Would someone please tell me why Ricky Turco still gets front-page status (LJS, July 22)? Do you have no feelings for Megan Churchill’s family or the rest of the families that he has caused problems with? I’m sure there are many more people who are thinking this also!

If you need to fill up the front page, why not continue the “safe haven” or “The Fine Line” articles. They both are more important than Turco!

Please, no more Turco!

Marcia K. Augstums, Lincoln

Erring on side of caution

Regarding “Auditor: Schools may give too many free lunches” (LJS, July 17):

Isn’t it better to err on the side of caution than to not feed a hungry child?

State Auditor Mike Foley is starting to sound like Attorney General Jon Bruning. What office is he running for? Whatever it is, the thought is scary.

John Rownd, Lincoln

Too much spent on LPS

I have been reading about the mayor’s proposed budget cuts, and it seems the time has arrived for people to take a hard look at the tax dollars being collected and see where the bulk of our property taxes really go.

I am amazed at how much goes to the Lincoln Public Schools District. If we would make a cut there and spend that money throughout the various city agencies and departments, it would alleviate the need to take away funds for operating costs in all city departments.

Too much money is being spent for our public school system. I am sure they could make cuts in their budget to help ensure the basic quality of life is extended to each citizen of Lincoln.

It seems that this is an area no one wants to address. You can only cut funds for needed services so far. The tax dollars are there, they just need to be distributed more equally among city agencies.

Lincoln Public Schools needs to spend less. I do not know how to fix this problem. Does it take a state law to ensure that cities have an equal amount of tax revenue allotted to them? It seems like it should take more money to run a city than it does to operate our public educational system.

 I do not know how else to fix this dollar shortage unless the school district cooperates and stops taking the bulk of tax revenue. Wiser minds than mine may be able to figure this problem out. But it seems that we need to all share more equally in the tax revenues.

Becky Schenaman, Lincoln

Vandalism costs money

I was at Twin Lakes this weekend. Someone has taken a four-wheel-drive truck and ripped out the service road gate to the lake.

Don’t people know that this kind of vandalism only creates higher costs for us as taxpayers? I am an avid outdoorsman, and I would much rather have the money I spend on licenses and permits to go to wildlife improvement and conservation, not repair because some lazy person could not get out of his truck and walk the extra 50 yards to the lake.

It took more effort for them to tear out the gate than it would have to walk.

Jeff Muckey, Seward

Vote on safe haven law?

The Lincoln Journal Star was right to publish the front-page story about the woman who allegedly left her child at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center.

The paper was also right to objectively present the opinions of those who oppose Nebraska’s adoption of the safe haven law. I read these opinions, but they are not convincing. If even one child is born healthy in a safe haven, it is common sense to support the law.

This girl, for her own reasons, did for Nebraska what Nebraska has not been able to do for itself. Is there a way for the safe haven law to be put to a vote to let the people decide?

Gwen Krieser, Garland