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

Oct
09

Viewpoint: Personal growth and adaptability are lifelong pursuits

  BY JEFF CORBETT IdeaBank shared a story about a minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer executive who were flying to a meeting in a small private plane. About

Oct
07

Legislative Update: Iryna’s Law aims to make N.C. communities safer

BY REP. TODD CARVER The stabbing death of a young Ukrainian woman named Iryna in Charlotte was the impetus for the latest update to the N.C. criminal justice system. The

Oct
05

Viewpoint: The times are never so bad

BY H. STEPHEN SHOEMAKER Saint Thomas More wrote in his own tumultuous time, “The times are never so bad but that a good man can live in them.” We need

Sep
29

Legislative Update: Understanding NC’s Medicaid funding issues

BY REP. TODD CARVER I have received numerous emails from constituents over the past couple of weeks who are concerned about the NC Medicaid funding cuts set to take place

Sep
29

What3Words: A phone app that can help save a life

BY FRANK JOHNSON I volunteer with Holy Angels in Belmont and have been associated with the nonprofit off and on since they began their mission in the 1950s. For the

Sep
26

Viewpoint: MGSD demonstrates commitment to fiscal responsibility, transparency

BY JASON GARDNER The Mooresville Graded School District is once again proud to announce another clean financial audit, a testament to our unwavering commitment to our core value of integrity.

Sep
25

Viewpoint: Where do the Mermaids stand?

BY JEFF CORBETT In his book “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” Robert Fulghum tells of a young minister overseeing a large group of seven- to

Sep
22

Viewpoint: As a society, we need to look at how we provide treatment for mentally ill population

BY REP. TODD CARVER I wanted to take an opportunity to discuss a reply I received to last week’s article. For those who missed it, I discussed the fallout from

Sep
15

Legislative Update: The case for criminal justice reform

BY REP. TODD CARVER Speaker of the House Destin Hall and Senate President Phil Berger held a joint press conference last week to discuss how the deadly stabbing on the

Sep
14

View from the Hudson: A slick story about Southern okra

BY JOE HUDSON I was on the front porch when you drove by, and I waved, reeling from surprise and consternation, having just learned that a good Southern friend of

Sep
11

Viewpoint: We all have the opportunity to make our own sandwiches

BY JEFF CORBETT Journalist Tim McGuire shared a story about an old priest in Seattle who got up early every morning to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and then

Sep
06

Letter to the Editor: NCDOT decision to close West Wilson Avenue demonstrates lack of vision

To the Editor: As was announced at the close of the Mooresville Commission meeting on September 2, on Monday, September 8, NCDOT will publicly demonstrate its lack of vision as

Sep
01

Legislative Update: The reason the N.C. General Assembly has not adopted a state budget

BY REP. TODD CARVER I have been getting quite a few questions this week surrounding the state budget and the process used in North Carolina for funding our state government.

Aug
29

Viewpoint: New organization provides peer-to-peer support for veterans in Iredell County

BY DEREK DeVOS For most veterans, PTSD isn’t about one moment, one mission, or one event. It’s about what comes after. The sleepless nights. The sudden anger. The panic in

Aug
28

Viewpoint: Are you chasing your dream or just living?

BY JEFF CORBETT My grandfather was a young man in Statesville in the early 1900s, and he told me of a farmer who would bring live chickens to folks’ homes

Aug
24

Legislative Update: The goal of HB 67 is to increase access to medical care in N.C.

BY REP. TODD CARVER This week I want to share some information with you about HB 67, The Healthcare Workforce Reform. You probably haven’t heard of it because it was

Aug
22

Pardon Our Mess! Signs of progress visible throughout Statesville

BY RON SMITH Sometimes, progress is ugly, and inconvenient, and frustrating, and expensive. Right now, one does not have to drive or walk far in Statesville to come across a

Aug
21

View from the Hudson: Holy Scripture and cell phones

BY JOE HUDSON I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved, thinking that as a member of the Statesville City Council, I sometimes get ferocious

Aug
14

Viewpoint: The sound of silence can help you recharge, reflect and refresh

BY JEFF CORBETT A young man decided to be a monk. His monastery had a strict vow of silence. Twelve months later the abbot called him in and said, “You

Aug
11

Legislative Update: N.C. General Assembly has several more vetoes to consider

BY REP. TODD CARVER The majority of this week’s update is dedicated to discussing the remaining vetoes of Gov. Josh Stein. The remainder will include a short discussion on the

Aug
04

Legislative Update: N.C. lawmakers successfully override eight vetoes

REP. TODD CARVER Last week I had said I hoped to override four of Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes during the week. Instead the N.C. General Assembly completed overrides on eight

Jul
31

Viewpoint: Are your priorities out of kilter?

BY JEFF CORBETT Today’s column has an embarrassing origin. I had just sat down to write it when an interesting news blurb popped up on my computer screen. I took

Jul
28

Legislative Update: Lawmakers return to Raleigh this week to attempt veto overrides

BY REP. TODD CARVER The N.C. General Assembly will be back in session this week. I believe the primary reason for our return is to attempt to override vetoes. There

Jul
19

View from the Hudson: Proud to be part of the herd

BY JOE HUDSON I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved, thinking that many people now like to embrace their independent streak like those motivational

Jul
17

Viewpoint: How to use ‘the most powerful drug used by mankind’

BY JEFF CORBETT A tired businessman who wanted to get away from it all went to a retreat at a famous old monastery. As he was signing in, he asked

Jul
15

Viewpoint: North Carolina returns to top of national business rankings, but there’s still work to do

BY REP. TODD CARVER  Just a few words to make sure everyone saw that North Carolina was once again ranked as the best place to do business in America by

Jul
08

Legislative Update: Lawmakers take action to prohibit student cell phone use in schools during instructional time

BY REP. TODD CARVER The N.C. General Assembly took a break last week for the July 4th holiday so no new legislation was passed. That doesn’t mean that nothing took

Jul
03

Viewpoint: Understanding the power of eye contact

BY JEFF CORBETT The May/June 2004 issue of Psychology Today offers a great story on the power of eye contact. It reads like this: “Bill and Hillary Clinton often tell the story

Jun
30

Legislative Update: The long session draws to a close without a budget deal

BY REP. TODD CARVER Last week saw the long session of the N.C. General Assembly draw to a close — sort of. Leadership announced that the House and Senate were

Jun
24

Letter to the Editor: Fear of being sued should not outweigh legitimate safety concerns

To the Editor: I’m not angry because the Troutman Town Council voted to approve the Clontz Hill Road rezoning and annexation requests. I’m angry because of why they approved it.

Jun
23

Letter to the Editor: Community invited to contribute to local history project

To the Editor: If you have ancestors who lived in Iredell County, your help is needed to help celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our country in 2026 by submitting an

Jun
19

Viewpoint: What you need to know to avoid being manipulated

BY JEFF CORBETT I once attended an incredible workshop at Arizona State University taught by professor Dr. Robert Cialdini, an often-quoted expert in all things dealing with persuasion, and today

Jun
16

Viewpoint: Brown Family Bereavement Center will be a blessing to our community

BY REP. TODD CARVER The best part of my week happened in Mooresville — not in Raleigh — last week. I want to use this space to share information about

Jun
15

View from the Hudson: A few words about your love handles

BY JOE HUDSON  I was on the front porch when you drove by and I waved, appreciative of several things about you that are admirable — pleasant personality, winning smile,

Jun
09

Legislative Update: The North Carolina Border Protection Act would hold sanctuary cities accountable

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