Border Belt Independent

Dr. Jugta Kahai examines a patient

Crisis in children’s mental health takes a heavy toll in rural southeastern NC

BY: - October 23, 2023

This story, which originally appeared in the Border Belt Independent, is the first in a two-part project about the children’s mental health crisis in Bladen, Columbus, Robeson and Scotland counties. Read the second story, which focuses on the foster care system, story here. A 9-year-old girl who spent four months last year inside the Columbus […]

A controversial NC sheriff resigns. Here are the allegations against him.

BY: - January 5, 2023

Jody Greene resigned last week, six days after he was sworn in for a second term as Columbus County sheriff. Superior Court Judge Douglas Sasser initially suspended Greene on Oct. 4 at the request of local District Attorney Jon David. The move came shortly after a 2019 phone call in which Greene made racist remarks […]