Stories tagged: "rural NC"


Photo Credit: Riddhish Chakraborty via gettyimages
Ashe County’s economy is broken. We need better leaders to fix it.

Let me tell you about a house that represents the standard in Ashe County, North Carolina.  Upon entering the front door, you notice the floor is not level in the least; there is mold growing on the walls and ceiling, and there are exposed plumbing pipes running along the top of the wall.  The kitchen...

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson speaks at a State Senate Education Committee hearing in Raleigh in 2021. (AP Photo/Bryan Anderson)
What a governor Mark Robinson would mean for rural education in North Carolina

Mark Robinson has accused North Carolina public school teachers of indoctrinating children, called for increased funding for private schools, supported efforts to ban books for LGBTQ students, and denied the undisputed science on climate change.

Sunset over Lumberton. Lumberton, part of Robeson County, is one of many towns caught up waiting for the state to fix long-standing education funding issues exposed in the Leandro lawsuit. (Shutterstock)
Eastern NC schools wait for justice in 30-year-old education funding lawsuit

For nearly three decades, families in underserved communities in eastern NC have been asking the state to fix their chronically underfunded schools. They talked to us about keeping the faith.

Gun violence in rural NC
The Reality of Gun Violence in Rural North Carolina

Urban gun violence tends to get the headlines. But NC has a major gun problem lurking in its rural areas. 

These grants will go towards creating jobs in six counties across the state of North Carolina: Chatham County, Pitt County, Wayne County, Halifax County, Stanly County, and Nash County. (Photo via Shutterstock)
Rural NC communities get new state funding that will create 321 jobs

These grants will go towards creating jobs in six counties across the state of North Carolina: Chatham County, Pitt County, Wayne County, Halifax County, Stanly County, and Nash County.

While certain federal benefits won’t be impacted, a government shutdown would affect a number of other benefits that rural communities rely on, such as food and housing assistance. (Photo via Shutterstock)
Here’s What a Government Shutdown Would Mean for Rural Communities in North Carolina

While certain federal benefits won’t be impacted, a government shutdown would affect a number of other benefits that rural communities rely on, such as food and housing assistance.

Rural Western North Carolina. Photo Credit: Dylan Rhoney
How North Carolina’s Budget Impacts Rural Communities

For rural NC, the budget has a boost in Medicaid expansion, and another round of pain for public education.