Category: Robeson County

Public Safety, Robeson County

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 a 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 Lumberton Police Department sadi in a news release. Superior …Read more Continue reading Suspect pleads guilty six years after 13-year-old girl’s murder in Robeson County

Sarah NagemSarah Nagem
Bladen County, Columbus County, Elections, Robeson County, Scotland County

Rural southeastern NC gets more red, even as Democrats win key state races

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Democrat Josh Stein trounced Mark Robinson in the North Carolina governor’s race, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at unofficial results in rural southeastern North Carolina.  Voters in Bladen, Columbus and Robeson counties picked Robinson, the Republican candidate whose campaign took a huge hit in September when CNN reported that he called himself a “Black Nazi” and made other disturbing …Read more Continue reading Rural southeastern NC gets more red, even as Democrats win key state races

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
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Bladen County, Columbus County, Elections, Robeson County, Scotland County

Rural southeastern NC, already known for low voter turnout, sees further drop

By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org  Voter turnout in rural southeastern North Carolina was lower this year than it was in the 2020 general election, unofficial results show.  All of the Border Belt counties — Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland — saw fewer voters than in 2020 and lagged behind the statewide turnout rate of 73%, according to unofficial vote counts from the North Carolina State Board …Read more Continue reading Rural southeastern NC, already known for low voter turnout, sees further drop

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

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. Chief judges responsible for the county’s voting precincts underwent “extensive …Read more Continue reading Election officials step up security in rural southeastern North Carolina

Sarah NagemSarah Nagem
Education, Robeson County

Robeson County parents say schools are failing their children with special needs

By Rachel Baldauf Eric Cromartie III thrived at Lumberton High School, where he maintained a grade point average above 4.0 and received academic awards. Cromartie, who has autism, graduated in 2022, although his mother, Selena McMillan, had thought he would return to Lumberton High the next school year in accordance with his individualized education program.  Frustrated, McMillan filed a petition with the N.C. Office of …Read more Continue reading Robeson County parents say schools are failing their children with special needs

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