Native Americans have lowest COVID vaccination rate in Robeson County, despite efforts

By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Taylor Locklear has a message for her fellow members of the Lumbee Native American tribe: Consider getting vaccinated against COVID-19.  Locklear, the reigning Miss Lumbee and a paramedic for Robeson County EMS, made her plea as part of the tribe’s video campaign called “This Shot Is Your Shield.”  “Our children are our future generation, and it’s important that we protect them,” …Read more Continue reading Native Americans have lowest COVID vaccination rate in Robeson County, despite efforts

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Family calls for change after deputies shoot NC man struggling with mental illness, drugs

By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org When Matthew Oxendine used drugs or had too much to drink, he would sometimes call 911 or the local sheriff’s office and say he was going to kill himself.  He began making the calls years ago, long before he spent about a week in a psychiatric unit in 2016, said his brother, Greg Oxendine. Doctors diagnosed him with depression.  So when …Read more Continue reading Family calls for change after deputies shoot NC man struggling with mental illness, drugs

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COVID vaccinations are climbing, slowly, in rural North Carolina. But skepticism remains

By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Rita Watson had chosen not to get the COVID-19 vaccine. She was worried about what was in the shots and whether they were safe.  But when her 41-year-old daughter contracted the virus and became severely ill, Watson reconsidered. She and her four sons went to the Robeson County Health Department on Thursday to be vaccinated.  “I decided, seeing my daughter in …Read more Continue reading COVID vaccinations are climbing, slowly, in rural North Carolina. But skepticism remains