Apr
19

Legislative Update: State budget, property tax reform among top priorities for upcoming short session

BY REP. TODD CARVER I haven’t been writing my weekly articles lately because the N.C. House of Representatives has been on break from its normal duties. I will be providing

Apr
13

Viewpoint: Pancake Day is a true celebration of community

BY LORENA PHILLIPS The smell of syrup and the sound of laughter will soon fill the air. Pancake Day — one of Iredell County’s most beloved traditions — will return

Apr
09

Viewpoint: How wide is your life?

BY JEFF CORBETT Most of us think of our lives as a straight line, running from birth to death. May I offer you a different, broader perspective? Your life is

Mar
26

Viewpoint: The price of personal growth is well worth it

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

Mar
24

Viewpoint: When support for PTSD doesn’t look like support

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

Mar
14

View from the Hudson: Dumb could be the new smart

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

Mar
12

Viewpoint: Having too many choices can be worse than having no choices at all

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

Mar
10

Viewpoint: What to do when you think you’re seeing signs of PTSD

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

Mar
02

Viewpoint: MGSD’s commitment to equity recognizes the inherent worth of all students

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

Mar
01

Letter to the Editor: Troutman mayor, council still owe public an explanation about former manager’s severance package

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

Feb
26

Viewpoint: Mastering the art of listening well

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

Feb
26

Viewpoint: Representation should be earned — not inherited by timing

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

Feb
25

Viewpoint: You’ve probably seen PTSD before — you just didn’t know it at the time

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,

Feb
23

Viewpoint: Republican and unaffiliated voters in House District 95 have a choice between vastly different candidates in GOP primary

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

Feb
23

Viewpoint: Iredell County GOP Executive Committee will determine balance of power on I-SS Board

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

Feb
12

Viewpoint: Are you asking the right questions?

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,

Feb
08

Viewpoint: Statesville Council should promote investments in city’s core rather than encouraging sprawl

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

Jan
29

Viewpoint: If adults received grades for Citizenship, how would you rate?

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

Jan
24

Viewpoint: When a doctor in Congress calls out the Healthcare Giants, it’s time to act

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

Jan
20

Viewpoint: Sheriff’s Office personnel and assisting agencies worked tirelessly to find missing teen

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

Jan
16

A View from the Hudson: Men are anything but fantastic

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

Jan
15

Viewpoint: A sincere apology can be the first step toward healing

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

Jan
01

Viewpoint: Let’s all try to smile more in 2026!

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

Dec
25

Viewpoint: The Miracle of Light

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

Dec
20

Viewpoint: We’re taking a vacation from Christmas

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

Dec
18

Viewpoint: A moving and enduring gift from an unlikely source

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

Dec
15

Legislative Update: N.C. leaders should work together to figure out Medicaid funding

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

Dec
04

Viewpoint: Patience and compassion can make life’s journey more rewarding

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

Nov
30

Viewpoint: Many veterans are suffering from moral injury

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

Nov
28

Viewpoint: Building authentic relationships is a central part of MGSD’s mission

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.

Nov
27

Viewpoint: 25 Things I’m thankful for in 2025

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

Nov
22

Letter to the Editor: Community’s response to increased food insecurity has been incredible

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

Nov
20

Viewpoint: Is life passing you by while you’re multi-tasking or looking down at your phone?

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

Nov
20

Letter to the Editor: Watching Border Patrol agents detain woman leaving grocery store was heartbreaking

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

Nov
19

View from the Hudson: A primer for gratitude

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

Nov
17

Legislative Update: N.C. Senate holding up Medicaid funding

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