BY JEFF CORBETT Over its lifetime, a lobster experiences periodic and traumatic transitions. Having no other choice, it cracks its entire hard shell and wriggles free and then develops a
Category: Perspectives
BY DEREK DEVOS By now, most people have had the experience. You notice someone isn’t quite themselves. You try to check in. The conversation doesn’t go how you expected. It’s
BY JOE HUDSON I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved, having earlier been almost naked on a table while my dermatologist Kristine examined me
BY JEFF CORBETT Thomas Hobson lived in Cambridge, England, from 1544-1631, and owned a livery stable, renting horses to the public. He began to notice that his best horses were
BY DEREK DEVOS Most of us have had this moment. You notice someone you care about isn’t quite themselves. Not dramatically different, just off. Quieter than usual. Leaving a little
BY JASON GARDNER As superintendent of the Mooresville Graded School District, I am often asked what drives our decision-making and shapes our vision for the future. While our goals focus
To the Editor: On November 26, 2025, the IFN printed a story indicating that the Town of Troutman elected officials decided to sever their contractual relationship with then-Town Manager Ron
BY JEFF CORBETT Two friends—a scientist and a city-dweller—were walking down a crowded Manhattan sidewalk at lunchtime. Taxis blared. Vendors shouted. A construction crew jackhammered somewhere nearby. The whole street
BY MIKE KUBINIEC In the last election cycle, our district did not get the voice it deserved. When the previous representative stepped aside late in the filing period, the race
BY DEREK DEVOS Most people believe they would recognize PTSD if they saw it. They picture flashbacks, panic, or someone unable to function day to day. But, in real life,
BY REP. TODD CARVER I would like to take a moment to talk about the importance of voting in this primary season. Early voting runs through Saturday, February 28. During
BY MIKE FUHRMAN The Iredell County Republican Party’s Executive Committee has some important work to do on Monday evening. At the risk of sounding over-dramatic, nothing less than the future
BY JEFF CORBETT An old married couple had four boys. The older three had red hair and light skin, the youngest had black hair and dark eyes. On his deathbed,
BY ERNESTO ESTRADA Speak to the elders and ghosts of generations past and they will reminisce on their earliest memories: there existed an America where children could walk to school or
BY JEFF CORBETT At the end of the Christmas holidays, while up in the attic putting away decorations for another year, I stumbled upon an old taped-up box hidden away
BY SALLY NIX When Congressman Greg Murphy confronted insurance executives during the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on January 22, he did not merely ask tough questions. He pulled
BY DARREN CAMPBELL It is no secret that I regard the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office as the best law enforcement agency in the state. Within the walls of our office
BY JOE HUDSON I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved, having earlier poured some coffee an inch to the right of my cup, which
BY JEFF CORBETT In his book “Words for All Occasions,” Glenn van Eckeren shares this story: Old Bill was dying. With time running out, he wanted to make things right
BY JEFF CORBETT In his autobiography, Walmart legend Sam Walton recalled his time as a student at the University of Missouri in Columbia and his plan to run for president
BY GOV. JOSH STEIN Raleigh — Every December, my family lights and places our menorah in a window. Hanukkah – the miracle of lights – tells the story of a group
BY JOE HUDSON I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved, thinking I love Christmas but the season is a trial for us Christians who
BY JEFF CORBETT For my Christmas column this year, I’m doing something different. I subscribe to a weekly email from minister and author Steve May, who provides sermon illustrations and
BY REP. TODD CARVER Since October 1 I have received numerous emails about the Medicaid situation in the state and the impact it was having on families. Therefore, a brief
BY JEFF CORBETT A friend of mine was driving in morning traffic in downtown Charlotte. As she approached a fast-changing stoplight, she screeched to a halt just as it turned
BY DEREK DEVOS Most people have heard of PTSD. Fewer people know the term moral injury; yet it is one of the most common and least discussed wounds carried by
BY JASON GARDNER As the Superintendent, I want to take a moment to reaffirm the core value that anchors all the work of the Mooresville Graded School District: Authentic Relationships.
BY GOV. JOSH STEIN Thanksgiving gives us time to hit pause and to reflect on all our blessings. I’ve had the privilege of serving as governor of North Carolina for
To the Editor: On November 1 our area food banks were really struggling to keep what I call staple food bank products on our shelves. We were being hit with
BY JEFF CORBETT Glenn van Eckeren tells a story about a shady motorcyclist at the Canadian border seeking to cross into the U.S. On the back of the bike were
To the Editor: Along with my wife Xochitl and three other women from Statesville, I had the privilege on Wednesday, November 19, to act as scouts in Charlotte for Siembra
BY JOE HUDSON I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved, having been chased all week by small joys, like the wonderful singing of “Come
BY REP. TODD CARVER I wanted to take just a moment to temper expectations this week about the Medicaid funding situation in North Carolina. The reason I feel it is
To the Editor: The Troutman Town Council has been handed an opportunity to fix what they screwed up on January 4, 2021, when they hired the current town manager, who
BY JEFF CORBETT Anne Morrow Lindbergh was fond of saying, “Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.” Are you — and what
BY MIKE FUHRMAN At this critical time in the city’s history, Statesville needs a mayor who can work effectively with city employees, other elected officials and business leaders from diverse