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Clouds over Columbus County
By Carli Brosseau and Sarah Nagem This story is co-published by The Assembly and the Border Belt Independent. Not three months after Bill Rogers accepted an appointment as Columbus County sheriff, he received a subpoena to testify before a federal grand jury in Raleigh. At the center of the investigation was his predecessor as the county’s top law enforcement officer, Jody Greene. Rogers had known …Read more Continue reading Clouds over Columbus County
New Whiteville councilman brings youthful energy to aging county
By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org The average age of the Whiteville City Council is set to decrease in December with the swearing-in of 31-year-old Joshua Harris. He was one of three candidates in Whiteville District 1 who were under 32 years old. The former Columbus County sheriff’s deputy and Whiteville police officer was the top vote-getter in this year’s Whiteville municipal elections, garnering 223 votes. Second …Read more Continue reading New Whiteville councilman brings youthful energy to aging county
Donate to the Border Belt Independent; contributions matched until Dec. 31
By Les High Since founding the Border Belt Independent in the spring of 2021, we’ve produced in-depth coverage of the issues that impact the livesof people in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties. And we know that journalism like ours is more important than ever. As a nonprofit newsroom, we can’t do this critical work without your help. All of our content is free and …Read more Continue reading Donate to the Border Belt Independent; contributions matched until Dec. 31
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NC county still reeling from sheriff’s racist comments is dealt another blow
By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org A school board member in rural North Carolina who was convicted of assaulting a Black town employee during an encounter in which she was also accused of using a racial slur said Monday she will remain on the board but step down as chairperson. Kandle Rogers, who has served on the Whiteville City Schools Board of Education for years, was found …Read more Continue reading NC county still reeling from sheriff’s racist comments is dealt another blow
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Jobs are scarce – but hope isn’t – in this Robeson County town
By Ben Rappaport benrappaport@borderbelt.org Calling Aiesha Wilkinson’s move to Robeson County a struggle would be an understatement. She’s lived in the county for just five months, and she’s already gone through three jobs. Wilkinson said she was recently fired from her job at a manufacturing facility because she couldn’t reliably get to work on time due to transportation issues. She doesn’t own a car, and …Read more Continue reading Jobs are scarce – but hope isn’t – in this Robeson County town
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How did hospitals in NC’s Border Belt fare in latest safety grades?
Hospitals in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties received B and C safety grades from The Leapfrog Group. Read more Continue reading How did hospitals in NC’s Border Belt fare in latest safety grades?
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Border Belt People: Q&A with Nancy Fields, director of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Nancy Strickland Fields serves as director and curator of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian located on UNC Pembroke’s campus, working for the museum since 2017. As director and curator, Fields, 50, makes sure the public is made aware of the history, art, and culture of Native Americans in their own communities. The Border Belt Independent asked Fields about her …Read more Continue reading Border Belt People: Q&A with Nancy Fields, director of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian
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Schools in NC’s Border Belt refer Black students to police more often, report says
Schools in Bladen, Columbus and Scotland counties referred only Black students to police for disorderly conduct for the past six years, a report shows.Read more Continue reading Schools in NC’s Border Belt refer Black students to police more often, report says
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‘We want to change lives.’ Mobile drug treatment clinic serves Robeson County
The ATLAS (Addiction Treatment: Linking Access & Services) mobile health clinic serves patients every Wednesday in Robeson County.Read more Continue reading ‘We want to change lives.’ Mobile drug treatment clinic serves Robeson County
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North Carolina farmers look to sesame as a profitable crop. ‘So much promise here’
Ten farmers across North Carolina planted sesame this year as part of a statewide agricultural initiative. Read more Continue reading North Carolina farmers look to sesame as a profitable crop. ‘So much promise here’