“I’ve heard kids say that they like eating with their mom. And I hope that’s what we’re fostering — a family meal.”

— Cybil Jones, founder of Engage North Rowan, on program that serves free meals to students and families each Tuesday night

“The first thing I thought when I woke up was, I’m missing rookie school.”

— Bubba McLaughlin, 23, who is eager to go back to work as a firefighter after cardiac arrest in September

“I know Kannapolis needs jobs and we all want good-paying jobs for the people in this community, but there’s a right way and a wrong way of going about it.”

— Everett Helms, Kannapolis resident, speaking against rezoning property for a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse that’s projected to attract 1,000 jobs

“We’ve seen the death of a young man and we just don’t want to see that again.”

— Al Heggins, member, Women for Justice in Law Enforcement and Community Peace, on a petition calling for the end of no-knock search warrants