Enthusiasm for NYC's first Muslim mayor is especially high among Pakistanis in the city. In Midwood, Brooklyn, Zohran Mamdani’s victory means more than just a new mayor. I put together this audio feature for a recent class. soundcloud.com/ben-rappapor...

One final piece for Border Belt Independent that encapsulates a lot of what makes the Border Belt special: trials of rural communities, resilience in the face of hardship and a deep desire to see opportunity amid the struggle. (W/ @eringretzinger.bsky.social) borderbelt.org/laurinburg-n...

I'm quoted in this great piece diving into the closure of St. Andrews University in North Carolina and what it means for the local community. The Assembly is one of the best local sources for higher ed coverage in the country. www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...

When St. Andrews suddenly closed in May, it left behind a lot of questions. When would employees get their paychecks? What would become of the university’s land? And what does the closure mean for Laurinburg, a rural town of 15,000? me & @brappaport.bsky.social tracked down the answers.

After two years at the Border Belt Independent, my time has come to an end. Today is my last day with BBI, and this fall I’ll be headed to New York City for a graduate journalism program through the @newmarkjplus.bsky.social at CUNY. It’s bittersweet.

For the first time in a long time, business owners and town officials say, Lumberton is on the precipice of becoming a true destination. But as the town attempts a rebirth, those who have been in Lumberton for decades know progress never comes easily. #ncpol borderbelt.org/downtown-lum...

In the fall and winter of 2022, I spent significant time reporting on Merry Oaks Baptist Church near Moncure. The church had stood since 1888. Back then, the church was under threat of destruction by NCDOT to make way for VinFast, a Vietnamese automaker with plans for a factory near the church 🧵

The Robeson County landfill has some of the highest PFAS levels in the state. The county wants to keep growing it. On Monday, local residents voiced concerns about the adverse effects of the landfill and its persistent issues with toxic chemicals. borderbelt.org/robeson-coun...

I've always wondered what it looks like when an entire university goes out of business. @brappaport.bsky.social has the answers in this story about St. Andrew's University in Laurinburg: borderbelt.org/students-alu...

St. Andrew’s and Laurinburg have a sort of quirky magic. Its final days were full of personal stories, tears and mourning for the now-closed institution that shaped the minds of so many in the community. #nced #ncpol borderbelt.org/students-alu...

BREAKING: St. Andrews University will close May 5. @brappaport.bsky.social and I have the story for @theassemblync.bsky.social and Border Belt Independent, including details about what President Tarun Malik told faculty in a meeting this morning. www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...

BREAKING: St. Andrews University announced it will close in two weeks. The private liberal arts college in Laurinburg, which has been in rural southeastern North Carolina since 1958, has long faced an uphill battle to survive. borderbelt.org/st-andrews-u...

A Trump presidential library at UNC-Pembroke in Robeson County? Rep. Jarrod Lowery of RobCo filed a bill seeking $10M for this idea. Ben Rappaport of the Border Belt Independent has the story: borderbelt.org/nc-bill-call... #ncga #ncpol

A new bill in the state House of Representatives would set aside money for a presidential library in honor of Donald Trump at UNC-Pembroke. “This was an opportunity to put a shot out there,” Jarrod Lowery said. “Why not UNC Pembroke?” #ncpol borderbelt.org/nc-bill-call...

Youth violence has become an epidemic in Scotland County. Educators say kids there are constantly in “survival mode.” Now, community leaders are coming together to tackle the issue. Can they make a change? #ncpol borderbelt.org/youth-violen...

As President Donald Trump moves toward dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, school officials in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties say they anticipate their districts’ federal funds will be slashed by up to 30% in the coming fiscal year. borderbelt.org/federal-cuts...

Trump’s initiatives to increase deportations of undocumented immigrants have prompted a spike in calls to an advocacy hotline and a scramble among school districts to tell families how they would handle law enforcement showing up on campuses. www.theassemblync.com/politics/nor...

An important read on RebuildNC and the recovery efforts in Eastern NC. Important lessons for those of us who care about WNC building back better. www.wunc.org/2025-02-11/r...

“We as the judicial leadership for the district have urged ICE that it is counter-productive for them to increase enforcement activities within the courthouse,” Wake DA Lorrin Freeman told Jane Porter. #ncpol indyweek.com/news/wake/pl...

It’s official! We are now part of The Assembly network. It’s a win for our readers, a win for our reporters and a win for North Carolina journalism. #ncpol

Border Belt Independent is officially joining The Assembly’s network of newsrooms across the state. BBI covers Bladen, Columbus, Robeson, and Scotland counties in southeastern North Carolina. theassemblync.com/internal/bor...

The Lumbee Tribe have been pursuing full federal recognition for over 130 years. Donald Trump's campaign promise has given them hope. But as we talk about on The Broadside this week, it’s also renewed centuries-old questions about who gets to be Native in America. www.wunc.org/podcast/the-...

Robeson County has more solar farms than any other NC county, but now it's considering a moratorium, @brappaport.bsky.social reports. borderbelt.org/robeson-coun...

Sarah Nagem and I have been following the corruption investigations in Columbus County, NC, for years now. In our latest piece, we break down a previously unreported federal subpoena. #ncpol www.theassemblync.com/politics/law...

Federal investigators asked for information about 51 "relevant parties," including some deputies and prominent business owners related to former Columbus County Sheriff Jody Greene. Here's what the Border Belt and @theassemblync.bsky.social have learned so far: #ncpol borderbelt.org/columbus-cou...

Rural counties like those in the Border Belt region shifted further to the right, despite Democrats’ efforts to re-engage working-class voters. Residents say they are frustrated by the lack of economic opportunity and believe Republicans are better equipped to make their lives easier. #ncpol

My friend and old colleague Lisa Sorg has done incredible work for years on this organization and its director. The wheel turns. Slowly, sometimes, but it turns. #NCPol insideclimatenews.org/news/2011202...

Up to 100-plus NC journalists and news outlets on this "starter pack" -- I think the migration to this site might really be happening this time Go fill up your feeds with local news! bsky.app/starter-pack...

Today kicks off this year’s Border Belt Independent #NewsMatch campaign. With your help, we can raise funding to keep our independent newsroom strong. If you contribute by Dec. 31, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar. www.paypal.com/donate/?host...

Giving this starter pack thing a try. This one's for North Carolina Politics & government (the artist formerly known as #ncpol) Please let me know if you want to be added (not sure who's on here yet and I only figured out what a starter pack is about an hour ago). go.bsky.app/NRoctWe