At the Champaign City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 9, many individuals serving on local commissions had their terms renewed. There was one glaring exception, highlighted in The News-Gazette article “Champaign mayor: Human relations commission switch-up ‘a great opportunity for diversity’…

Mike Cornwell’s letter on July 6 asks how Gene Lyons determined that a “majority” dislike our president.

Some of your columnists are absolutely outstanding, for example, Bruce Kauffmann, who does an excellent job of reminding us of our great history.

The marijuana law includes an exemption to the Smoke-Free Illinois Act ban on indoor smoking and lets cities decide whether to allow on-site marijuana use at bars, restaurants and cannabis smoking lounges, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Oh my, God! Seriously? Champaign County is going to charge county taxpayers almost $50,000 to avoid trip hazards around columns at the courthouse? Wouldn’t yellow paint, or “trip hazard” signs, or way many other remedies be a whole lot more cost effective?

We are writing on behalf of the local children’s charity named Fair Hope Children’s Ministry. For the past 15 years, Fair Hope has provided many children living in low-income families in Danville and Vermilion County with gently used clothing at no charge.

We must congratulate the Urbana administration. It must be some sort of record to draw out at the public input segment of its July 1 city council meeting individuals who represented communities of color, disabilities, print media, broadcast media, gender, artists, musicians, educators, activ…

Mike Cornwell on July 6 took issue with The News-Gazette over a statement in a July 1 commentary about the majority of Americans disliking Donald Trump.

The president went all out for the Fourth of July. Wow! There was a military parade in the streets of D.C. with all the bells and whistles. He made a speech as well. How spectacular!

I find it bizarre that in a society with an obesity problem, we are covering an eating contest.

The July 5 article “Time to grow up” laid out a case for using trees to mitigate the increase in carbon dioxide that is contributing to climate change.

It baffles me that The News-Gazette keeps publishing Cal Thomas, decade after decade. I don’t know if he is careless, just makes stuff up or is a liar, but he consistently writes things that just aren’t so.

Cal Thomas, like the president he supports, apparently feels no need to bother to check what he “knows.” Even when he could easily discover that he is dead wrong.

It is often said that all persons are created as equals, but yet there those advocating a graduated income tax with people with higher income paying a greater tax and, now in effect, a higher tax on tobacco products, on liquid energy and various other sources.

It seems to me that it is apparently mostly forgotten in the “Public Square” that sexuality only exists in the natural world for the propagation of species. This is also true for human beings. If sex did not exist, we would not be here.

Democrats have proven, once again, that they lack the mental capacity to govern.

Writer Perry Albin feels alienated in Illinois because his chosen belief system isn’t followed by our government.

Gene Lyons made the statement in his July 1 commentary, “... since the majority of Americans dislike Donald Trump, many Democrats think Biden’s the best bet to win next year ...”

In a very recent trip through Indiana to Michigan, I found that per-gallon gasoline prices in those states were about 30 cents higher than Illinois.

The Trump administration’s cruel willingness to separate immigrant families continues.

Melissa Martin shared valuable advice in her June 27 letter to the editor urging support for local newspapers. I echo what she says. Take advantage of your local publisher. It is too late for our small town, but maybe not for yours.

The child separation policy for immigrants at the southern border is surely Trump’s most inhumane tactic, from which the children will suffer lifelong trauma.

I received an email from Rodney Davis’ office recently, which was titled “We have a crisis along our border.” I completely agree — we do indeed have a crisis along our border.

I just wanted to take the time on the eve of our wonderful governor imposing even more taxes on Illinois residents, with our 19-cent gas tax hike and our $50 hike in license plates: Thank you, J.B., for taking advantage of the middle class again to help bail out your buddies in Chicago, as always.

Rebecca Terhark’s letter about feminists missing the mark on abortion stirred memories and reminded me again that some of the women who come to Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats think they chose abortion, when the men in their lives may have been pulling the strings of their decisions.