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 […]
Border Belt Independent
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 […]
Posted inElections
Democrat keeps slight lead for North Carolina Supreme Court as counties finish count
By Gary D. Robertson Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A Democratic incumbent on North Carolina’s Supreme Court expanded a very small lead over her Republican challenger as the last counties worked late Monday to complete their official tallies from the Nov. 5 election. Associate Justice Allison Riggs had trailed on election night by roughly […]
Posted inEducation
Trump pledged to roll back protections for transgender students. They’re flooding crisis hotlines
By Jocelyn Gecker and Sharon Lurye AP Education Writers Editor’s Note: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Transgender youth in the United States […]
Posted inElections
2024 election results in North Carolina
From Border Belt staff Below are the election results in North Carolina, including the races for president, governor and other statewide seats as published by the Associated Press. Included are races that are relevant in Bladen, Columbus Robeson, and Scotland counties, including the 7th and 8th congressional districts and several races for the state General […]
Posted inEducation
Robeson County parents say schools are failing their children with special needs
By Rachel Baldauf Eric Cromartie III thrived at Lumberton High School, where he maintained a grade point average above 4.0 and received academic awards. Cromartie, who has autism, graduated in 2022, although his mother, Selena McMillan, had thought he would return to Lumberton High the next school year in accordance with his individualized education program. […]