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Month: December 2023
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Construction firm must pay after off-duty deputy injured in Robeson County, court rules
By Rachel Baldauf rachelbaldauf@borderbelt.org Robeson County sheriff’s deputy Stephen Matthew Lassiter was off duty but directing traffic at a construction site on Interstate 95 north of St. Pauls just after midnight on March 28, 2019, when he was hit by a pick-up truck. A month later, when Lassiter filed for workers’ compensation benefits, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office and Truesdell, the construction company managing the …Read more Continue reading Construction firm must pay after off-duty deputy injured in Robeson County, court rules
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Robeson County schools join lawsuit against social media giants
By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org The Robeson County school district has joined a lawsuit against social media giants, claiming the companies are intentionally addictive and negatively impact students’ mental health. Public Schools of Robeson County is one of 12 districts in North Carolina and 200 across the country to join the lawsuit against Meta, Google, ByteDance, and Snap Inc., which owns Snapchat. Other N.C. districts include …Read more Continue reading Robeson County schools join lawsuit against social media giants
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Here’s who is running for Congress and the NC legislature in the Border Belt in 2024
By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org Several candidates have filed for state and federal races in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties for the 2024 election. Republicans have maintained firm control of North Carolina’s Border Belt region in recent elections and will look to keep up the momentum. Many incumbents in the region want to keep their seats, including Republican Congressman David Rouzer, Republican state Sen. Danny …Read more Continue reading Here’s who is running for Congress and the NC legislature in the Border Belt in 2024
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Border Belt People Q&A with Greg Bacot: ‘So many opportunities in the world’
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Greg Bacot, a 1985 graduate of UNC Pembroke, established the Lacy and Alice Bacot Higher Education Scholarship at the university to honor his parents in 2018. On Oct. 20, Bacot, 62, announced a $1.2 million planned gift that would enhance the scholarship. The Border Belt Independent spoke with Bacot about his time spent at UNCP and his reasoning behind establishing the …Read more Continue reading Border Belt People Q&A with Greg Bacot: ‘So many opportunities in the world’
‘Lumbeeland’ film explores drug culture’s impact on Native American tribe
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Malinda Maynor Lowery has long been educating the public about the Lumbee tribe’s history and culture, from its roots in what is now eastern North Carolina to the racism tribal members endured during the Jim Crow era. In a new short film, “Lumbeeland,” Maynor Lowery aims to shed light on a dark and persistent struggle that plagues the community many Lumbees …Read more Continue reading ‘Lumbeeland’ film explores drug culture’s impact on Native American tribe
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Race, equality and alliances: The story behind Lumberton’s contentious election
By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org A slate of political hopefuls wanted to shake up the Lumberton City Council in last month’s contentious election that highlighted issues of race and equality in the Robeson County town. Voters, however, opted to stick with the status quo. They re-elected Mayor Bruce Davis and three incumbent council members. In another district, voters rejected the only candidate on the ballot — Erich …Read more Continue reading Race, equality and alliances: The story behind Lumberton’s contentious election
Columbus County jail beating highlights bigger supervision lapses, lawsuit says
By Sarah Nagem and Carli Brosseau Under former Columbus County Sheriff Jody Greene, the supervision at the Whiteville jail was so lax that a man who had told authorities he faced a safety threat in his assigned pod was beaten nearly to death without detention officers taking any steps to intervene, a newly filed federal lawsuit alleges. Filed in the U.S. District Court in North …Read more Continue reading Columbus County jail beating highlights bigger supervision lapses, lawsuit says
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Border Belt People Q&A: Murchison’s cleats honor twin brother’s bout with cancer
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Larrell Murchison, 26, was born and raised in Elizabethtown playing football from a very young age alongside his twin brother, Farrell. Today, Larrell plays defensive end for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams. On Dec. 3, Murchison wore customized cleats for the Rams’ matchup against the Cleveland Browns to raise awareness and represent the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation. The Border Belt Independent …Read more Continue reading Border Belt People Q&A: Murchison’s cleats honor twin brother’s bout with cancer