Old Wounds Reopen as Columbus County Prepares to Elect a Sheriff
Four Republicans are running in the primary in the first election since former sheriff Jody Greene stepped down.
RECENT STORIES
Judges Clear Way for Trial in Cumberland County’s Contaminated Water Lawsuit
County wants Chemours, DuPont to pay damages for allowing PFAS forever chemicals into drinking water and fund water infrastructure in affected areas.
Owner of St. Andrews University Campus Files for Bankruptcy
The move stopped a pending foreclosure and land auction filed by one of the creditors of the now-shuttered school in Scotland County.
Two Republicans Compete for Chance to Flip N.C. House Seat
Ralph Carter and Kirk Lowery both say they can defeat Garland Pierce, a Democrat who has represented Scotland and Hoke counties for years.
Proposal To Close Bladen County School Rattles Parents
Enrollment at East Arcadia School has been declining for years. Now school officials might close the school as part of a consolidation.
Healing Rural N.C., One Doctor At a Time
There aren’t enough physicians to treat the nearly 3 million people who live in rural communities. Can this program help?
Republican Candidates for Scotland County Sheriff Address Crime and Crowded Jail
Four candidates are vying in the Republican primary on March 3 to compete in the general election next fall.
Unaffiliated Voters Surge in the Border Belt as Democrats’ Numbers Shrink
The shift in rural southeastern North Carolina, once a stronghold for Democratic candidates, reflects statewide trends.
911 Calls Record Chaos During Deadly Robeson County Party
Several weapons from the scene will undergo ballistic testing, the sheriff’s office said.
Politics / Government
As Helene Survivors Await State Help, Some Victims of Earlier Hurricanes Are Still Out of Their Homes
A new housing recovery program created to avoid the delays and cost overruns that plagued past efforts is already seeing similar problems.
ICE Has Detained Some Native Americans. N.C. Republican Says ‘There Will be Mistakes.’
It’s unclear how many Native Americans have been detained by ICE, but it’s a recurring issue as the Trump administration carries out its mass deportation campaign.
State Elections Board Rejects Sunday Voting in Columbus County
The Republican chair of the Columbus County board supported Sunday voting, but the Republican majority on the state board voted against it.
N.C. Schools That Rely on International Teachers Brace for Visa Changes
The federal government approved more H-1B visas for K-12 education for North Carolina in 2025 than any other state except Texas.
Education
ScoutReach Program in Columbus County Hopes to Expand Access
The Scouting America Cape Fear Council launched a free after-school program at Chadbourn Elementary School.
Public School Districts Continue to See Enrollment Drops in N.C.’s Border Belt
The decline in traditional public schools has outpaced overall population losses in rural southeastern North Carolina, data shows.
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.
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.
Health
Michael Nagowski, Longtime Cape Fear Valley Health CEO, Announces Retirement
The health system’s CEO since 2008, he is credited with transforming and expanding the health system while deepening its ties to Fayetteville.
Are Border Belt Schools at Risk of a Measles Outbreak?
A 95% vaccination threshold is necessary to protect against the highly contagious disease, according to the CDC.
Some N.C. Counties Have Reduced Hepatitis B Cases, But New Guidelines Spark Concerns
Local health officials say updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put babies at risk.
Southeastern North Carolina Wants to Grow Its Own Health Care Workforce
Universities across the region are trying to address physician and nursing shortages by expanding programs and creating new ones.