The Lumbee will protect nearly 1,400 acres of wetlands and forest in Robeson County through a first-of-its-kind large land donation to the tribe.
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 inNews, Courts & Justice
Robeson County saw fewer murders in 2024, unofficial tally shows
Robeson County saw a significant drop in reported murders in 2024 after experiencing what might have been a record high the prior year.
Posted inCourts & Justice
Suspect pleads guilty six years after 13-year-old girl’s murder in Robeson County
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org The man accused of kidnapping and killing 13-year-old Hania Aguilar in Robeson County in 2018 pleaded guilty on Friday, according to local District Attorney Matt Scott and Lumberton police. Michael McLellan, 40, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to first-degree murder, the […]
Posted inElections
Incumbents in NC’s Border Belt keep seats in NC General Assembly
By Sarah Nagem sarahnagem@borderbelt.org Voters in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties elected their representatives in the North Carolina General Assembly to new terms. Every state legislature incumbent in the four-county region who was up for re-election won on Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the state Board of Elections. To keep up with more […]
Posted inElections
Robeson County, home to Lumbee tribe, sees small voter turnout but big support for Trump
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, […]
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 […]