Biden rushing to fix mess he made at the border

President Joe Biden is in the awkward position of once again copying former President Donald Trump. Both men headed to the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday.

Trump had first announced his visit to the border town of Eagle Pass, Texas. Then, lo and behold, Biden later decided to visit another Texas border city, Brownsville, on the exact same day.

This will be the second time in Biden’s presidency that he’s bothered to set foot along the U.S.-Mexico border, regardless of how illegal immigration has spiked to record levels under his presidency. Biden tried making Vice President Kamala Harris his border czar, but she failed miserably in that role and is now doing other things.

Trump and Biden’s dueling visits are a total coincidence, I’m sure.

Renew Jordan Valley project throws good money in the creek

$37.5 million — and the Renew Jordan Valley project is still $10 million short of funding. Furthermore, the bids have not been received yet and the project is still two years away from breaking concrete.

The stated purpose is to mitigate flooding, improve water quality and provide “innovative quality of place” improvements. Does this mean that the area is now being flooded and creating dangerous conditions? What does it mean to improve the quality of runoff water? For what purpose? Are those improvements in “innovative quality of place” going to attract more people to a scary downtown and fill up those empty stores?

When is the City Council going to stand up and be counted on these silly ventures such as the Jefferson Ave Footbridge and uncovering of Jordan Valley? Shouldn’t this money be redirected to incentivize businessmen to fill those store fronts, hire more police to make the city safer and support projects that address the homeless in a manner to remove them from their poor state of life. $37.5 million — what an apparent waste!

Art Farris, Springfield

Abortion foes afraid of the will of the people

Sunday’s News-Leader published a letter by Tanya Willmeth in which she stated that petitions for voting on abortion rights favor “abortions up to the birthdate of the baby.“

This statement is blatantly not true and emotionally provocative. She also claims that “out of state interests” are behind this ballot initiative, which is also misleading.

She urges readers not to sign the petitions, and Republican legislators are doing all they can to try to keep the initiative off the ballot. What are they afraid of? The will of the people? Let’s let the voters have the final say on reproductive rights, which most Americans and most Missourians favor.

Steve Johnson, Springfield.

Provance has experience needed for SPS school board

Susan Provance will be an excellent member of the Springfield R-12 School Board because of her 30 years in education, which included working with elementary, middle school and high school students. She understands the challenges

Securing the border and curbing the flood of illegal crossings has become a key issue in the 2024 presidential campaign, and Biden is playing a serious game of catch-up. Or at least he needs to – and fast.

The numbers, which don’t lie, are in Trump’s favor, and he will double down on how Biden is putting the country in danger by allowing a de facto open border.

Since Biden took office, illegal crossings have averaged 2 million a year – all record highs. By contrast, three out of four years of Trump’s presidency, illegal crossings never topped 600,000. In 2019, the one year they did, they were below 1 million.

It defies logic to say there’s not a connection, especially because some of Biden’s first actions as president were to roll back many of Trump’s border restrictions. Since then, Biden has pleaded helplessness to address the glaring

Preference is given to brief (under 300 words), direct letters. We verify submissions, so include name, address and phone number. Email submissions to letters@news-leader.com. The News-Leader reserves the right to edit submissions for potential libel, accuracy, objectionable content, clarity, civility and length. Letters must provide sources for specific data. facing children of all ages and all abilities. Susan taught academic courses such as health and at-risk classes as well as coached volleyball, basketball, track, softball and tennis.

Working closely with student athletes enabled Susan to understand the needs of teenagers. In her job as athletics administrator for the Springfield Park Board, she worked in directing programs for both adults and children, which gives her a background in administrative duties.

Susan’s focus will be on policies that will ensure students, parents and teachers will have the resources needed to help all students reach academic success as they prepare for futures in the 21st century. Springfield R-12 patrons can’t go wrong in voting for Susan Provance on April 2.

Endorsement signed by Sherrie Copenhaver, Karla Ferguson, Marilyn Ferguson, Kimberlea Gray, Shela Lovewell, Vicki Newport, Connie Peterson, Marga Pogue, Sue Schuble, Myra Scroggs and Judy Wilson.

Re-elect Roberts to Nixa school board

How many times can you say I’ve seen the neighborhood boy grow up and accomplish so much in such a short period of time? Proud moments of graduation from MSU and MU Law School, then establishing a prestigious law practice and taking an active roll of leadership in his church. This is all commendable, but for this neighbor lady I’m extremely pleased to see he has made a dedicated commitment to the Nixa School District for the past nine years. Josh is a strong family man who cares deeply for his community and shows a passion for educating all children.

Josh is currently serving as president of the school board after being elected by his colleagues to this position. The problems that not only affect border towns but also large (Democratic) cities around the country, from Denver to New York City.

Killing of Georgia nursing student an issue for Biden

Other recent headlines won’t ease the concerns of citizens already troubled by what’s happening at the border.

The suspect charged in the brutal murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus is in the United States illegally. Riley went for a run and never returned.

Records show Venezuelan citizen Jose Ibarra had unlawfully crossed the border in 2022. And even though he was arrested in New York City last year on different charges, he remained in the country.

Many in the news media have done their best to ignore the fact that Ibarra is most recent data from the Missouri Department of Education places Nixa Public Schools in the top 1% of all districts in the state. This is only one of many accomplishments of the Nixa Schools. Whether it be academics, fine arts, or sports Nixa is consistently leading the way.

I have sat at that board table for many years and know what it takes to lead. Josh has what it takes — experience, integrity, dedication, perspective & an evident commitment to serve all students. Thank you Josh for your continued service to the students and patrons of the Nixa School District. I wholeheartedly support Josh Roberts for re-election in April and ask for your vote too.

Peggy L. Taylor, former member of the Nixa School Board.

More support for Roberts in Nixa schools

I am writing to endorse Joshua Roberts for re-election to the Nixa Public Schools Board of Education in April, 2024. I have had the honor of knowing Mr. Roberts for over a decade and can confidently say that he possesses the necessary skills and dispositions to represent the interests of the stakeholders of the Nixa school district with integrity and excellence–both those who are directly affiliated with the school system as well as those in the community at large.

As a veteran teacher for NPS and former president of the Nixa Teachers Association for 10 years I had the privilege of communicating and collaborating with Mr. Roberts on a number of occasions. Mr. Roberts consistently demonstrated sincere and active listening and strongly advocated for the teachers of Nixa Public Schools, acknowledging that quality educators are the backbone of the school system. I could always count on Mr. Roberts to be fact-seeking, forward-thinking and solution-minded in our many conversations about how to work toward the common goal of supporting continued excellence in action with regard to our schools. Most importantly, however, Joshua Roberts’ service to NPS has been marked not merely by quality conversation but by subsequent ACTION.

Joshua Roberts has been a proven leader in his years of experience on the board supporting core issues such as increases in teacher salaries and benefits to recruit and retain quality educators, school safety and security, expansion of a wide array of programs to enhance the educational experiences of our students, and formulation of policies to address the growing need for increased undocumented, but you can be sure that Trump and other Republicans will remind people of this fact.

The United States has to know who’s crossing its borders, and the mayhem there now is making that impossible.

Immigration surges to top issue facing country

While Biden wants to make this election about “democracy” and abortion rights, the American people have other ideas.

A new Gallup poll shows that the number of people who say immigration is the most important problem facing America keeps rising, and for the first time in five years it’s now the top issue, at 28% compared with 12% who say the economy is most important.

Similarly, Gallup found that a record

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LETTERS POLICY

mental health supports for students as well as relevant and enforceable discipline policies aimed at protecting both learning time and the physical/emotional wellbeing of students and teachers in classrooms.

I believe Mr. Roberts’ successful multi-year record on the Nixa Board of Education is evidence that he is not driven by a narrow agenda of concern but rather comprehensive knowledge and interest in continuing to address the many facets that make Nixa Public Schools a top district.

I strongly urge you to vote for Joshua Roberts in the upcoming election and join me in supporting him as a member of the Nixa Board of Education for another term.

Susan L. Hansche, teacher in Nixa Public Schools.

Plan for transit is important for aging Missourians

Governor Mike Parson signed an Executive Order last year, calling for the establishment of a statewide Master Plan on Aging. One of the plan’s goals is that Missourians will have access to safe and reliable transportation and mobility options as they age.

There are presently more than 1.1 million Missouri residents over the age of 60. As the population continues to age, it’s vital that critical infrastructure be in place so older adults can access medical appointments, run errands, and visit family and friends.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which is charged with developing the plan by Dec. 31, 2025, is holding several town hall meetings across the state to get input from residents of all ages. One of these town hall meetings will take place from 2-4 p.m. on March 7 at the Southside Senior Center, located at 2215 S. Fremont Ave. in Springfield.

AARP Missouri, Citizens for Modern Transit and the Missouri Public Transit Association encourage available residents to get involved in the Missouri Master Plan on Aging. Mobility matters for people of all ages, and safe, convenient and reliable public transportation options are essential to this plan as more and more aging adults are willingly trading in their car keys for transit passes.

Sheila Holm, community outreach director for AARP Missouri and board member of Citizens for Modern Transit and the Missouri Public Transit Association.