Executive orders from President Donald Trump calling for increased deportation of immigrants are stoking fears across rural southeastern North Carolina.
Border Belt Independent
Posted inCourts & Justice
US attorney resigns, leaving Columbus County corruption probe in limbo
By Sarah Nagem and Carli Brosseau On Wednesday, Eastern North Carolina’s top federal prosecutor, Michael Easley Jr., announced his resignation as part of the Trump administration transition. Easley, who President Joe Biden appointed to be the U.S. attorney for the region in 2021, said he will step down February 3. While stepping down has become […]
Posted inNews
Check out scenes from a rare snow day in North Carolina’s Border Belt
When it snows in southeastern North Carolina, it’s a really big deal. In the Border Belt counties of Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland, social media users posted images from their communities. While the snow might be an exciting opportunity to experience a winter wonderland, state officials are urging caution on the roads. “During winter weather, […]
Posted inNews
Stories that mattered most in NC’s Border Belt in 2024
Looking back at 2024, the Border Belt Independent brought readers in-depth news coverage about the election, the economy, education, health care and so much more. Most importantly, we told stories about people who are making a difference in the community. Here are some of the stories that mattered most to our readers over the past […]
Posted inNews
Journalist Heidi Perez-Moreno joins Border Belt Independent
The Border Belt Independent is proud to announce Heidi Perez-Moreno has joined the staff as a full-time reporter. Perez-Moreno is a graduate of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. As a student, she wrote for The Daily Tar Heel, helping to produce breaking news, features and long-form pieces. She also assisted with the […]
Posted inPolitics & Government
What we’ve learned about the federal probe in Columbus County
By Carli Brosseau and Sarah Nagem By the time Columbus County Sheriff Jody Greene resigned in January 2023, it was clear that state investigators were chasing leads far beyond a recorded phone call in which he called his deputies “snakes” and “Black bastards.” District Attorney Jon David was prepared to argue in court that Greene […]
Posted inBusiness & Economy
‘Worst’ year ever for farms in North Carolina
By Jane Winik Sartwell Carolina Public Press Tropical Storm Helene terrorized Western North Carolina’s farms in late September. Recovering is no easy task. And Helene was the not the first calamity that farmers across the state faced in 2024. Observations about what’s happened are bringing out strong words from the state’s farming experts. “The land is just […]
Posted inHealth
Whooping cough cases spike in North Carolina
By Jennifer Fernandez North Carolina Health News Whooping cough cases in North Carolina have risen sharply in 2024. There have been close to 600 reported cases — 6.4 times more than last year at this time. Nationally, cases are 4.8 times higher, federal data shows. The highly contagious respiratory illness tends to rise and fall in cycles as vaccines […]
Posted inNews
Rebuild NC’s embattled director is no longer a state employee, a memo confirms
By Lisa Sorg Inside Climate News This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. Laura Hogshead, director of ReBuild NC, which mismanaged millions of dollars in hurricane recovery spending, is no longer employed with the agency, Inside Climate News has […]
Posted inEducation
Segregation academies across the South are getting millions in taxpayer dollars
By Jennifer Berry Hawes and Mollie Simon, ProPublica This story was originally published by ProPublica. Read more in this series. Private schools across the South that were established for white children during desegregation are now benefiting from tens of millions in taxpayer dollars flowing from rapidly expanding voucher-style programs, a ProPublica analysis found. In North […]