Author: Ben Rappaport

Ben Rappaport is a reporter at the Border Belt Independent. A graduate of the Hussman School of Journalism & Media at UNC-Chapel Hill, he previously worked for the Chatham News + Record.
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Culture, Robeson County

Q&A with Kaden Thompson: Honoring Lumbee culture through youthful creativity

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  By exploring major historical events of his people, 19-year-old Lumbee author Kaden Thompson is bringing his cultural identity to the forefront of his creative work. The Robeson County native has self published three books in his young career, two of which explore flashpoints of the Lumbee tribe. With each story he examines how events of the past, including the Lowry War …Read more Continue reading Q&A with Kaden Thompson: Honoring Lumbee culture through youthful creativity

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Uncategorized

Republican incumbents raise more money than Democratic challengers in NC’s Border Belt

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Republicans who represent rural southeastern North Carolina in the state legislature have raised significantly more money than their Democratic challengers ahead of the November election.   With less than four months until Election Day, incumbent legislators from Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties are out-performing opponents in the cash race, according to campaign finance reports released by the North Carolina State Board …Read more Continue reading Republican incumbents raise more money than Democratic challengers in NC’s Border Belt

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Bladen County, Columbus County, News, Robeson County

Columbus County farmers face big losses amid severe drought

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  It was supposed to be beautiful: Thick green husks of sweet corn growing eight feet tall for as far as the eye could see across Ethan Jordan’s farm in Columbus County.  At the beginning of May, the stars seemed to be aligning for a perfect growing season. The fields were lush, the soil was moist and the temperatures stayed steady.  Then …Read more Continue reading Columbus County farmers face big losses amid severe drought

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Politics / Government, Robeson County

NC’s diverse Robeson County now has GOP voting streak. What’s behind support for Trump?

By Ben Rappaport and Rachel Baldauf benrappaport@borderbelt.org Jimmy and Timmy Bullard, 32-year-old twins who grew up in the Robeson County town of Pembroke, were raised to believe they should always vote for Democrats.  Then came Donald Trump.  “My granddaddy was a Democrat. He goes to church, he’s a Christian,” Timmy Bullard said. “But when he saw what Trump did, that’s when he turned from Democrat …Read more Continue reading NC’s diverse Robeson County now has GOP voting streak. What’s behind support for Trump?

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Politics / Government, Robeson County

Robeson County elections board dismisses Pembroke mayor’s protest, again

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org Just off the main drag in Pembroke, behind a plaza with a convenience store, an auto repair shop and a gas station, about a dozen people live in tents.  The unhoused people in the small tent community are central to the ongoing legal dispute surrounding last year’s race for mayor in the Robeson County town.  Allen Dial, who owns the property …Read more Continue reading Robeson County elections board dismisses Pembroke mayor’s protest, again

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Columbus County, Public Safety

Whiteville’s new gunshot sensors have been rejected by some other cities

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org When the small southeastern North Carolina town of Whiteville decided to install sensors to detect gunshots, the police chief said the devices would allow officers to respond more quickly to emergencies and ease residents’ fears. But some other law enforcement agencies that have turned to the technology quickly abandoned it.  Flock Safety is expected to install between 20 and 30 sensors …Read more Continue reading Whiteville’s new gunshot sensors have been rejected by some other cities

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Politics / Government, Robeson County

Robeson County elections board delays ruling on Pembroke mayoral election

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org   Greg Cummings and his family used to visit Gary Locklear’s house every Christmas Eve to share stories and break bread in joyous tradition.  But Cummings didn’t show up last December.  The two men were high school classmates who later bonded over decades spent in the Robeson County political arena. Cummings has served two terms as Pembroke mayor after spending several years …Read more Continue reading Robeson County elections board delays ruling on Pembroke mayoral election

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Health, Scotland County

Fighting back against prostate cancer in Scotland County

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Greg McMillan’s barber shop in the northeast corner of Scotland County is more than a place to get a fresh lineup and a clean shave. It’s a community space where people share everything from tall tales to heart-to-hearts. McMillan’s shop in Wagram, Next Cuts, hosted Cuts and Conversations on Saturday in partnership with the Prostate Cancer Coalition of North Carolina. The …Read more Continue reading Fighting back against prostate cancer in Scotland County

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News, Robeson County, Scotland County

Robeson and Scotland counties are growing, slowly, for the first time in years

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Robeson and Scotland counties grew between 2020 and 2023, mirroring population increases across much of rural North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Robeson County grew by 0.91% during the three-year span, accounting for an increase of 1,056 people, according to a new report from the North Carolina Rural Center. Neighboring Scotland County grew by 0.25%, an increase of 86 people. While …Read more Continue reading Robeson and Scotland counties are growing, slowly, for the first time in years

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Bladen County, Columbus County, Education, Robeson County, Scotland County

Schools in NC’s Border Belt say they need more county money to replace COVID funding

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  School boards in rural southeastern North Carolina are asking for increases in local funding to increase employees’ pay and fill gaps left by the loss of federal COVID-19 relief money. School leaders in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties have asked county commissioners to bump up funding for the fiscal year that begins July 1.  In North Carolina, the General Assembly …Read more Continue reading Schools in NC’s Border Belt say they need more county money to replace COVID funding

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