Richmond speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of May. 1, 2026
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Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
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Although I disagree with some of Gov. Pillen's decisions, I do agree with him on vouchers for private schools. If all of the parents of private school kids stopped paying all taxes to the state of Nebraska, income, property, sales, tobacco, gas, etc. I wonder how fast the public school parents would start complaining about shouldering the extra money they would have to pay to support Nebraska. There are two sides to every coin.
Roger W. Hothan, Lincoln
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Kristen Anderson is the best candidate for the Lancaster County Clerk of Court. I've known Kristen for eight years through the nonpartisan Lincoln Lancaster League of Women Voters. Kristen is bright, personable and hardworking as demonstrated by her work as the deputy director of the Lancaster Treasurer's Office. In that capacity she supported staff and the public. This was evidenced by improvements at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Kristen goes out of her way to help people. To her the work is not just a job, it's a calling. We need to elect candidates like Kristen who will support people over politics.
Susan Scott, Lincoln
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Republicans are red
Democrats are blue
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The May 12 primary and the Nov. 3 general elections may be the most important elections of our lifetimes if we are to stop the ongoing assault on our democracy and our economy. Donald Trump repeatedly runs roughshod over our Constitution and shows little concern for our economic struggles. All the while Republicans including Congressman Mike Flood are complicit in their silence.
The only answer we have, while we still have elections, is to throw Trump’s enablers out. In the May 12 primary, we need to elect a person who has the capacity to take on Mike Flood in November and win. I believe that person is Chris Backemeyer.
- Updated
As we approach our 250 years of freedom and American pride, I am embarrassed with who we (America) have become. Most recently where one person or a small contingent has made decisions and claimed “This is what Americans and Nebraskans want.” In Nebraska we have a governor and attorney general who insist on speaking on our behalf. The latest example, “Nebraska has agreed to a proposed consent decree with the U.S. government to stop providing in-state tuition to youth brought into the country illegally as children.” Why would we exclude youth from qualifying for in-state tuition when their families have lived in and contributed to our communities, they have attended our K-12 schools and their families have paid taxes (yes, illegal or not, they pay taxes) — these are the same requirements that my family benefited from while my children attended UNL. When our university systems struggle with budgets — is in-state tuition better than none? Why does our governor and attorney general feel the necessity to continue to make life difficult for those that deserve our compassion? While our governor states that “This is the latest example of the tremendous partnership between the State of Nebraska and the Trump administration” — this does not sound like a partnership that I want to support, so don’t say you are speaking for this Nebraskan! We will find out in November how many feel they are being represented with moral decisions that we all can be proud of and celebrate.
Paul Van De Water, Lincoln
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We believe Dean Helmick is the right choice for Legislature District 2, and we’re excited to cast our vote for him on May 12. He’s the only Republican in this race, and his record of service speaks for itself. We know that he’s a fiscal conservative veteran who believes deeply in our Constitution.
Dean dedicated more than four decades to serving our country with the Air Force. Throughout that time, he built a reputation for strong leadership, unwavering integrity and an exceptional work ethic. He’s committed to understanding the issues that matter most and to listening directly to the people he hopes to represent.
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“Can't Buy Me Love” by the Beatles is so true, but UNL officials don't seem to agree. “Money, Money, Money” (ABBA) is all that is in their wheelhouse. Give us more money for NIL so we can attract the greatest athletes.
My husband and I are not wealthy donors, but we have been blessed to have seats in Memorial Stadium since my father bought four tickets in 1961, when my brother started college. The eight people from north-central Nebraska who sit in front of us in the South Stadium have had tickets since the ’60s.
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It’s hard to know what more to say to the Nebraska delegation in Washington. Save Congressman Bacon, they continue radio silence on topics of importance to constituents: rationale for the war in Iran, gas prices and economic impact, vulgar words attacking the Pope, immigrants, even whole nations, ongoing attempts to undermine the 2020 election, pardons of Jan. 6 rioters who attacked Capitol police and more. The characterization that the president is just using negotiating strategies and purposefully acting unstable is laughable but the delegation seems to approve.
So here’s the deal. Since you have no interest in risking presidential wrath by actually speaking out on these matters, maybe you can help with our rural satellite problem. Gray Media is holding subscribers hostage refusing to sign a contract with Dish to restore local channels. Limiting local service to just ABC, PBS and Fox deprives us of different perspectives and programming. Maybe fixing that is more up your alley!
- Updated
Regarding the article “Trump claims war almost over — again (Journal Star, April 16): No surprises there.
We used to expect leaders to explain themselves. Now the job seems to be declaring victory first and letting reality scramble to catch up. Yesterday’s statement? That was version 1.0. Today’s contradiction? Version 1.1. “This is going to be bigger and better than anything you ever imagined” — over and over and over again.
- Updated
In 1890 a German chemist, Erich von Wolf, mismarked the decimal point for the iron content of spinach. This error led to the belief that spinach had 10 times more iron than it actually had and more iron than expensive red meat. This condemned generations of students like me to years of being served cooked spinach in school lunches. The vile smell, ghastly appearance and corresponding taste caused tons of the green gunk to be dumped in to cafeteria garbage cans. It also caused a lifetime affliction of PTSD (post traumatic spinach disorder) that I still suffer from.
The error also led to the creation of one of my favorite television cartoon heroes, Popeye. I used to watch him every morning in the mid-1950s just before heading out the door to go to Pershing Elementary School in Lincoln. Popeye was an old U.S. Navy sailor who would get stronger by eating a can of spinach. Spinach was needed to overpower the bully, Bluto. Bluto was always trying to steal Olive Oyl away from Popeye. The fourth character was Wimpy who spent his entire day doing nothing except begging for a hamburger for which he promised to pay for on Tuesday but he never did.
- Updated
The government of the State of Nebraska is racist. That seems like a bold statement, one that needs proof. I did my driver’s license renewal online this month. The usual questions: height, weight, eye color. I was startled when it asked me for my "race."
Folks, there is only one race, human. We have different ethnicity and different skin pigmentation; we are not separate races. This is systemic racism. We have a system in place where law enforcement officers when looking up an individual are told this person is a different race. That reinforces a racist belief. Chinese people don’t have gills. Black people don’t have wings. We are all human, we all have same internal organs, process oxygen the same way, have same color of blood.
- Updated
Approximately 95% of people currently incarcerated in the U.S. will eventually be released. We all want them to come out better people, less likely to commit crimes. We know that things like education, vocational training, a community support network and cultural grounding help reentrants succeed. Faith-based groups are often central to a person’s ability to turn away from crime, so it is deeply troubling when any faith group faces the loss of its spiritual practices.
Nebraska State Penitentiary has just returned use of the designated sweatground to the Native inmates for their ceremonies, after some two months of prohibition. In the early 1970s, the Native prisoners in Nebraska successfully sued the federal government to receive equal rights — including religious rights — within the prisons. Nebraska was the first state to have sweatlodges in its prisons, sacred places for purification and spiritual encounters, utilized by many Native nations across North America. For many men, the ceremonies are fundamental to rehabilitation.
- Updated
"'Kleptocracy,' meaning "rule by thieves," is a form of government where leaders (kleptocrats) use political power to steal public resources for personal gain..." (Wikipedia)
It goes on: "It destroys public services, fuels corruption, and undermines democracy."
- Updated
The phrase “all’s fair in love and war” unfortunately also applies to politics. Especially when it comes to gerrymandering in Virginia. But it is fair to say that the Democrat push for redistricting prior to the 2030 census has shattered the concept of fairness.
This violation of fairness specifically pushes for redistricting to achieve a 10 to 1 district advantage for Democrats, compared to the current 6 to 5 advantage, which is a more accurate reflection that Virginia is a “purple” state.
- Updated
On April 14, Gov. Spanberger signed SB18, which establishes that no child under 11 years old can be considered a “delinquent” and instead redirects them away from the justice system and toward community programs.
As a social worker (and abolitionist at heart), this is such an important step in avoiding the traumatization of children and disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline. The National Law Review has a great write-up on this bill in layperson terms, however, it misses an important element of the law: any petition alleging that a child younger than 11 years of age committed an act that would be considered delinquent if they were older may be expunged from their record.
- Updated
Since Michael Paul Williams' column, “Spanberger disregards the Black community on cannabis,” was published April 19, the General Assembly has rejected the Governor’s proposed amendments to the bill. Will the Governor veto the bill, or is there still room for negotiation?
Is there a way to offer hearings to prisoners whose only offense is a minor cannabis possession? Obviously, if there are other more serious offenses, they would be in another category.
- Updated
A 13-year-old sits in front of a screen, answers a series of questions, and minutes later is told what he or she might become. It sounds efficient. It sounds helpful. It is neither.
The idea that a standardized test can point a child toward a lifelong career is not just flawed. It is deeply misguided. A young teen is still forming. Interests shift. Abilities develop unevenly. Confidence rises and falls. Exposure to the world is limited. Any result captures only a moment, yet it is often presented by trusted professionals as direction. That suggestion carries weight, and possibility begins to narrow before it has had a chance to expand.
- Updated
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a strong step toward addressing youth mental health, but it cannot be our only solution. Many young people in this state, especially those involved in the juvenile justice system, are struggling long before they reach a crisis.
Research shows that 50% to 75% of youth in the justice system have mental health disorders, yet many receive little to no treatment beforehand. This highlights a major gap in early support for the youth. When we look at the intersection of mental health and inequality, the issue becomes even more urgent than ever.
- Updated
Virginia had fair congressional district maps in 2024. Democrats received 52% of the two-party vote totals and 55% of the seats in Congress. The new maps approved by Tuesday’s constitutional amendment are expected to award the Democrats 91% of the seats, an increase of 36 percentage points from 2024, by cramming as many Republican votes as possible into the new 9th district and dividing Northern Virginia’s Democrat voters into five districts extending deep into the state.
The defense for this unfair gerrymandering in Virginia is that it counteracts unfair gerrymandering in Texas, where new maps are expected to shift the seats from 25-13 in favor of Republicans to 30-8. In 2024, Republicans received 59% of the two-party vote in Texas and received 66% of the seats. Under the new map, Texas Republicans are expected to receive 80% of the seats, an increase of 14 percentage points. Virginia Democrats can be proud that they have out-gerrymandered Texas Republicans.
- Updated
It is no secret that students desperately need support with reading and literacy skills; however, they are spending less time in the school library than ever before. As someone who has spent such a long time wanting to be part of the middle school library scene, finding out that students were spending less time than ever before in the library, so much so that some students do not even go as a whole group to check out books, broke my heart.
We need your help more than ever to reconnect students with the school library. Our goal is to promote our library program as student-centered, in which all students have access to the materials they need. Books and other resources are not just materials, but are windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors for students. How are we to create the most positive and nurturing environments when there is no equitable access and adequate staffing?
- Updated
I feel that we Virginians have been slighted by the April 21 election. It has been championed as a “great defense of democracy,” when I feel that this has exposed the flaw of democracy. I mean this as in democracy is being used as a tool to impose tyranny upon us.
America is not a direct democracy, we are a republic, as stated by Article 4, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution. What this means is that we have representatives who protect our rights so they are not trampled upon by a mob. With the election, I feel our rights are being trampled upon by the slight majority empowering a radical.
- Updated
I read with appreciation and respect the thoughtful piece by Bradford Karony in the Times-Dispatch on April 28 conveying his concern with Abigail Spanberger’s words and actions as a Congresswoman given her CIA training and how that might bear on her words and actions as Governor.
While he does not note her recognition as the most bipartisan member of the House of Representatives, to his great credit, he writes, “If the moderation she promised translates into actual moderate policy rather than rhetorical distance from progressive policy, then the persona was the substance, and my concern was misplaced. I will say so.” I think his concern is misplaced in light of her recent words and actions.
- Updated
Students experiencing homelessness remain one of the most overlooked populations in our public school systems despite the protections outlined in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The policy was designed to remove and reduce barriers to enrollment and ensure students have a stable education. It often fails to address the full scope of challenges these students face.
Homelessness is not just a housing concern, but an educational one as well. Students going through housing instability often struggle with attendance, lack of access to resources and increased mental health concerns. These challenges affect academic performance and have long-term consequences.
More like this...
Although I disagree with some of Gov. Pillen's decisions, I do agree with him on vouchers for private schools. If all of the parents of private school kids stopped paying all taxes to the state of Nebraska, income, property, sales, tobacco, gas, etc. I wonder how fast the public school parents would start complaining about shouldering the extra money they would have to pay to support Nebraska. There are two sides to every coin.
Roger W. Hothan, Lincoln
Kristen Anderson is the best candidate for the Lancaster County Clerk of Court. I've known Kristen for eight years through the nonpartisan Lincoln Lancaster League of Women Voters. Kristen is bright, personable and hardworking as demonstrated by her work as the deputy director of the Lancaster Treasurer's Office. In that capacity she supported staff and the public. This was evidenced by improvements at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Kristen goes out of her way to help people. To her the work is not just a job, it's a calling. We need to elect candidates like Kristen who will support people over politics.
Susan Scott, Lincoln
The May 12 primary and the Nov. 3 general elections may be the most important elections of our lifetimes if we are to stop the ongoing assault on our democracy and our economy. Donald Trump repeatedly runs roughshod over our Constitution and shows little concern for our economic struggles. All the while Republicans including Congressman Mike Flood are complicit in their silence.
The only answer we have, while we still have elections, is to throw Trump’s enablers out. In the May 12 primary, we need to elect a person who has the capacity to take on Mike Flood in November and win. I believe that person is Chris Backemeyer.
As we approach our 250 years of freedom and American pride, I am embarrassed with who we (America) have become. Most recently where one person or a small contingent has made decisions and claimed “This is what Americans and Nebraskans want.” In Nebraska we have a governor and attorney general who insist on speaking on our behalf. The latest example, “Nebraska has agreed to a proposed consent decree with the U.S. government to stop providing in-state tuition to youth brought into the country illegally as children.” Why would we exclude youth from qualifying for in-state tuition when their families have lived in and contributed to our communities, they have attended our K-12 schools and their families have paid taxes (yes, illegal or not, they pay taxes) — these are the same requirements that my family benefited from while my children attended UNL. When our university systems struggle with budgets — is in-state tuition better than none? Why does our governor and attorney general feel the necessity to continue to make life difficult for those that deserve our compassion? While our governor states that “This is the latest example of the tremendous partnership between the State of Nebraska and the Trump administration” — this does not sound like a partnership that I want to support, so don’t say you are speaking for this Nebraskan! We will find out in November how many feel they are being represented with moral decisions that we all can be proud of and celebrate.
Paul Van De Water, Lincoln
We believe Dean Helmick is the right choice for Legislature District 2, and we’re excited to cast our vote for him on May 12. He’s the only Republican in this race, and his record of service speaks for itself. We know that he’s a fiscal conservative veteran who believes deeply in our Constitution.
Dean dedicated more than four decades to serving our country with the Air Force. Throughout that time, he built a reputation for strong leadership, unwavering integrity and an exceptional work ethic. He’s committed to understanding the issues that matter most and to listening directly to the people he hopes to represent.
“Can't Buy Me Love” by the Beatles is so true, but UNL officials don't seem to agree. “Money, Money, Money” (ABBA) is all that is in their wheelhouse. Give us more money for NIL so we can attract the greatest athletes.
My husband and I are not wealthy donors, but we have been blessed to have seats in Memorial Stadium since my father bought four tickets in 1961, when my brother started college. The eight people from north-central Nebraska who sit in front of us in the South Stadium have had tickets since the ’60s.
It’s hard to know what more to say to the Nebraska delegation in Washington. Save Congressman Bacon, they continue radio silence on topics of importance to constituents: rationale for the war in Iran, gas prices and economic impact, vulgar words attacking the Pope, immigrants, even whole nations, ongoing attempts to undermine the 2020 election, pardons of Jan. 6 rioters who attacked Capitol police and more. The characterization that the president is just using negotiating strategies and purposefully acting unstable is laughable but the delegation seems to approve.
So here’s the deal. Since you have no interest in risking presidential wrath by actually speaking out on these matters, maybe you can help with our rural satellite problem. Gray Media is holding subscribers hostage refusing to sign a contract with Dish to restore local channels. Limiting local service to just ABC, PBS and Fox deprives us of different perspectives and programming. Maybe fixing that is more up your alley!
Regarding the article “Trump claims war almost over — again (Journal Star, April 16): No surprises there.
We used to expect leaders to explain themselves. Now the job seems to be declaring victory first and letting reality scramble to catch up. Yesterday’s statement? That was version 1.0. Today’s contradiction? Version 1.1. “This is going to be bigger and better than anything you ever imagined” — over and over and over again.
In 1890 a German chemist, Erich von Wolf, mismarked the decimal point for the iron content of spinach. This error led to the belief that spinach had 10 times more iron than it actually had and more iron than expensive red meat. This condemned generations of students like me to years of being served cooked spinach in school lunches. The vile smell, ghastly appearance and corresponding taste caused tons of the green gunk to be dumped in to cafeteria garbage cans. It also caused a lifetime affliction of PTSD (post traumatic spinach disorder) that I still suffer from.
The error also led to the creation of one of my favorite television cartoon heroes, Popeye. I used to watch him every morning in the mid-1950s just before heading out the door to go to Pershing Elementary School in Lincoln. Popeye was an old U.S. Navy sailor who would get stronger by eating a can of spinach. Spinach was needed to overpower the bully, Bluto. Bluto was always trying to steal Olive Oyl away from Popeye. The fourth character was Wimpy who spent his entire day doing nothing except begging for a hamburger for which he promised to pay for on Tuesday but he never did.
The government of the State of Nebraska is racist. That seems like a bold statement, one that needs proof. I did my driver’s license renewal online this month. The usual questions: height, weight, eye color. I was startled when it asked me for my "race."
Folks, there is only one race, human. We have different ethnicity and different skin pigmentation; we are not separate races. This is systemic racism. We have a system in place where law enforcement officers when looking up an individual are told this person is a different race. That reinforces a racist belief. Chinese people don’t have gills. Black people don’t have wings. We are all human, we all have same internal organs, process oxygen the same way, have same color of blood.
Approximately 95% of people currently incarcerated in the U.S. will eventually be released. We all want them to come out better people, less likely to commit crimes. We know that things like education, vocational training, a community support network and cultural grounding help reentrants succeed. Faith-based groups are often central to a person’s ability to turn away from crime, so it is deeply troubling when any faith group faces the loss of its spiritual practices.
Nebraska State Penitentiary has just returned use of the designated sweatground to the Native inmates for their ceremonies, after some two months of prohibition. In the early 1970s, the Native prisoners in Nebraska successfully sued the federal government to receive equal rights — including religious rights — within the prisons. Nebraska was the first state to have sweatlodges in its prisons, sacred places for purification and spiritual encounters, utilized by many Native nations across North America. For many men, the ceremonies are fundamental to rehabilitation.
"'Kleptocracy,' meaning "rule by thieves," is a form of government where leaders (kleptocrats) use political power to steal public resources for personal gain..." (Wikipedia)
It goes on: "It destroys public services, fuels corruption, and undermines democracy."
The phrase “all’s fair in love and war” unfortunately also applies to politics. Especially when it comes to gerrymandering in Virginia. But it is fair to say that the Democrat push for redistricting prior to the 2030 census has shattered the concept of fairness.
This violation of fairness specifically pushes for redistricting to achieve a 10 to 1 district advantage for Democrats, compared to the current 6 to 5 advantage, which is a more accurate reflection that Virginia is a “purple” state.
On April 14, Gov. Spanberger signed SB18, which establishes that no child under 11 years old can be considered a “delinquent” and instead redirects them away from the justice system and toward community programs.
As a social worker (and abolitionist at heart), this is such an important step in avoiding the traumatization of children and disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline. The National Law Review has a great write-up on this bill in layperson terms, however, it misses an important element of the law: any petition alleging that a child younger than 11 years of age committed an act that would be considered delinquent if they were older may be expunged from their record.
Since Michael Paul Williams' column, “Spanberger disregards the Black community on cannabis,” was published April 19, the General Assembly has rejected the Governor’s proposed amendments to the bill. Will the Governor veto the bill, or is there still room for negotiation?
Is there a way to offer hearings to prisoners whose only offense is a minor cannabis possession? Obviously, if there are other more serious offenses, they would be in another category.
A 13-year-old sits in front of a screen, answers a series of questions, and minutes later is told what he or she might become. It sounds efficient. It sounds helpful. It is neither.
The idea that a standardized test can point a child toward a lifelong career is not just flawed. It is deeply misguided. A young teen is still forming. Interests shift. Abilities develop unevenly. Confidence rises and falls. Exposure to the world is limited. Any result captures only a moment, yet it is often presented by trusted professionals as direction. That suggestion carries weight, and possibility begins to narrow before it has had a chance to expand.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a strong step toward addressing youth mental health, but it cannot be our only solution. Many young people in this state, especially those involved in the juvenile justice system, are struggling long before they reach a crisis.
Research shows that 50% to 75% of youth in the justice system have mental health disorders, yet many receive little to no treatment beforehand. This highlights a major gap in early support for the youth. When we look at the intersection of mental health and inequality, the issue becomes even more urgent than ever.
Virginia had fair congressional district maps in 2024. Democrats received 52% of the two-party vote totals and 55% of the seats in Congress. The new maps approved by Tuesday’s constitutional amendment are expected to award the Democrats 91% of the seats, an increase of 36 percentage points from 2024, by cramming as many Republican votes as possible into the new 9th district and dividing Northern Virginia’s Democrat voters into five districts extending deep into the state.
The defense for this unfair gerrymandering in Virginia is that it counteracts unfair gerrymandering in Texas, where new maps are expected to shift the seats from 25-13 in favor of Republicans to 30-8. In 2024, Republicans received 59% of the two-party vote in Texas and received 66% of the seats. Under the new map, Texas Republicans are expected to receive 80% of the seats, an increase of 14 percentage points. Virginia Democrats can be proud that they have out-gerrymandered Texas Republicans.
It is no secret that students desperately need support with reading and literacy skills; however, they are spending less time in the school library than ever before. As someone who has spent such a long time wanting to be part of the middle school library scene, finding out that students were spending less time than ever before in the library, so much so that some students do not even go as a whole group to check out books, broke my heart.
We need your help more than ever to reconnect students with the school library. Our goal is to promote our library program as student-centered, in which all students have access to the materials they need. Books and other resources are not just materials, but are windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors for students. How are we to create the most positive and nurturing environments when there is no equitable access and adequate staffing?
I feel that we Virginians have been slighted by the April 21 election. It has been championed as a “great defense of democracy,” when I feel that this has exposed the flaw of democracy. I mean this as in democracy is being used as a tool to impose tyranny upon us.
America is not a direct democracy, we are a republic, as stated by Article 4, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution. What this means is that we have representatives who protect our rights so they are not trampled upon by a mob. With the election, I feel our rights are being trampled upon by the slight majority empowering a radical.
I read with appreciation and respect the thoughtful piece by Bradford Karony in the Times-Dispatch on April 28 conveying his concern with Abigail Spanberger’s words and actions as a Congresswoman given her CIA training and how that might bear on her words and actions as Governor.
While he does not note her recognition as the most bipartisan member of the House of Representatives, to his great credit, he writes, “If the moderation she promised translates into actual moderate policy rather than rhetorical distance from progressive policy, then the persona was the substance, and my concern was misplaced. I will say so.” I think his concern is misplaced in light of her recent words and actions.
Students experiencing homelessness remain one of the most overlooked populations in our public school systems despite the protections outlined in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The policy was designed to remove and reduce barriers to enrollment and ensure students have a stable education. It often fails to address the full scope of challenges these students face.
Homelessness is not just a housing concern, but an educational one as well. Students going through housing instability often struggle with attendance, lack of access to resources and increased mental health concerns. These challenges affect academic performance and have long-term consequences.
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