An open letter to Mayor John Woods, Town Commissioners Rodney Graham, Jim Fuller, Brian Jenest, Beth Cashion, Stacey Anderson.  Read the full story

US Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC) addressed a small group at Cornelius town hall Thursday (Jonathan Cox/CorneliusNews.net)

By JONATHAN COX
CorneliusNews.net

U.S. Robert Pittenger (R-9th District) says he knows exactly where the logjam is in Congress: Hundreds of bills are stalled on the desk of Senate majority leader Harry Reid. In a forum at Cornelius Town hall Thursday night, Pittenger blamed the Democratic Senate leader for delaying reform in banking regulations and health care policy.

The forum was one of six “town hall” style meetings Pittenger is holding in the 9th district this summer, which includes most of Iredell and Mecklenburg counties. The congressman, who is concluding his first term, will run unopposed this fall. Read the full story

US Rep. Robert Pittenger will meet 9th District residents at 6 events over the next two weeks, including ‘town hall’ style meetings next week in Mooresville and Cornelius. Meanwhile, an elections expert from the Civitas Institute will talk about Voter ID in North Carolina at the September meeting of the North Mecklenburg Republican Women. Read on for the details. And Lake Norman Conservatives will meet Thursday, Aug. 28, with guest speaker Loren Spivack.  Read the full story

Representatives from the town of Davidson were joined by NCDOT staff at Davidson Town Hall, one of three meetings in the area Thursday. From left: Mayor John Woods, NCDOT Chief of Staff Bobby Lewis, Commissioners Beth Cashion and Rodney Graham (Jonathan Cox/DavidsonNews.net).

By JONATHAN COX
DavidsonNews.net

In a series of meetings opened to the public at the last minute, officials from Cintra and the NC Department of Transportation fielded questions from local elected officials about proposed High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on I-77. Read the full story

By JONATHAN COX
DavidsonNews.net

Staff from the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and Spanish construction firm Cintra will hold private meetings Thursday with town officials from Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius and Mooresville to discuss the DOT’s planned I-77 High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes widening project.

The NCDOT said Wednesday the meetings are aimed at dispelling misinformation about the project, as well as preparing for a September community information meeting on the I-77 project. During the meetings, the NCDOT will review a fact sheet, animations and other general project information currently posted on the I-77 project page. Read the full story

Mecklenburg County Commission chair Trevor Fuller talked as Davidson Mayor JohnWoods listened during Monday’s chat with residents. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

In a meeting with citizens at Davidson Town Hall Monday night, Mecklenburg County Commission Chair Trevor Fuller talked up a proposed 1/4-cent sales tax increase to pay for teacher salaries, cultural programs and libraries. Fuller also said the county isn’t taking as big a financial “hit” as expected from the state-mandated re-do of the 2011 property revaluation. Read the full story

By RAY KOLLS

Iraq is a quagmire. So is Syria. Both are festering, violent, sectarian quagmires. With regard to Iraq, we never should have gone and we should be glad to go. With regard to Syria, we should be glad we never went.

Given the current situation on the ground, it is striking how ridiculous the political rhetoric sounds in light of the history of this troubled region – history both recent and ancient – and the enormity of the task at hand. Read the full story

A common sight on I-77 north of Charlotte. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net file photo)

CORNELIUS – Opponents of the NCDOT’s plan to widen I-77 north of Charlotte with toll lanes are continuing their campaign to halt the project. On Thursday night, July 24, the group Widen I-77 will hold a public meeting at Cornelius Town Hall to discuss their latest analysis of the state’s proposed contract with Spanish transportation giant Cintra. Read the full story