Digital Scholarship and Initiatives

This editorial comments on the state grant recently awarded to the Lumbee Tribe to study the high homicide rate among tribal members. Observing that Robeson County "has long suffered desperate poverty," the writer notes that the grant is not the first money invested by the state to help address problems faced by the county. Other efforts include the Leandro Case (for which Robeson County is a plaintiff), which has improved spending for education; a rural development grant to Red Springs for a third of a million dollars; and amendments to the state's industry incentives program through the Bill Lee Act, which should encourage companies to locate in Robeson County. The writer notes that funding to hire more police officers and sheriff's deputies will probably be needed. Finally, "jobs and education will help what ails Robeson, and federal and state aid need to be steered to the county."