Ben Rappaport, Author at The Assembly NC

What Remains of St. Andrews

Following the sudden closure of St. Andrews University, Laurinburg grapples with a now-empty campus at the heart of the community.

For the first time in a long time, business owners and town officials say, Lumberton is on the precipice of becoming a true destination.

‘Do I want to raise prices? Yes. Should I? Yes. But if I do, then I feel it would damage my reputation as a passionate member of the community.’

The judge directed the county to grant access to public records about former sheriff Jody Greene.

To the dozens of alumni who attended the school’s final graduation ceremony, it felt more like a funeral.

Following decades of struggles for the small private school in Laurinburg, officials said it will cease operations in less than two weeks.

Farmers say they’re waiting for federal payments for conservation and climate change programs, as well as emergency loans.

Calls to a Durham-based hotline spiked, and schools and churches scrambled to communicate with families as President Trump’s deportation push began.

Rural counties like the Border Belt shifted further to the right, despite Democrats’ efforts to re-engage working-class voters.

Columbus County no longer has any public and community swimming pools—a reflection of racism, rural decay, and lost opportunity.