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

Nov
16

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

Nov
06

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

Nov
03

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

Oct
31

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

Oct
27

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

Oct
26

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.

Oct
23

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

Oct
11

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