Southeast Nebraska speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of May. 15, 2026
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Lincoln Journal Star.
- Updated
Donald Trump’s cartoonish notion that his cognitive test results qualify him to be president is, well, daffy. A more appropriate measure is the plain-spoken "Duck Test." You remember, if it looks, swims and quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck.
So ...
- Updated
If you hire a hairdresser to fix your car and an auto mechanic to do your hair, you're going to have a car that doesn't run and a very bad hairdo.
There is a solution to opening the Strait of Hormuz — it requires impeaching Trump and rehiring our military and diplomatic experts.
- Updated
What a contrast. The statement by Ted Turner on his refusing the tax exemption available to his nonprofit land in Nebraska: "I believe that local property taxes provide essential support for services on which our ranches and communities depend" and "the institute will continue to pay its share of taxes."
And our own governor constantly complaining about the property taxes he pays on his vast holdings.
- Updated
Trump wants us to build and pay for a huge, gaudy archway in his honor at the entrance to Arlington, a solemn, quiet, simple, beautiful, respectful, prayerful place to honor our fallen soldiers, not a draft-dodging, war-mongering disaster in chief.
Mary Frederick, Lincoln
- Updated
For five years, I have contacted the two U.S. senators and one House member who represent me through many respectful phone calls, emails and letters. I hoped they would be able to articulate their thoughts about how they are voting to serve Nebraskans.
Most of my efforts were not on bills or laws, but on their stance on basic components of public service. My questions included how they felt about their oath of office, democracy, our Constitution, the rule of law, branches of government and accountability to the people of our state.
- Updated
AAA magazine and many major cites confirm the most effective street and highway driving confirm that zipper merging is the most effective in keeping traffic moving smoothly.
Stay in both lanes until right before the merge and alternate into the existing lane.
- Updated
With warmth and humor, King Charles spoke to Congress in an extraordinary speech that wove together the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom. In a mere 27 minutes, his elegant words drove home several points that received spontaneous applause from both sides of the chamber.
Remarkably, senators and congressmen, Republicans and Democrats alike, acknowledged momentous issues facing the United States and the world, about which they have been silent for a year and a half.
- Updated
While Jim Pillen is Nebraska's governor and has also anointed himself as spokesperson for all Nebraskans and their morals — he does not speak for me. I have lived in Nebraska longer than Pillen and take issue with his bias and evident dislike of those he does not understand or approve of. Such groups would include those who want medical cannabis, those who are LGBTQ+ or those who might have different political beliefs than Pillen. For these people, Pillen is not Nebraska Nice and doesn't even credit these individuals with the right to their own opinion but instead attempts to paintbrush away all viewpoints different from his own by saying this sort of attitude is "woke" and has no place in Nebraska. We live here, we work here and we retire here. We may not think as you do but, governor, we are Nebraskans too.
Sue Harrold, Lincoln
- Updated
My uncle served in the Korean War and paid the ultimate sacrifice of being killed in September of 1952. He left behind a wife and 8-month-old daughter. I can’t imagine why the 300 young men that gave their lives are not deserving of a medal for their families. These 300 were Nebraska citizens. The cost of these medals can’t be the issue. I’m very happy for the Korean veterans that are still with us but the ones that served deserve to be remembered.
Vicky Smith, Lincoln
- Updated
At just 25 years old, I was diagnosed with renal failure caused by systemic lupus and immediately began dialysis. I was pregnant, undergoing chemotherapy and fighting for my life. The last thing I should have had to worry about was losing my health insurance.
But I was terrified. My private insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield was the only thing standing between my family and financial ruin. My husband and I even discussed divorcing on paper just to protect him from bankruptcy. No one facing a life-threatening diagnosis should ever have to consider something like that.
- Updated
The article "Nickel next? Not so fast" (May 3) makes no sense (pun intended).
Eliminating pennies and eventually nickels from circulation due to rising consumer prices is an idea worthy of considered discussion. However, eliminating them because they cost more to produce than their value is not. According to the article, one nickel costs 13.78 cents to make. A given nickel is made once, but used many times, remaining in circulation for about 20 years. Each of these uses costs zero cents.
- Updated
Democratic leaders' responses to the Supreme Court of Virginia's decision throwing out the redistricting referendum generally start with, "I respect the Court, but." However, if the procedure for the referendum was unconstitutional, as the majority ruled, a court worthy of respect would have stopped the referendum vote from happening in the first place. Instead, this court allowed the referendum to proceed and, when the conservative majority didn't like the results, threw the vote out, overturning the will of the majority of Virginia voters. This is not the proper role of a court in a democracy and does not deserve the respect of any Virginian.
Deborah Tussey
- Updated
As a practicing community oncologist in Winchester, I support efforts to make prescription drugs more affordable. My patients face crushing health care costs daily, and I see firsthand how financial stress compounds cancer diagnoses. I appreciate the General Assembly's intent to address affordability. But good intentions alone do not make good policy — especially in cancer care, where lawmakers must avoid creating new barriers.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger recognized this risk, proposing amendments to SB 271 and HB 483. Her changes thoughtfully addressed concerns from physicians and community oncology practices statewide. With those amendments rejected, the bills return to her unchanged.
- Updated
Donald Trump has once again weaponized the FBI to attack his political opponents. The timing of the raid on state Senator Louise Lucas is deeply inappropriate. Virginia Democrats must stand up for our democracy and rule of law. Abigail Spanberger's response to the president's most recent attack on our legal system is cowardly — she must come out strongly to defend Virginia Democrats against Trump's "Red Scare" tactics, pardoning his allies and using the full might of the federal government to attack Democrats and former Republicans.
Raleigh Matteo
- Updated
I am a Goochland County District 5 resident and I wanted to share the official correspondence I sent to the Board of Supervisors regarding their use of taxpayer funds for the Valley Link project.
To the Goochland County Board of Supervisors,
- Updated
I saw that President Trump has reinstituted the Presidential Physical Fitness Test. Speaking as career educator, I don’t know that this is a bad idea if it’s handled the right way.
My experience with the test before it was phased out was that about two weeks before students took the test in the spring, their physical education teachers put them through a crash conditioning regimen. I doubt this approach did much to meaningfully increase student fitness or promote any lifelong commitment to exercise. I think this is why the test was discontinued.
- Updated
News headlines continue to highlight the mounting pressures facing rural hospitals nationwide and in Virginia, including VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) in South Hill and VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital. While those challenges are real, they cannot be examined in a vacuum.
At CMH and Tappahannock Hospital, success is driven by innovation at the rural level, not as an exception, but as a core competency. That innovation expands access to care, strengthens the healthcare workforce and positions rural hospitals to thrive alongside urban partners.
- Updated
Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”
Sometimes, the only individuals standing between citizens and fraudulent government operations are investigative reporters whose job is to shine a light on government affairs, warts and all.
- Updated
Virginia Democrats have made statements that the recent Virginia Supreme Court decision overrides the will of the voters. Yet they had no issues with the governor's approval to override the voters' choice in a presidential election by directing Virginia's electors to support the national popular vote winner. The party of hypocrisy.
Kenneth Oriole
More like this...
Donald Trump’s cartoonish notion that his cognitive test results qualify him to be president is, well, daffy. A more appropriate measure is the plain-spoken "Duck Test." You remember, if it looks, swims and quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck.
So ...
If you hire a hairdresser to fix your car and an auto mechanic to do your hair, you're going to have a car that doesn't run and a very bad hairdo.
There is a solution to opening the Strait of Hormuz — it requires impeaching Trump and rehiring our military and diplomatic experts.
What a contrast. The statement by Ted Turner on his refusing the tax exemption available to his nonprofit land in Nebraska: "I believe that local property taxes provide essential support for services on which our ranches and communities depend" and "the institute will continue to pay its share of taxes."
And our own governor constantly complaining about the property taxes he pays on his vast holdings.
Trump wants us to build and pay for a huge, gaudy archway in his honor at the entrance to Arlington, a solemn, quiet, simple, beautiful, respectful, prayerful place to honor our fallen soldiers, not a draft-dodging, war-mongering disaster in chief.
Mary Frederick, Lincoln
For five years, I have contacted the two U.S. senators and one House member who represent me through many respectful phone calls, emails and letters. I hoped they would be able to articulate their thoughts about how they are voting to serve Nebraskans.
Most of my efforts were not on bills or laws, but on their stance on basic components of public service. My questions included how they felt about their oath of office, democracy, our Constitution, the rule of law, branches of government and accountability to the people of our state.
AAA magazine and many major cites confirm the most effective street and highway driving confirm that zipper merging is the most effective in keeping traffic moving smoothly.
Stay in both lanes until right before the merge and alternate into the existing lane.
With warmth and humor, King Charles spoke to Congress in an extraordinary speech that wove together the shared history of the United States and the United Kingdom. In a mere 27 minutes, his elegant words drove home several points that received spontaneous applause from both sides of the chamber.
Remarkably, senators and congressmen, Republicans and Democrats alike, acknowledged momentous issues facing the United States and the world, about which they have been silent for a year and a half.
While Jim Pillen is Nebraska's governor and has also anointed himself as spokesperson for all Nebraskans and their morals — he does not speak for me. I have lived in Nebraska longer than Pillen and take issue with his bias and evident dislike of those he does not understand or approve of. Such groups would include those who want medical cannabis, those who are LGBTQ+ or those who might have different political beliefs than Pillen. For these people, Pillen is not Nebraska Nice and doesn't even credit these individuals with the right to their own opinion but instead attempts to paintbrush away all viewpoints different from his own by saying this sort of attitude is "woke" and has no place in Nebraska. We live here, we work here and we retire here. We may not think as you do but, governor, we are Nebraskans too.
Sue Harrold, Lincoln
My uncle served in the Korean War and paid the ultimate sacrifice of being killed in September of 1952. He left behind a wife and 8-month-old daughter. I can’t imagine why the 300 young men that gave their lives are not deserving of a medal for their families. These 300 were Nebraska citizens. The cost of these medals can’t be the issue. I’m very happy for the Korean veterans that are still with us but the ones that served deserve to be remembered.
Vicky Smith, Lincoln
At just 25 years old, I was diagnosed with renal failure caused by systemic lupus and immediately began dialysis. I was pregnant, undergoing chemotherapy and fighting for my life. The last thing I should have had to worry about was losing my health insurance.
But I was terrified. My private insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield was the only thing standing between my family and financial ruin. My husband and I even discussed divorcing on paper just to protect him from bankruptcy. No one facing a life-threatening diagnosis should ever have to consider something like that.
The article "Nickel next? Not so fast" (May 3) makes no sense (pun intended).
Eliminating pennies and eventually nickels from circulation due to rising consumer prices is an idea worthy of considered discussion. However, eliminating them because they cost more to produce than their value is not. According to the article, one nickel costs 13.78 cents to make. A given nickel is made once, but used many times, remaining in circulation for about 20 years. Each of these uses costs zero cents.
Democratic leaders' responses to the Supreme Court of Virginia's decision throwing out the redistricting referendum generally start with, "I respect the Court, but." However, if the procedure for the referendum was unconstitutional, as the majority ruled, a court worthy of respect would have stopped the referendum vote from happening in the first place. Instead, this court allowed the referendum to proceed and, when the conservative majority didn't like the results, threw the vote out, overturning the will of the majority of Virginia voters. This is not the proper role of a court in a democracy and does not deserve the respect of any Virginian.
Deborah Tussey
As a practicing community oncologist in Winchester, I support efforts to make prescription drugs more affordable. My patients face crushing health care costs daily, and I see firsthand how financial stress compounds cancer diagnoses. I appreciate the General Assembly's intent to address affordability. But good intentions alone do not make good policy — especially in cancer care, where lawmakers must avoid creating new barriers.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger recognized this risk, proposing amendments to SB 271 and HB 483. Her changes thoughtfully addressed concerns from physicians and community oncology practices statewide. With those amendments rejected, the bills return to her unchanged.
Donald Trump has once again weaponized the FBI to attack his political opponents. The timing of the raid on state Senator Louise Lucas is deeply inappropriate. Virginia Democrats must stand up for our democracy and rule of law. Abigail Spanberger's response to the president's most recent attack on our legal system is cowardly — she must come out strongly to defend Virginia Democrats against Trump's "Red Scare" tactics, pardoning his allies and using the full might of the federal government to attack Democrats and former Republicans.
Raleigh Matteo
I am a Goochland County District 5 resident and I wanted to share the official correspondence I sent to the Board of Supervisors regarding their use of taxpayer funds for the Valley Link project.
To the Goochland County Board of Supervisors,
I saw that President Trump has reinstituted the Presidential Physical Fitness Test. Speaking as career educator, I don’t know that this is a bad idea if it’s handled the right way.
My experience with the test before it was phased out was that about two weeks before students took the test in the spring, their physical education teachers put them through a crash conditioning regimen. I doubt this approach did much to meaningfully increase student fitness or promote any lifelong commitment to exercise. I think this is why the test was discontinued.
News headlines continue to highlight the mounting pressures facing rural hospitals nationwide and in Virginia, including VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) in South Hill and VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital. While those challenges are real, they cannot be examined in a vacuum.
At CMH and Tappahannock Hospital, success is driven by innovation at the rural level, not as an exception, but as a core competency. That innovation expands access to care, strengthens the healthcare workforce and positions rural hospitals to thrive alongside urban partners.
Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”
Sometimes, the only individuals standing between citizens and fraudulent government operations are investigative reporters whose job is to shine a light on government affairs, warts and all.
Virginia Democrats have made statements that the recent Virginia Supreme Court decision overrides the will of the voters. Yet they had no issues with the governor's approval to override the voters' choice in a presidential election by directing Virginia's electors to support the national popular vote winner. The party of hypocrisy.
Kenneth Oriole
More like this...
Locations
Most Popular
-
Greenwood Cemetery petition signatures surge over 650 signatures
-
Unofficial Dawson County election results
-
Boys state soccer: Lexington tops Bennington, delivers Class B record for first-round wins
-
Just: With Big Ten tourney title, Nebraska softball makes case for NCAA's No. 1 seed
-
Disgruntled residents continue to raise cemetery concerns; Pepplitsch says ‘city is trying’
Print Ads
