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.
RECENT STORIES
She Worked to Preserve Black History in the Sandhills. Now Her Legacy Continues.
Ammie McRae Jenkins, the first Black student to attend High Point University and an activist who dedicated much of her life to preserving land owned by Black families in the North Carolina Sandhills, died on October 25.
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.
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.
Shelters Serve as Warm Havens During Bitter Cold
Below-normal temperatures are expected to linger in the Border Belt for at least the next week, forecasters say.
Columbus County Can Do the Right Thing
After more than three years of trying to evade its duty to release public records, Columbus County has an opportunity to stop obstructing.
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.
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.
Politics / Government
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.
Red Springs Mayoral Election Protest Dismissed, But Effects Could Linger
Residents of Red Springs Assisted Living say they are hesitant to vote after being questioned by investigators, according to the facility’s director.
Man Accused of Shooting Robeson County Deputies Sentenced to 45 Years for Other Crimes
Shawn Tobin Locklear Jr. was out on bond when investigators say he shot two deputies and commandeered an ambulance.
Education
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.
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.
Health
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.
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.
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.