Category: Politics / Government

Bladen County, Elections, Politics / Government

How Republicans gained ground in rural North Carolina

By Ben Rappaport and Sarah Nagem benrappaport@borderbelt.org This story is co-published by The Assembly and the Border Belt Independent.  There was never any doubt Charles Ray Peterson would be a Democrat. His parents, grandparents—everyone he knew in Bladen County, really—were Democrats.  Peterson, 70, served on the Bladen County school board for 12 years and has been a county commissioner for more than two decades. “When I got involved …Read more Continue reading How Republicans gained ground in rural North Carolina

Avatar photoBen Rappaport
Education, News, Politics / Government

Segregation academies across the South are getting millions in taxpayer dollars

By Jennifer Berry Hawes and Mollie Simon, ProPublica This story was originally published by ProPublica. Read more in this series. Private schools across the South that were established for white children during desegregation are now benefiting from tens of millions in taxpayer dollars flowing from rapidly expanding voucher-style programs, a ProPublica analysis found. In North Carolina alone, we identified 39 of these likely “segregation academies” …Read more Continue reading Segregation academies across the South are getting millions in taxpayer dollars

Border Belt Independent
Elections, Politics / Government

Democrat keeps slight lead for North Carolina Supreme Court as counties finish count

By Gary D. Robertson Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A Democratic incumbent on North Carolina’s Supreme Court expanded a very small lead over her Republican challenger as the last counties worked late Monday to complete their official tallies from the Nov. 5 election. Associate Justice Allison Riggs had trailed on election night by roughly 10,000 votes to Jefferson Griffin, a state Court of Appeals …Read more Continue reading Democrat keeps slight lead for North Carolina Supreme Court as counties finish count

Border Belt Independent
Education, News, Politics / Government

Trump pledged to roll back protections for transgender students. They’re flooding crisis hotlines

By Jocelyn Gecker and Sharon Lurye AP Education Writers Editor’s Note: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. Transgender youth in the United States have been flooding crisis hotlines since the election of Donald …Read more Continue reading Trump pledged to roll back protections for transgender students. They’re flooding crisis hotlines

Border Belt Independent
Elections, Politics / Government, Scotland County

In major shift, Republicans gain majority on Scotland County Board of Commissioners

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  For the first time in modern history, Republicans will hold a majority of the seats on the Scotland County Board of Commissioners.  Democratic incumbents John Alford and Darrell “BJ” Gibson lost their seats on Election Day to Republican challengers Tanya Edge and Jeff Shelley, respectively. An open at-large seat vacated by Whit Gibson, who is an unaffiliated voter, was filled by …Read more Continue reading In major shift, Republicans gain majority on Scotland County Board of Commissioners

Avatar photoBen Rappaport
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Bladen County, Columbus County, Elections, Politics / Government, Robeson County, Scotland County

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 election news, sign up for our free newsletter. None of the …Read more Continue reading Incumbents in NC’s Border Belt keep seats in NC General Assembly 

Sarah NagemSarah Nagem
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Elections, Politics / Government, Robeson County

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, where the Lumbee tribe has its headquarters, according to unofficial …Read more Continue reading Robeson County, home to Lumbee tribe, sees small voter turnout but big support for Trump

Sarah NagemSarah Nagem
Bladen County, Columbus County, Elections, Politics / Government, Robeson County, Scotland County

2024 election results in North Carolina

From Border Belt staff Below are the election results in North Carolina, including the races for president, governor and other statewide seats as published by the Associated Press. Included are races that are relevant in Bladen, Columbus Robeson, and Scotland counties, including the 7th and 8th congressional districts and several races for the state General Assembly. Not included are local races for school boards and …Read more Continue reading 2024 election results in North Carolina

Border Belt Independent
Bladen County, Columbus County, Elections, Politics / Government, Robeson County, Scotland County

Where the candidates stand on key issues in NC’s 7th and 8th congressional districts

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Republican David Rouzer, who has represented North Carolina’s 7th Congressional district since 2014, is running for another term in office.  Rouzer is a staunch conservative who has criticized President Joe Biden’s policies and expressed doubts about the fairness of the 2020 election. His challenger, Marlando Pridgen, a Whiteville Democrat, is a political newcomer whose campaign focuses on environmental justice and bringing …Read more Continue reading Where the candidates stand on key issues in NC’s 7th and 8th congressional districts

Avatar photoBen Rappaport
Columbus County, Politics / Government, Robeson County, Scotland County

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 having a meaningful place in leadership.”  About 44,500 fewer Black …Read more Continue reading Why some Black men are hesitant to vote for Harris, according to rural NC activists

Sarah NagemSarah Nagem