By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org The campaigns for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris courted Lumbee voters ahead of the election, with both pledging support for full federal recognition for the Native American tribe. As polls closed Tuesday night, tribal members in Robeson County had spoken: Trump, a Republican, won 63.3% of the vote in the county, […]
Sarah Nagem
Sarah Nagem is editor of the Border Belt Independent. She previously worked for The News & Observer and currently attends graduate school at Duke University.
Posted inPolitics & Government
Why some Black men are hesitant to vote for Harris, according to rural NC activists
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Marlando Pridgen, who is running for North Carolina’s 7th Congressional district, has a theory about why fewer Black voters are casting early ballots and missing out on the opportunity to support presidential candidate Kamala Harris ahead of Election Day. “In the churches,” he said, “there is this mindset of women not […]
Posted inPolitics & Government
Election officials step up security in rural southeastern North Carolina
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Wanda Monroe, the elections director in Bladen County, wasn’t expecting any security threats at the polls this year. But she wanted to be proactive. “We did have a meeting with all the law enforcement agencies in our county and emergency management teams to discuss safety issues that could arise,” Monroe said. […]
Posted inPolitics & Government
Garland Pierce, a lone Democrat in a swath of red, wants to keep his NC House seat
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Garland Pierce might feel a little lonely these days. Pierce, a 20-year political veteran, is the only Democrat in the state legislature representing any county in the 200-mile stretch between Charlotte and Wilmington along North Carolina’s southern border. Once a textile and manufacturing hub, the area was a sure thing for […]
Posted inEducation
Schools in NC’s Border Belt see post-pandemic academic gains
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Schools in North Carolina’s Border Belt saw small academic gains last school year as districts continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Districts in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Columbus counties all saw an increase in the percentage of students who tested at or above grade level during the 2023-24 school year. […]
Posted inEducation
Public, private, home schools: Student enrollment by the numbers in NC’s Border Belt
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Teachers at Scotland High School last week put final touches on their classroom decorations, set up lessons on their smart boards and walked the halls with excitement for a new school year. Across the highway, Cross Pointe Christian Academy served as a new option for students in kindergarten through 12th grade […]
Posted inPolitics & Government
For the Tuscarora, recognition has been a 40-year fight
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org UPDATE: James Delao Jr. was found not guilty in November 2025 of assault on a female, communicating threats, and making a false report to police, court records show. A judge expunged the charges, which stemmed from a June 23, 2024, incident in Carteret County, from Delao’s record. This story is published […]
Posted inEducation
Former St. Andrews student serving nearly 12 years for on-campus sexual assaults
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to accurately reflect the the number of years Mickle was sentenced to serve in prison. A former St. Andrews University student-athlete accused of sexually assaulting three women on campus in 2022 and 2023 was sentenced to serve nearly 12 years in prison. Mison Mickle, […]
Posted inNews
Horace Locklear, a Lumbee trailblazer in North Carolina law and politics, dies
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Horace Locklear saw the injustices of the segregated South while growing up in Robeson County, where schools, the local hospital and water fountains were separated into thirds — white, Black and Native American. The prejudices he endured as a Lumbee ignited in Locklear a commitment to serve his community and advocate for […]
Posted inPolitics & Government
Gambling, immigration, education among priorities for lawmakers in NC’s Border Belt
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org State Sen. Danny Britt says video gambling is one of his top priorities for the current legislative session — and although top Republican leaders have said casinos likely won’t be considered, he’s not giving up on the idea of an “entertainment center” with a casino in southeastern North Carolina. The Republican-led […]