Author: Ben Rappaport

Ben Rappaport is a reporter at the Border Belt Independent. He is a graduate of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC-Chapel Hill, and he previously worked for the Chatham News + Record.
Columbus County, News, Politics / Government

Mark Robinson, under-fire candidate for NC governor, finds support in Columbus County

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org Dot Gore knows Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has a history of making controversial comments. But Gore said she believes Robinson is a good person at his core, which is why she plans to vote for him for governor in November.  Robinson has drawn criticism for his remarks on abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and more. A report by CNN last month said …Read more Continue reading Mark Robinson, under-fire candidate for NC governor, finds support in Columbus County

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Bladen County, Columbus County, Culture, News, Robeson County

More Hispanic residents are moving to NC’s shrinking Border Belt region

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  It was a beautifully chaotic day for Alma Cruz. Acoustic guitars and trumpets played mariachi tunes as the 29-year-old ran around downtown Lumberton in her bright yellow, floral Tehuana dress, honoring her roots in Oaxaca, Mexico, during the Hispanic Cultural Festival. Cruz organized the inaugural event, which took place Sept. 14 and featured Latin food trucks, traditional dances, musical performances and …Read more Continue reading More Hispanic residents are moving to NC’s shrinking Border Belt region

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Politics / Government, Robeson County

Trump promises full recognition for the Lumbee. He’d still have to go through Congress

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  At a rally in Wilmington on Saturday, Republican Donald Trump said he would sign legislation granting the Lumbee tribe full federal recognition if he is elected president.  “The Lumbee tribe has been wrongfully denied federal recognition for more than a century,” Trump told the crowd. “Today I am officially announcing that if I am elected in November, I will sign legislation …Read more Continue reading Trump promises full recognition for the Lumbee. He’d still have to go through Congress

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Columbus County, News

Scenes from Columbus County, where heavy rain caused flooding

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org Heavy rains pummeled Columbus County on Monday, flooding roadways and leading to water rescues. The county saw 8.5 inches of rain in 24 hours, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Coastal North Carolina communities saw the most flooding from “Potential Tropical Cyclone #8,” but rain pelted much of the state on Monday. Bladen County got 3.5 inches of rain, Robeson County …Read more Continue reading Scenes from Columbus County, where heavy rain caused flooding

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Politics / Government, Robeson County

Can Kamala Harris energize NC Democrats to win back Robeson County?

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Kamala Harris has opened a campaign office in Robeson County as part of a larger effort to woo rural North Carolina voters.  The campaign office, which opened in July, is in Pembroke, where the Republican National Committee opened an office in early 2022 to keep up the momentum of local voters’ support of GOP candidates. Democrats handily won Robeson County for …Read more Continue reading Can Kamala Harris energize NC Democrats to win back Robeson County?

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News, Politics / Government, Robeson County

Lumberton residents push back against high utility bills

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Danny Parsley and his family were excited to move from northern Virginia to Lumberton, where they appreciate the small-town charm and more affordable housing prices. Shortly after they arrived in April and settled in a quaint neighborhood on the north end of town, however, they quickly realized there was a factor they had not accounted for in their house hunting: the …Read more Continue reading Lumberton residents push back against high utility bills

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Politics / Government, Robeson County

Robeson County district attorney endorses Democrat Josh Stein for governor

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  If you’ve tuned into a TV station in North Carolina lately, you’ve probably seen Robeson County District Attorney Matt Scott on your screen. In a 30-second political ad that began airing in August, he endorses Democrat Josh Stein for governor. Scott, also a Democrat, touts Stein’s effort as North Carolina attorney general to clear the state’s rape kit backlog. He tells …Read more Continue reading Robeson County district attorney endorses Democrat Josh Stein for governor

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Columbus County, Culture, News

The abandoned pools of Columbus County

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org This story is published in partnership with The Assembly. It was a sight that ruined Lauren Cole’s childhood memories: cracked concrete filled with murky green water, overgrown weeds, and hundreds of waterbugs. “This is hard to look at,” said Cole, now 71. It was the first time she’d returned to Whiteville’s Wedgewood Road swimming pool in nearly two decades. “We used …Read more Continue reading The abandoned pools of Columbus County

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Economy, News, Politics / Government, Robeson County

How young entrepreneurs and town leaders are revitalizing downtown Fairmont

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Hip-hop music blared from speakers on a humid August Saturday night. People were sweating from dancing, and the lights pulsed to the beat of the music. It’s been a long time since downtown Fairmont has seen this kind of energy. The Robeson County town, where more than half of the 2,500 residents are Black, has struggled since the loss of the …Read more Continue reading How young entrepreneurs and town leaders are revitalizing downtown Fairmont

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Environment, Robeson County

Lumbee tribe returns fire to the soil to restore cultural and ecological heritage

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Thick white smoke billowed into the Robeson County sky on a crisp December day. Flames lapped the bottoms of the longleaf pine trees. While the sight may sound hazardous, it was met with whooping and hollering of joy from about two dozen people who gathered to watch the fire at the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center in Maxton late last year.   The …Read more Continue reading Lumbee tribe returns fire to the soil to restore cultural and ecological heritage

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