Waterloo and Cedar Falls speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Oct. 2, 2026
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Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Courier.
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Recently, I've had several conversations with Lancaster County voters. While not everyone pays the same level of attention to down-ballot races as they do to the more high-profile ones, I am sure the readers of the Journal Star would agree with me that these positions matter.
The recent state audit of the Lancaster County Treasurer's office is case in point. The audit identified nearly $1 billion in misstatements and errors. Even though no money was reported missing, the errors remain concerning.
- Updated
As a lifelong independent, I vote for character, not party. That is why I support Randall Ritnour for Lancaster County Attorney.
I have known Randall for more than 20 years. He is fair, compassionate and committed to accountability. He once called me about a troubled individual he believed could benefit from mentoring. That person found a job and became a responsible citizen. Randall gives people the benefit of the doubt, yet he never loses sight of justice.
- Updated
Nebraska has talented people and employers ready to put that talent to work. The challenge is strengthening the pathways connecting education, skills and opportunities so more Nebraskans are prepared for the jobs available today and those emerging tomorrow.
As a SHRM member and Nebraska HR professional, I recently joined Labor Commissioner Katie Thurber, along with students, employers, educators and workforce leaders, for a roundtable in Lincoln. Our goal was straightforward: identify ways to make those connections stronger.
- Updated
Lancaster County Attorney candidate Randy Ritnour deserves the vote of every citizen concerned with fair treatment in our courts. Mr. Ritnour is unusual in his ability to balance law and order with compassion. He is able to discern the heart of a situation and nudge a solution into practical resolution. His wide experience and keen insight make Mr. Ritnour able to pierce the veil of appearances and find the practical heart of an issue. He has a keen understanding of when and how to use a carrot or a stick.
Terry Ford, Lincoln
- Updated
In state and local elections, candidate qualifications and political positions matter. In federal elections, only party affiliation matters. The representatives we send to Washington, whether Democrat or Republican, will take their direction from party leadership.
Washington Democrats will always support “dependency on government” economics, spending and wealth redistribution-driven economics. Washington Republicans will always support “dependency on free enterprise” economics, work and investment-driven economics.
- Updated
The Nebraska Examiner's article on the results of the recent Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) survey (LJS, 9/23) is very concerning. Having been a 30-year staff member and manager there, I am compelled to provide some personal impressions.
I moved to Nebraska to work at DED and had immediate and growing love for the state and its residents: my Lincoln neighbors, communities all across the state, the quality of state governance, local leadership, other state employees and most assuredly the staff members at DED. Indeed, I have spoken to out-of-state employers who said that if a Nebraskan applies for an open position, “We don't interview them — we just hire them!”
- Updated
I recently received a bill from the IRS that was not correct. I contacted the IRS twice and got nowhere. Like many taxpayers, I was stuck with a federal agency that would not fix its own mistake.
I then contacted the office of Sen. Pete Ricketts. His staff jumped on the problem right away. They connected me with the Local Taxpayer Advocate for Nebraska. In a short period of time, the error is being resolved.
- Updated
Walz can solve our problems
It’s impressive that Lynne Walz is singlehandedly responsible for bringing data centers to Nebraska, as Pillen’s ads claim. She apparently accomplished this feat as one legislator of 49 and from the minority party.
- Updated
So the president of the American Association of University Professors penned a letter to the Association of American Universities that they should not readmit UNL to the association. When UNL pushed to gain readmission, they should have included the following:
* UNL currently has the No. 1 ranked volleyball team.
- Updated
Campaign ads are gaslighting, twisting words and misrepresenting facts. Recent wet weather has produced some mud and some of it has hit the campaign trail. It appears that those with the most money, power and the most to lose participate more. Disparaging opponents isn't outlawed in campaigns, but doesn't say much about character.
Lonnie Kay Fuerniss, Lincoln
- Updated
I have spent a lifetime developing, investing in, and caring for my acreage. It is my sanctuary and the result of decades of hard work. Almost overnight, that investment has been threatened by a massive industrial data center moving in next door.
Local officials call these projects “technological progress,” but too often ignore the human cost: neighboring families facing declining property values, constant industrial noise, enormous cooling infrastructure, increased water demands, and the loss of the quiet enjoyment of their property.
- Updated
With early voting starting and just over a month left until midterms it's farcical watching GOP candidates like Florida's Byron Donalds stepping over each other to see who can erase Trump's name, image and likeness from their campaign homepages quickest.
Gee, just maybe Republicans should've considered loosening their tight grip on Trump's coattails 18 months ago when he ignorantly unleashed an economic virus, imposing illegal tariffs willy-nilly on half the planet. Illegally so says the Supreme Court.
- Updated
The AAUP recommending Nebraska should not be readmitted to the AAU underscores the damage Gov. Pillen is doing to our university system. He's forcing cuts to not just faculty but to entire divisions of our once-great university. And all so he and his rich cronies pay less in taxes.
Remember this in November.
Peaceful Islam
Responding to Duane Lindberg's recent letter "Radical Islam," where he made several accusations against the Islamic faith, it is time to set the record straight. Countering his false allegation that Islam is "committed to violence" including honor killings and subjugation of non-Islamic people, the fact is Islam and its holy book, the Quran, are committed to peace. Granted, there are fringe elements which advocate violence, however mainstream Islam teaches believers to spread peace, show kindness, and avoid starting hostilities. Furthermore, as a Christian, Lindberg should know better than to accuse a different faith of promoting violence when Christianity's history is replete with examples of violence through the centuries including the Crusades, the Thirty Years' War, and the Spanish-American War. As Jesus Christ's famous warning says, "judge not lest you also be judged."
The Waterloo Public Library gets by with a lot of help from our Friends!
Established in 1975, the Waterloo Friends of the Library has raised nearly $369,000 over the last five years alone. These funds support programming for all ages, provide new furniture, and contribute to new and emerging technology.
My husband works in public safety, and I work. We're a typical Iowa family with a mortgage, bills, and kids.
We pay taxes that support public schools, like everyone else. We value Cedar Falls public schools and have friends and neighbors who attend and teach there. School choice shouldn't pit public and nonpublic schools against each other.
Here’s voters’ midterm election issue: To cut off your nose to spite your face —or not. Do you discard all the good (spite your face) Trump/Republicans have done for America’s “little” people: See Bureau of Labor Statistics/Office Management/Budget/Federal Reserve Economic Data:
- 807K jobs added; 336K fewer government jobs.
- 702 proposed federal rules cuts saving $1.5T; 79.6% increase in defense/capital-goods spending.
- 13.5% rise — civilian-core capital-goods orders; $3.44B record machine-tool orders first-half 2026.
- Record $6.3T sales for American manufacturers; manufacturing wages grow 4.2% -- beat inflation; America becomes first-time net oil producer.
- $232.2B overseas investments in America; lowered taxes on tips, overtime, Social Security.
- Newsweek: Government losing $500 billion to fraud annually — Trump’s going after this big time. Affordability!
Who has noticed? Today’s Democrat Party is no longer just misguided and liberal. This is no longer the party of Jimmy Carter or Walter Mondale, who, as misguided as they were, did love America.
If these people ever get control of our federal government, they will never give up power. And they say so.
In every election cycle, it seems like the negative ads become more vicious and misleading. The worst one I’ve seen this time around accuses 2nd Congressional District candidate Joe Mitchell of having ties to “criminals and fraudsters.” As that audio is playing, an image of Mitchell alongside renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson is displayed on the screen. To be sure, Carson has generated controversy at times. But to label this man, a recipient of numerous honorary degrees, awards, and the Medal of Freedom, as a criminal and fraudster is outrageous.
Lindsay James, Joe Mitchell’s opponent, touts her credentials as a chaplain. If she truly is the person of integrity she claims to be, she would take whatever action is necessary to correct this slanderous and racist characterization of Carson.
Our current president doesn't care about the damage his decisions cause. He created “DOGE,” hurting the most vulnerable here and around the world. Tore down the East Wing of the people's house, slapped tariffs on friends and enemies alike, sent pseudo-military ICE agents into major cities, and started a war with Iran, all by executive order. We will probably never know the full extent of the suffering these executive orders have caused. His desk is covered with executive orders that would never survive Congress.
If we want to protect our democracy, Americans need legislation to end, or significantly limit, executive orders. The Congress is the voice of the people and that's where policy should be made. Executive orders make it possible for an unscrupulous egocentric president to make unilateral decisions that circumvent Congress. It's not difficult to see that an unscrupulous president, who sees himself as an all powerful genius, could easily use executive orders to rob us of our democracy. The founders of this country envisioned a nation in which decisions would be made by the people, not by a would-be tyrant, with a fist full of Sharpies.
Choosing who to vote for in the Iowa U.S. Senate race is very simple. If you want an automatic yes vote for Trump’s big beautiful schemes, such as the big beautiful war or the big beautiful ballroom or the big beautiful price of gas or the big beautiful $40 trillion debt, then you should support Hinson. If you want to hold Trump and the corrupt swamp accountable then you vote for Turek. Very simple.
Patti Conrad, Cedar Falls
Responding to Duane Lindberg's recent letter "Radical Islam," where he made several accusations against the Islamic faith, it is time to set the record straight. Countering his false allegation that Islam is "committed to violence" including honor killings and subjugation of non-Islamic people, the fact is Islam and its holy book, the Quran, are committed to peace. Granted, there are fringe elements which advocate violence, however mainstream Islam teaches believers to spread peace, show kindness, and avoid starting hostilities. Furthermore, as a Christian, Lindberg should know better than to accuse a different faith of promoting violence when Christianity's history is replete with examples of violence through the centuries including the Crusades, the Thirty Years' War, and the Spanish-American War. As Jesus Christ's famous warning says, "judge not lest you also be judged."
Denis Montenier, Hudson
More like this...
Recently, I've had several conversations with Lancaster County voters. While not everyone pays the same level of attention to down-ballot races as they do to the more high-profile ones, I am sure the readers of the Journal Star would agree with me that these positions matter.
The recent state audit of the Lancaster County Treasurer's office is case in point. The audit identified nearly $1 billion in misstatements and errors. Even though no money was reported missing, the errors remain concerning.
As a lifelong independent, I vote for character, not party. That is why I support Randall Ritnour for Lancaster County Attorney.
I have known Randall for more than 20 years. He is fair, compassionate and committed to accountability. He once called me about a troubled individual he believed could benefit from mentoring. That person found a job and became a responsible citizen. Randall gives people the benefit of the doubt, yet he never loses sight of justice.
Nebraska has talented people and employers ready to put that talent to work. The challenge is strengthening the pathways connecting education, skills and opportunities so more Nebraskans are prepared for the jobs available today and those emerging tomorrow.
As a SHRM member and Nebraska HR professional, I recently joined Labor Commissioner Katie Thurber, along with students, employers, educators and workforce leaders, for a roundtable in Lincoln. Our goal was straightforward: identify ways to make those connections stronger.
Lancaster County Attorney candidate Randy Ritnour deserves the vote of every citizen concerned with fair treatment in our courts. Mr. Ritnour is unusual in his ability to balance law and order with compassion. He is able to discern the heart of a situation and nudge a solution into practical resolution. His wide experience and keen insight make Mr. Ritnour able to pierce the veil of appearances and find the practical heart of an issue. He has a keen understanding of when and how to use a carrot or a stick.
Terry Ford, Lincoln
In state and local elections, candidate qualifications and political positions matter. In federal elections, only party affiliation matters. The representatives we send to Washington, whether Democrat or Republican, will take their direction from party leadership.
Washington Democrats will always support “dependency on government” economics, spending and wealth redistribution-driven economics. Washington Republicans will always support “dependency on free enterprise” economics, work and investment-driven economics.
The Nebraska Examiner's article on the results of the recent Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) survey (LJS, 9/23) is very concerning. Having been a 30-year staff member and manager there, I am compelled to provide some personal impressions.
I moved to Nebraska to work at DED and had immediate and growing love for the state and its residents: my Lincoln neighbors, communities all across the state, the quality of state governance, local leadership, other state employees and most assuredly the staff members at DED. Indeed, I have spoken to out-of-state employers who said that if a Nebraskan applies for an open position, “We don't interview them — we just hire them!”
I recently received a bill from the IRS that was not correct. I contacted the IRS twice and got nowhere. Like many taxpayers, I was stuck with a federal agency that would not fix its own mistake.
I then contacted the office of Sen. Pete Ricketts. His staff jumped on the problem right away. They connected me with the Local Taxpayer Advocate for Nebraska. In a short period of time, the error is being resolved.
Walz can solve our problems
It’s impressive that Lynne Walz is singlehandedly responsible for bringing data centers to Nebraska, as Pillen’s ads claim. She apparently accomplished this feat as one legislator of 49 and from the minority party.
So the president of the American Association of University Professors penned a letter to the Association of American Universities that they should not readmit UNL to the association. When UNL pushed to gain readmission, they should have included the following:
* UNL currently has the No. 1 ranked volleyball team.
Campaign ads are gaslighting, twisting words and misrepresenting facts. Recent wet weather has produced some mud and some of it has hit the campaign trail. It appears that those with the most money, power and the most to lose participate more. Disparaging opponents isn't outlawed in campaigns, but doesn't say much about character.
Lonnie Kay Fuerniss, Lincoln
I have spent a lifetime developing, investing in, and caring for my acreage. It is my sanctuary and the result of decades of hard work. Almost overnight, that investment has been threatened by a massive industrial data center moving in next door.
Local officials call these projects “technological progress,” but too often ignore the human cost: neighboring families facing declining property values, constant industrial noise, enormous cooling infrastructure, increased water demands, and the loss of the quiet enjoyment of their property.
With early voting starting and just over a month left until midterms it's farcical watching GOP candidates like Florida's Byron Donalds stepping over each other to see who can erase Trump's name, image and likeness from their campaign homepages quickest.
Gee, just maybe Republicans should've considered loosening their tight grip on Trump's coattails 18 months ago when he ignorantly unleashed an economic virus, imposing illegal tariffs willy-nilly on half the planet. Illegally so says the Supreme Court.
The AAUP recommending Nebraska should not be readmitted to the AAU underscores the damage Gov. Pillen is doing to our university system. He's forcing cuts to not just faculty but to entire divisions of our once-great university. And all so he and his rich cronies pay less in taxes.
Remember this in November.
Peaceful Islam
Responding to Duane Lindberg's recent letter "Radical Islam," where he made several accusations against the Islamic faith, it is time to set the record straight. Countering his false allegation that Islam is "committed to violence" including honor killings and subjugation of non-Islamic people, the fact is Islam and its holy book, the Quran, are committed to peace. Granted, there are fringe elements which advocate violence, however mainstream Islam teaches believers to spread peace, show kindness, and avoid starting hostilities. Furthermore, as a Christian, Lindberg should know better than to accuse a different faith of promoting violence when Christianity's history is replete with examples of violence through the centuries including the Crusades, the Thirty Years' War, and the Spanish-American War. As Jesus Christ's famous warning says, "judge not lest you also be judged."
The Waterloo Public Library gets by with a lot of help from our Friends!
Established in 1975, the Waterloo Friends of the Library has raised nearly $369,000 over the last five years alone. These funds support programming for all ages, provide new furniture, and contribute to new and emerging technology.
My husband works in public safety, and I work. We're a typical Iowa family with a mortgage, bills, and kids.
We pay taxes that support public schools, like everyone else. We value Cedar Falls public schools and have friends and neighbors who attend and teach there. School choice shouldn't pit public and nonpublic schools against each other.
Here’s voters’ midterm election issue: To cut off your nose to spite your face —or not. Do you discard all the good (spite your face) Trump/Republicans have done for America’s “little” people: See Bureau of Labor Statistics/Office Management/Budget/Federal Reserve Economic Data:
- 807K jobs added; 336K fewer government jobs.
- 702 proposed federal rules cuts saving $1.5T; 79.6% increase in defense/capital-goods spending.
- 13.5% rise — civilian-core capital-goods orders; $3.44B record machine-tool orders first-half 2026.
- Record $6.3T sales for American manufacturers; manufacturing wages grow 4.2% -- beat inflation; America becomes first-time net oil producer.
- $232.2B overseas investments in America; lowered taxes on tips, overtime, Social Security.
- Newsweek: Government losing $500 billion to fraud annually — Trump’s going after this big time. Affordability!
Who has noticed? Today’s Democrat Party is no longer just misguided and liberal. This is no longer the party of Jimmy Carter or Walter Mondale, who, as misguided as they were, did love America.
If these people ever get control of our federal government, they will never give up power. And they say so.
In every election cycle, it seems like the negative ads become more vicious and misleading. The worst one I’ve seen this time around accuses 2nd Congressional District candidate Joe Mitchell of having ties to “criminals and fraudsters.” As that audio is playing, an image of Mitchell alongside renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson is displayed on the screen. To be sure, Carson has generated controversy at times. But to label this man, a recipient of numerous honorary degrees, awards, and the Medal of Freedom, as a criminal and fraudster is outrageous.
Lindsay James, Joe Mitchell’s opponent, touts her credentials as a chaplain. If she truly is the person of integrity she claims to be, she would take whatever action is necessary to correct this slanderous and racist characterization of Carson.
Our current president doesn't care about the damage his decisions cause. He created “DOGE,” hurting the most vulnerable here and around the world. Tore down the East Wing of the people's house, slapped tariffs on friends and enemies alike, sent pseudo-military ICE agents into major cities, and started a war with Iran, all by executive order. We will probably never know the full extent of the suffering these executive orders have caused. His desk is covered with executive orders that would never survive Congress.
If we want to protect our democracy, Americans need legislation to end, or significantly limit, executive orders. The Congress is the voice of the people and that's where policy should be made. Executive orders make it possible for an unscrupulous egocentric president to make unilateral decisions that circumvent Congress. It's not difficult to see that an unscrupulous president, who sees himself as an all powerful genius, could easily use executive orders to rob us of our democracy. The founders of this country envisioned a nation in which decisions would be made by the people, not by a would-be tyrant, with a fist full of Sharpies.
Choosing who to vote for in the Iowa U.S. Senate race is very simple. If you want an automatic yes vote for Trump’s big beautiful schemes, such as the big beautiful war or the big beautiful ballroom or the big beautiful price of gas or the big beautiful $40 trillion debt, then you should support Hinson. If you want to hold Trump and the corrupt swamp accountable then you vote for Turek. Very simple.
Patti Conrad, Cedar Falls
Responding to Duane Lindberg's recent letter "Radical Islam," where he made several accusations against the Islamic faith, it is time to set the record straight. Countering his false allegation that Islam is "committed to violence" including honor killings and subjugation of non-Islamic people, the fact is Islam and its holy book, the Quran, are committed to peace. Granted, there are fringe elements which advocate violence, however mainstream Islam teaches believers to spread peace, show kindness, and avoid starting hostilities. Furthermore, as a Christian, Lindberg should know better than to accuse a different faith of promoting violence when Christianity's history is replete with examples of violence through the centuries including the Crusades, the Thirty Years' War, and the Spanish-American War. As Jesus Christ's famous warning says, "judge not lest you also be judged."
Denis Montenier, Hudson
More like this...
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