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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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” Act,

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 cross an

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 Patterson

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