Missouri, lead the way. Pull the plug on inconvenient, harmful daylight saving time

Stop the clock

In 1968, Arizona opted out of daylight saving time. Hawaii doesn’t observe it either. Why can’t Missouri politicians do something that everybody would agree is in the best interest of the state and follow their example? Kansas and Illinois would quickly fall in line.

Changing the clock is not only a huge inconvenience: Studies show a link between the practice and increased traffic accidents and higher rates of strokes and heart attacks.

- Dean Hubbard, Kansas City

Abortion facts

Republicans in the Missouri legislature seem to be in a race to see who can come up with the most dangerous, ignorant and vile abortion law. Their little show is getting attention around the country, which brings shame to our state as it shows how uneducated these people are.

I had an ectopic pregnancy before I even knew I was pregnant. I was very close to bleeding to death before my fallopian tube was removed and the bleeding was surgically stopped.

Ectopic pregnancies never result in the birth of a baby. There is no fetus to protect. The mother’s life is always in danger.

I noted that one legislator stated they must protect all babies, living and unborn. I wish they would focus more on feeding, protecting and educating the children who are already born.

It is also very disturbing to hear Republican legislators in Missouri and other states insist that abortions are performed often on women with viable fetuses in their third trimester. They make it sound like this is common. Donald Trump lies that babies are delivered and then doctors and mothers decide if they want to kill it. That is nothing but pure, hateful propaganda.

- Alice Gutierrez, Kansas City

Talk about trust

Public libraries are one of the most egalitarian institutions we have. My fear is that if there is such censorship that causes long time public servant Steven Potter to resign as director of the Mid-Continent Public Library, then we are in trouble. (March 15, 9A, “Library director quit after conspiracy theories pushed”)

Currently, LGBT and diversity issues are the lightning rods. Remember when the lightning rods were that the world is flat, that women should not vote or that human beings should be able to own one another?

If librarians start feeling their professional decisions are going to be constantly second-guessed and overruled, they may start to self-censor. That is a slippery slope. Once we start anticipating what the oppressor wants, we have already ceded our power to the tyrants.

Perhaps it’s time to more critically examine who’s being appointed to library boards. They can’t be trustees if we can’t trust them to uphold the library’s core value of intellectual freedom.

- Kay Madden, Kansas City

Weber not a fit

Adios, Bruce Weber. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out as Kansas State’s basketball coach.

Maybe after a little family time, a mid-major school from California will come calling and offer you a coaching job. That would be a perfect place for you — whine country — and maybe the refs would not pick on you as much. Also, it would be far away from Bill Self, who has been in your head for decades.

I’m sure in the next few years, after K-State misses several bids for the NIT, the school will realize what you meant to the program. But for now, sit back, reflect and have a glass of whine.

- Greg Schoen, Lenexa

Thanks, Coach

Coach Bruce Weber, I want to express my appreciation for your 10 years leading the K-State basketball program with honesty and integrity, including your two conference championships and the 2018 tournament run. Your additional contributions to Kansas State University and the city of Manhattan should be publicized and applauded.

K-State football coach Bill Snyder often says he came to Manhattan and stayed in Manhattan because of the people. Coach Weber, you came to Manhattan and stayed in Manhattan in spite of the people.

I, for one, wish you all the best. Now go get the three victories you need to reach 500.

- T. Mark Anwander, Kansas City

Teachers’ worth

As a community health worker, I help individuals find resources in the community. I recently connected a public school teacher who could not afford food with a food pantry.

Our nation believes students can’t learn if they aren’t properly nourished. This is why we have free and reduced lunch programs. How do we expect our teachers to instruct those children if they can’t nourish themselves?

All workers deserve a living wage, and those who teach our children especially deserve to be compensated well, or at a bare minimum, fairly. We as a society must do better. Our elected officials must do better.

- Eric Williams, Kansas City