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Category: Perspectives

Legislative Update: The case for criminal justice reform

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER Speaker of the House Destin Hall and Senate President Phil Berger held a joint press conference last week to discuss how the deadly stabbing on the

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View from the Hudson: A slick story about Southern okra

Posted on September 14, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JOE HUDSON I was on the front porch when you drove by, and I waved, reeling from surprise and consternation, having just learned that a good Southern friend of

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Viewpoint: We all have the opportunity to make our own sandwiches

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JEFF CORBETT Journalist Tim McGuire shared a story about an old priest in Seattle who got up early every morning to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and then

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Letter to the Editor: NCDOT decision to close West Wilson Avenue demonstrates lack of vision

Posted on September 6, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

To the Editor: As was announced at the close of the Mooresville Commission meeting on September 2, on Monday, September 8, NCDOT will publicly demonstrate its lack of vision as

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Legislative Update: The reason the N.C. General Assembly has not adopted a state budget

Posted on September 1, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER I have been getting quite a few questions this week surrounding the state budget and the process used in North Carolina for funding our state government.

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Viewpoint: New organization provides peer-to-peer support for veterans in Iredell County

Posted on August 29, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY DEREK DeVOS For most veterans, PTSD isn’t about one moment, one mission, or one event. It’s about what comes after. The sleepless nights. The sudden anger. The panic in

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Viewpoint: Are you chasing your dream or just living?

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JEFF CORBETT My grandfather was a young man in Statesville in the early 1900s, and he told me of a farmer who would bring live chickens to folks’ homes

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Legislative Update: The goal of HB 67 is to increase access to medical care in N.C.

Posted on August 24, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER This week I want to share some information with you about HB 67, The Healthcare Workforce Reform. You probably haven’t heard of it because it was

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Pardon Our Mess! Signs of progress visible throughout Statesville

Posted on August 22, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY RON SMITH Sometimes, progress is ugly, and inconvenient, and frustrating, and expensive. Right now, one does not have to drive or walk far in Statesville to come across a

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View from the Hudson: Holy Scripture and cell phones

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JOE HUDSON I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved, thinking that as a member of the Statesville City Council, I sometimes get ferocious

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Viewpoint: The sound of silence can help you recharge, reflect and refresh

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JEFF CORBETT A young man decided to be a monk. His monastery had a strict vow of silence. Twelve months later the abbot called him in and said, “You

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Legislative Update: N.C. General Assembly has several more vetoes to consider

Posted on August 11, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER The majority of this week’s update is dedicated to discussing the remaining vetoes of Gov. Josh Stein. The remainder will include a short discussion on the

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Legislative Update: N.C. lawmakers successfully override eight vetoes

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

REP. TODD CARVER Last week I had said I hoped to override four of Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes during the week. Instead the N.C. General Assembly completed overrides on eight

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Viewpoint: Are your priorities out of kilter?

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JEFF CORBETT Today’s column has an embarrassing origin. I had just sat down to write it when an interesting news blurb popped up on my computer screen. I took

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Legislative Update: Lawmakers return to Raleigh this week to attempt veto overrides

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER The N.C. General Assembly will be back in session this week. I believe the primary reason for our return is to attempt to override vetoes. There

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View from the Hudson: Proud to be part of the herd

Posted on July 19, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JOE HUDSON I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved, thinking that many people now like to embrace their independent streak like those motivational

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Viewpoint: How to use ‘the most powerful drug used by mankind’

Posted on July 17, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JEFF CORBETT A tired businessman who wanted to get away from it all went to a retreat at a famous old monastery. As he was signing in, he asked

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Viewpoint: North Carolina returns to top of national business rankings, but there’s still work to do

Posted on July 15, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER  Just a few words to make sure everyone saw that North Carolina was once again ranked as the best place to do business in America by

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Legislative Update: Lawmakers take action to prohibit student cell phone use in schools during instructional time

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER The N.C. General Assembly took a break last week for the July 4th holiday so no new legislation was passed. That doesn’t mean that nothing took

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Viewpoint: Understanding the power of eye contact

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JEFF CORBETT The May/June 2004 issue of Psychology Today offers a great story on the power of eye contact. It reads like this: “Bill and Hillary Clinton often tell the story

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Legislative Update: The long session draws to a close without a budget deal

Posted on June 30, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER Last week saw the long session of the N.C. General Assembly draw to a close — sort of. Leadership announced that the House and Senate were

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Letter to the Editor: Fear of being sued should not outweigh legitimate safety concerns

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

To the Editor: I’m not angry because the Troutman Town Council voted to approve the Clontz Hill Road rezoning and annexation requests. I’m angry because of why they approved it.

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Letter to the Editor: Community invited to contribute to local history project

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

To the Editor: If you have ancestors who lived in Iredell County, your help is needed to help celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our country in 2026 by submitting an

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Viewpoint: What you need to know to avoid being manipulated

Posted on June 19, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JEFF CORBETT I once attended an incredible workshop at Arizona State University taught by professor Dr. Robert Cialdini, an often-quoted expert in all things dealing with persuasion, and today

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Viewpoint: Brown Family Bereavement Center will be a blessing to our community

Posted on June 16, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER The best part of my week happened in Mooresville — not in Raleigh — last week. I want to use this space to share information about

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View from the Hudson: A few words about your love handles

Posted on June 15, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JOE HUDSON  I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved, appreciative of several things about you that are admirable — pleasant personality, winning smile,

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Perspectives featured 4 Comments

Legislative Update: The North Carolina Border Protection Act would hold sanctuary cities accountable

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER Last week the N.C. House of Representatives passed a Senate bill entitled the North Carolina Border Protection Act, SB 153. I supported this bill for a

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Viewpoint: The power to succeed comes from within

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JEFF CORBETT I recently watched the film “Ray,” the inspiring story of Ray Charles, and I loved it! If you delve deeper into the making of this film, you’ll

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Legislative Update: HB 193 empowers private schools to protect students and staff

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER Members of the N.C. House of Representatives voted to approve House Bill 193 in May. This legislation has garnered some media attention so I wanted to

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Legislative Update: Inside the N.C. House budget

Posted on May 26, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER Last week we saw the introduction and passage of the N.C. House of Representatives budget. This is my first budget experience in the General Assembly, but

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Viewpoint: We can learn a lot from how giraffes treat their babies

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JEFF CORBETT Gary Richmond spent seven years at the Los Angeles Zoo as a zookeeper, and his book “A View from the Zoo” describes how the birth of a giraffe

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Legislative Update: State budget should encourage economic growth, invest in future of N.C.

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER This work in the the N.C. House of Representatives has turned to the budget process. Before I say where we are, let me tell you about

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View from the Hudson: It’s a good life … thanks to others

Posted on May 16, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JOE HUDSON I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved, thinking the birth of a rare Malayan tapir calf — a strange looking short-necked

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Viewpoint: HB 636 promotes censorship and fear, while infringing on parental rights

Posted on May 13, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY KAREN VAN VLIET In response to Rep. Todd Carver’s recent column , the N.C. General Assembly has taken a misguided step with HB 636, “Promoting Wholesome Content for Students”

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Viewpoint: Is HB 765 a necessary step toward affordable housing or a legislative overreach?

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. JEFF McNEELY North Carolina’s affordable housing crisis has reached a critical juncture. With escalating housing costs and a growing population, the state faces mounting pressure to provide accessible

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Legislative Update: Crossover week in Raleigh  

Posted on May 12, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. TODD CARVER Last week was crossover week in the N.C. General Assembly. That means for a bill to remain alive it must have cleared either the House of

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