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+ […]
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.
Posted inCulture
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 […]
Posted inPolitics & Government
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inPolitics & Government
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’ […]
Posted inNews, Politics & Government
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 […]
Posted inPolitics & Government
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 […]
Posted inNews, Culture
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 […]
Posted inBusiness & Economy
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 […]
Posted inEnvironment
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 […]