Southeast Nebraska speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Sep. 11, 2026
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Lincoln Journal Star.
- Updated
I saw the term "Alphabet City" applied to Lincoln. I believe this is because we use most of the letters from A to Z to name our streets going south to north.
I'd like to propose that we start changing the streets named by the alphabet into streets named after somebody that we would like to honor. It doesn't have to be done fast and we could take our time picking out good names.
- Updated
I sure wish Governor Pillen was as good at lowering taxes as he is at directing gameday traffic.
Sue Harrold, Lincoln
- Updated
Last week, Nebraska saw its first State Fair debate since 2018, between Sen. Pete Ricketts and Dan Osborn. After watching, I think the choice is clear.
Pete Ricketts has eight years leading Nebraska. He navigated floods, wildfires and a pandemic, and still left the state with a budget surplus while cutting taxes for Nebraska families. You don't have to agree with him on everything, but his record speaks for itself.
- Updated
Been following the stories on data centers seeking to build in several places in Nebraska. Seems like this is something that needs a lot of thought before a community signs on the dotted line.
Concerns that seem to come up a lot are the stresses placed on power and water resources. Not much question that these centers use a lot of both.
- Updated
Never could I have predicted that I’d be pining for the good old days of Teddy Roosevelt, the manliest of manly-men presidents, who said “speak softly and carry a big stick” about foreign policy strategy (thanks for the reminder, LJS, "Today in History," Sept. 2).
From Iran to Israel, Canada to Korea, Europe to Ukraine, the blowhards running this country straight into the ground apparently prefer a different strategy: “Speak bigly, and carry a soft … stick.” How embarrassing, that whole lot. Time to throw them out of office.
- Updated
When Pillen took office as governor three years ago, there was a surplus of money in our state account. There was also a surplus of money in all other funded accounts. The first year in office, he and the Republican Legislature wiped that surplus out. How did they do that? He convinced the Legislature to grant tax relief to the wealthy and tax relief to big corporations. He then got the Legislature to pass a bill to provide tax dollars for his kids to go to private schools (Catholic).
That first year cost taxpayers over $10 million until the voters stopped it after the first year. This didn't stop Pillen. After nine trips to see President Trump, he now has the federal government paying for private schools. He has now for the last two years cost the state to have millions of dollars in deficit. To get the state to balance the budget, he has raided state funds, laid off people, added taxes to several grocery items.
- Updated
Many years ago, President Richard Nixon warned us that a single political generation, such as the one currently ensconced in Washington right now, could wreck the entire American experiment. We just weren’t listening.
That warning came during a visit to Lincoln in January 1971 when Nixon spoke at the UNL Coliseum to congratulate the football team and make a major address on the generational divide.
- Updated
Susan Frazier says government is not a business (Journal Star letter, Aug. 7, 2026).
In reality, government is a huge out-of-control business.
- Updated
Chris Backemeyer came out to visit with the Butler County Democrats several times this year. Butler County has historically voted Republican, across all seats, but Chris has hope, persistence and goals to accomplish. Each visit, he gave us his attention and answered our questions.
Along with affordable healthcare, humane immigration regulation that includes secure borders, and working through the gridlock in Washington, Chris wants to address the out-of-control national debt.
- Updated
Nebraska’s Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver helps older adults and people with disabilities remain safely in their homes and communities.
The Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts’ recent report (Journal Star, Aug. 25) identifies serious concerns involving billing, documentation, eligibility and provider practices. These problems deserve attention. But providers who follow the rules should not pay the price for those who do not.
- Updated
President Trump (Mr. “Art of the Deal”) has yet to realize that he can be read like a cheap novel. His negotiating style is all bluster.
The Iranians have figured that out. Our allies all but ignore him. And our trading partners simply push back (Canada) or cozy up to him while waiting for him to TACO (Trump always chickens out).
- Updated
I support Chris Backemeyer for Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District because he understands the challenges facing families, farmers and rural communities.
Chris is focused on making health care affordable and accessible, lowering the everyday costs of gas and groceries, and supporting agriculture and rural Nebraska. He also recognizes the importance of reining in our national debt and addressing Washington’s gridlock and dysfunction with practical, bipartisan leadership.
More like this...
I saw the term "Alphabet City" applied to Lincoln. I believe this is because we use most of the letters from A to Z to name our streets going south to north.
I'd like to propose that we start changing the streets named by the alphabet into streets named after somebody that we would like to honor. It doesn't have to be done fast and we could take our time picking out good names.
Last week, Nebraska saw its first State Fair debate since 2018, between Sen. Pete Ricketts and Dan Osborn. After watching, I think the choice is clear.
Pete Ricketts has eight years leading Nebraska. He navigated floods, wildfires and a pandemic, and still left the state with a budget surplus while cutting taxes for Nebraska families. You don't have to agree with him on everything, but his record speaks for itself.
Been following the stories on data centers seeking to build in several places in Nebraska. Seems like this is something that needs a lot of thought before a community signs on the dotted line.
Concerns that seem to come up a lot are the stresses placed on power and water resources. Not much question that these centers use a lot of both.
Never could I have predicted that I’d be pining for the good old days of Teddy Roosevelt, the manliest of manly-men presidents, who said “speak softly and carry a big stick” about foreign policy strategy (thanks for the reminder, LJS, "Today in History," Sept. 2).
From Iran to Israel, Canada to Korea, Europe to Ukraine, the blowhards running this country straight into the ground apparently prefer a different strategy: “Speak bigly, and carry a soft … stick.” How embarrassing, that whole lot. Time to throw them out of office.
When Pillen took office as governor three years ago, there was a surplus of money in our state account. There was also a surplus of money in all other funded accounts. The first year in office, he and the Republican Legislature wiped that surplus out. How did they do that? He convinced the Legislature to grant tax relief to the wealthy and tax relief to big corporations. He then got the Legislature to pass a bill to provide tax dollars for his kids to go to private schools (Catholic).
That first year cost taxpayers over $10 million until the voters stopped it after the first year. This didn't stop Pillen. After nine trips to see President Trump, he now has the federal government paying for private schools. He has now for the last two years cost the state to have millions of dollars in deficit. To get the state to balance the budget, he has raided state funds, laid off people, added taxes to several grocery items.
Many years ago, President Richard Nixon warned us that a single political generation, such as the one currently ensconced in Washington right now, could wreck the entire American experiment. We just weren’t listening.
That warning came during a visit to Lincoln in January 1971 when Nixon spoke at the UNL Coliseum to congratulate the football team and make a major address on the generational divide.
Susan Frazier says government is not a business (Journal Star letter, Aug. 7, 2026).
In reality, government is a huge out-of-control business.
Chris Backemeyer came out to visit with the Butler County Democrats several times this year. Butler County has historically voted Republican, across all seats, but Chris has hope, persistence and goals to accomplish. Each visit, he gave us his attention and answered our questions.
Along with affordable healthcare, humane immigration regulation that includes secure borders, and working through the gridlock in Washington, Chris wants to address the out-of-control national debt.
Nebraska’s Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver helps older adults and people with disabilities remain safely in their homes and communities.
The Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts’ recent report (Journal Star, Aug. 25) identifies serious concerns involving billing, documentation, eligibility and provider practices. These problems deserve attention. But providers who follow the rules should not pay the price for those who do not.
President Trump (Mr. “Art of the Deal”) has yet to realize that he can be read like a cheap novel. His negotiating style is all bluster.
The Iranians have figured that out. Our allies all but ignore him. And our trading partners simply push back (Canada) or cozy up to him while waiting for him to TACO (Trump always chickens out).
I support Chris Backemeyer for Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District because he understands the challenges facing families, farmers and rural communities.
Chris is focused on making health care affordable and accessible, lowering the everyday costs of gas and groceries, and supporting agriculture and rural Nebraska. He also recognizes the importance of reining in our national debt and addressing Washington’s gridlock and dysfunction with practical, bipartisan leadership.
More like this...
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