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
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Letter to the Editor: Troutman Council has opportunity to remedy costly mistake
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
Viewpoint: How to be heard, appreciated and remembered for what you say
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
Viewpoint: One candidate stands out in the Statesville mayoral race — for all the wrong reasons
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
Viewpoint: Local nonprofits working hard for Iredell County residents
BY SARA HELMICK The United Way of Iredell County and our dedicated partner agencies have long been committed to supporting our neighbors in need—and that commitment remains unwavering. As the
Legislative Update: N.C. lawmakers stall on budget, approve congressional redistricting
BY REP. TODD CARVER I have not provided an update in a couple of weeks because the N.C. General Assembly is currently not in session. We met last week and
Viewpoint: If you can’t or won’t fight for veterans, don’t lead us
BY DEREK DEVOS While Washington bickers and postures, veterans wait. This month, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins tried to hit pause on nearly every veteran appeal at the U.S.
Viewpoint: Understanding how advertising works can help you hold onto your money
BY JEFF CORBETT There is a tried-and-true formula that advertisers and marketers use to motivate you to purchase their products and services, and to persuade you to take a course
Viewpoint: Empowering students helps them succeed in the classroom and beyond
BY JASON GARDNER Today’s world is changing at unprecedented speeds, and today’s schools need to do more than just teach facts. They need to teach students how to take charge
