, eliminates DEI office

By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, one of the most diverse colleges in the South, dissolved its diversity office to comply with a new policy that eliminated diversity and inclusion mandates throughout the UNC System. As part of the change, UNC Pembroke eliminated two positions: director of student inclusion and diversity and American Indian liaison to the chancellor. In addition, …Read more Continue reading UNC Pembroke, known for its diversity, eliminates DEI office

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Lumberton residents push back against high utility bills

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Danny Parsley and his family were excited to move from northern Virginia to Lumberton, where they appreciate the small-town charm and more affordable housing prices. Shortly after they arrived in April and settled in a quaint neighborhood on the north end of town, however, they quickly realized there was a factor they had not accounted for in their house hunting: the …Read more Continue reading Lumberton residents push back against high utility bills

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Schools in NC’s Border Belt see post-pandemic academic gains

By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Schools in North Carolina’s Border Belt saw small academic gains last school year as districts continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Districts in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Columbus counties all saw an increase in the percentage of students who tested at or above grade level during the 2023-24 school year.  The improved performance mirrors statewide results of exams meant to …Read more Continue reading Schools in NC’s Border Belt see post-pandemic academic gains