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
Category: Perspectives
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”
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
BY REP. TODD CARVER One of the committees I am most excited to serve on in the N.C. House is the Regulatory Reform Committee. This group is tasked with reviewing
BY JEFF CORBETT A friend of mine in nursing school shared details of a most unique pop quiz given by her instructor. Among the many questions there was one –
BY REP. TODD CARVER Most people may not be aware North Carolina set a goal in 2019 to have 2 million people with a post-secondary degree or high-quality credential. This
BY SALLY NIX For too long, health insurance companies have dictated patient care instead of doctors. The bureaucratic nightmare of prior authorization, which requires doctors to obtain insurer approval before treating their
BY SHELLIE TAYLOR For over 40 years, some people in Statesville believed that an abandoned African American church cemetery had been destroyed by the organization known as the Statesville Redevelopment
BY MICHAEL KUBINIEC In February of 2025, certain Iredell-Statesville Schools administrators were given an opportunity to rate the Board of Education members in a survey. Results were released and published
BY REP. TODD CARVER The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is an idea which should not invoke a partisan divide the way it has. We can argue about the implementation
BY JEFF CORBETT The famous Austrian surgeon Dr.Theodor Billroth used to tell his students that a doctor needed two abilities: freedom from nausea, and the power of observation. Then he’d
BY JAMES PRESSLY As a concerned city taxpayer, fourth-generation Statesville resident, and local business owner, I want to express my growing frustration with the wasteful and misguided policies of the
BY REP. TODD CARVER One of my goals upon being elected to the N.C. House of Representatives was to let people know what was taking place in Raleigh and the
To the Editor: I have a question for the Town of Troutman residents: Given the massive tax increase bestowed upon us by the Iredell County Board of Commissioners, coupled with
Editor’s Note: This is the final installment of a series. Read the first installment HERE and the second installment HERE . BY SHELLIE TAYLOR What do you get when you
BY JEFF CORBETT Centuries ago, a group of Peruvian Indians were looking out from their ocean shores. Something appeared far away that they didn’t recognize. Seeing the sails of Spanish
Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a series. Read the first installment HERE . BY SHELLIE TAYLOR This is not a review for the latest crime novel by James
To the Editor: We are planning a peaceful gathering from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 7, in Downtown Statesville to show support for Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine. Many
BY FRANNY HANRAHAN I recently read the article about the “circus atmosphere” of some Troutman Town Council meetings and take issue with some of the statements made by the town
BY JEFF CORBETT In his book “The Paradigm Pioneers,” futurist Joel Barker posed this question: During America’s westward expansion in the 1800s, what was the difference between pioneers and settlers?
BY JEFF CORBETT In “The Story File,” Steve May shares a story about three ministers from different churches in the same town who decided to go fishing. As they fished,
BY JAY SHERRILL After two decades of dedicated service, Mayor Costi Kutteh has announced that he will not run for re-election in 2025. As Statesville’s longest-serving mayor, he has led
BY JEFF CORBETT Some years ago, psychologist William Marston asked 3,000 people this question: “What are you living for?” Some 94 percent of the respondents gave roughly the same answer
BY GOV. JOSH STEIN Every year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day gives us the chance to honor the life and legacy of a remarkable leader. Dr. King was a visionary
BY JEFF CORBETT Are you the best you’ve ever been? You say, “What?” Let me rephrase that. Looking back over your life, are you a better person today than ever