KU fans who get TV over the air were cheated out of seeing the national championship
Fans shut out
What a shame that Kansas taxpayers could watch KU in the national championship basketball game Monday night only if they had cable TV or a streaming service. In the past, title games were broadcast over the air on CBS. The Turner Broadcasting Company obviously offered the NCAA more money, so greed and not the taxpayer KU fans took precedent. Why?
Kansas taxpayers in rural areas deserved the ability to watch that game. Where does that extra money go? The executives of the NCAA already lead lavish lifestyles, so what more do they want?
When the NCAA was headquartered in Kansas City, I lived in the same Cedar Creek neighborhood as the executive director, who was also a paid-for member of the Shadow Glen Golf Club — a fine, fine lifestyle, but Indianapolis offered more.
Greed is more important than the Kansas taxpayer who cannot get or afford cable TV.
- Warren Koeller, Lenexa
Stop this bill
Missouri state Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican, filed HB 1987, which seeks to criminalize abortion at the detection of what is erroneously referred to as an embryo’s heartbeat. The bill deputizes citizens to prosecute anyone enabling the procedure and copycats Texas’ SB 8.
All Missourians should be concerned about this bill because of the floodgates it would open. The topic won’t matter. Whether abortion, gun control or jaywalking, this bill contains an enforcement mechanism that promotes snitching for money. It elevates spying and vigilantism under a false flag of righteousness, turning neighbor against neighbor, encouraging us to rat out those with whom we disagree. Missouri would become a state of bounty hunters sowing fear and distrust everywhere.
This bill is the stuff of authoritarian governments. Missouri would mirror Afghanistan, Russia and China, where democratic choices and freedoms are illegal. Surely our representatives should instead be promoting tolerance for one’s neighbors, especially when we disagree. Tolerance and respect — the bedrock of democratic communities — are qualities our country desperately needs to reestablish.
Whatever your stance on abortion, Rep. Coleman’s HB 1987 is inherently dangerous and a threat to your freedoms. Ask her to withdraw this bill at MaryElizabeth.Coleman@house.mo.gov or 573-751-3751.
- Joan McK. Culver, St. Louis
Multiple mysteries
I don’t understand why the Kansas Republican majority does not support eliminating the food sales tax. This sales tax puts the heaviest burden on the poor and needy in Kansas
Why does the Kansas Republican majority not support an increase in the state’s budget for higher education? Students and their parents are struggling to pay tuition. Kansas colleges and universities were forced to make massive budget cuts because of COVID-19 and need increased funding to provide a quality education to their students.
I don’t understand why the Kansas Republican majority would support a bill attacking LGBTQ children and families by banning transgender girls from participating in school sports.
Why do Kansas Republicans support “educational savings accounts” for at-risk or low-income students who attend private schools, which would deplete student funding from public school districts? Dollars would be diverted to parents applying for private school tuition and fees, or other costs. Why are my tax dollars supposed to pay for their child’s private school?
I don’t understand why the Kansas Republican majority cannot support a fair redistricting map for the state. Are they scared that Kansans might elect a Democrat to an office?
I truly don’t understand.
- Mary Coffman, Overland Park
Right for victims
Sen. Josh Hawley stood with survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment to ensure that they are able to pursue justice. His support and co-sponsorship of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 to end the practice of forcing survivors of sexual harassment and assault into secret arbitration will make workplaces safer for Missouri workers. It will also ensure that those who abuse colleagues or enable abuse can be held accountable.
Together with a bipartisan group of senators who co-sponsored the legislation, Hawley knows that sexual assault and sexual harassment are not partisan issues. Americans can agree that these toxic workplace issues must be met with laws and policies that protect survivors.
Thanks to Hawley’s support, Missouri’s workplaces will be safer. We look forward to partnering with him on other ways to strengthen workplace protections for hardworking Americans.
- Gretchen Carlson and Julie Roginsky, Co-founders, Lift Our Voices, New York