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Category: Perspectives

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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Perspectives featured 2 Comments

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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Perspectives featured 2 Comments

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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Perspectives featured 2 Comments

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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Perspectives featured 1 Comment

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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Perspectives featured 1 Comment

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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Perspectives featured 3 Comments

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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Perspectives featured 5 Comments

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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Perspectives featured 1 Comment

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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Perspectives featured 4 Comments

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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Perspectives featured 4 Comments

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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Perspectives featured 1 Comment

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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Perspectives featured 1 Comment

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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Perspectives featured 2 Comments

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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Perspectives featured 3 Comments

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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Perspectives featured 3 Comments

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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Viewpoint: Don’t let FOMO define the life you lead

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JEFF CORBETT A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant. Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on

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Perspectives featured 1 Comment

Letter to the Editor: Troutman Council, town manager have created this mess

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

To the Editor: This could be one of the most contradictory statements one has ever heard. “Town Manager Ron Wyatt opened the session, saying that being frugal is key while

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Perspectives featured 7 Comments

Legislative Update: Searching for solutions at the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles

Posted on May 5, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

  BY REP. TODD CARVER This week’s article isn’t about a particular piece of legislation but an issue which confronts many people in North Carolina. The Division of Motor Vehicles

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Perspectives featured 2 Comments

Viewpoint: President Trump is making America stronger, safer

Posted on April 29, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

Editor’s Note: Congressman Pat Harrigan released the following statement about the first 100 days of the Trump administration. BY REP. PAT HARRIGAN WASHINGTON — One hundred days into President Trump’s second

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Perspectives featured 32 Comments

Viewpoint: Is it possible to be too happy?

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY JEFF CORBETT I thought you’d be interested in a study on happiness from a joint project of three universities, as reported in TIME magazine. The research team’s findings had

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Legislative Update: Proposed legislation aims to safeguard N.C. farmland, strengthen national security 

Posted on April 21, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REP. JEFF MCNEELY North Carolina House Bill 133, the NC Farmland and Military Protection Act, represents a prudent and necessary measure to protect our state’s agricultural resources and national

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Perspectives featured 4 Comments

Letter to the Editor: Proposed cuts to Medicaid would harm 2.7 million North Carolinians

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

To the Editor: Medicaid is our country’s single largest source of healthcare coverage, providing crucial healthcare access to more than 72 million low-income Americans, including children, seniors, veterans, those living

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Perspectives featured 1 Comment

Viewpoint: An Open Letter to RFK

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY KIM EROH Let me tell you about my son. He is an extraordinary human being in every way. His heart is tender, overflowing with compassion, empathy, and kindness. His

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Perspectives featured 14 Comments

Viewpoint: Memory and hope on Good Friday

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

BY REV. H. STEPHEN SHOEMAKER Why is the day of Jesus’ crucifixion on a Roman cross called “good”? Here’s a beginning: Because on the cross Jesus forgave the ones killing

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Perspectives featured 2 Comments

Letter to the Editor: WWJD Peace Rally planned for Good Friday in Statesville

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Mike Fuhrman

To the Editor: Many Christians are concerned about the lack of the teachings of Jesus in today’s Christianity. Many churches preach power and riches instead of feeding the poor or

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