Ben Rappaport

1 week ago | cityviewnc.com | Ben Rappaport

This story was originally published by the Border Belt Independent. Stepping outside her home on Britt Road near St. Pauls has become a burden for Viv Tolson Wayne. Warm days are the worst. That’s when dozens of buzzards line her yard, attracted by the stench of the Robeson County Landfill across the street. Wayne, 74, said the odor irritates her persistent cough and makes her eyes sting. Sometimes her arms break out in a rash.

2 weeks ago | nrcolumbus.com | Ben Rappaport

As the owner of a small business, Bree Sanders is in a tough spot. The prices of ingredients for the protein shakes and tea bombs she sells at Whiteville Nutrition have risen every month this year, she said. Each box of vitamin B-12 is $11 more than it was in January. Her herbal tea is $6 more per box. She orders at least a box of each three times per week. kAm“x’> 567:?:E6=J >2<:?8 =6DD >@?6J ?@H[” D2:5 $2?56CD[ H9@ 92D @H?65 E96 5@H?E@H?

2 weeks ago | borderbelt.org | Ben Rappaport

By Ben RappaportStepping outside her home on Britt Road near St. Pauls has become a burden for Viv Tolson Wayne. Warm days are the worst. That’s when dozens of buzzards line her yard, attracted by the stench of the Robeson County Landfill across the street. Wayne, 74, said the odor irritates her persistent cough and makes her eyes sting. Sometimes her arms break out in a rash. Several neighbors have developed chronic illnesses and cancer since the landfill was built in 1995, she said.

2 weeks ago | theassemblync.com | Ben Rappaport |Heidi Pérez-Moreno

As the owner of a small business, Bree Sanders is in a tough spot. The prices of ingredients for the protein shakes and tea bombs she sells at Whiteville Nutrition have risen every month this year, she said. Each box of vitamin B-12 is $11 more than it was in January. Her herbal tea is $6 more per box. She orders at least a box of each three times per week. “I’m definitely making less money now,” said Sanders, who has owned the downtown shop since last May. “Do I want to raise prices? Yes. Should I? Yes.

3 weeks ago | nrcolumbus.com | Ben Rappaport

The following story was published Tuesday, May 13, by Border Belt Independent. It is republished here with permission. A Columbus County Superior Court judge issued an order Monday requiring the county and the sheriff’s office to release additional public records to The Assembly and Border Belt Independent concerning former sheriff Jody Greene and operations at his office.