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Numerous polling places throughout the Dallas area opened for early voting, including 6707 Royal Lane in Dallas, on April 20. A reader writes about access to voting in Texas.<\/p>\n
Steve Hamm\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
A story worth telling\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: \u201cTexas falls to fourth in business ranking \u2013 CNBC\u2019s grading rewards growing economy, but notes quality of life issues,\u201d Sunday Business story.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Your story on CNBC\u2019s 2026 Top States for Business rankings left out a fascinating and important part of the story: CNBC actually considers how easy or difficult it is to vote as part of the quality of life measurement. Here, Texas scored nearly last\u00a0\u2014 49th\u00a0\u2014 ahead of only Tennessee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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CNBC uses the cost of voting index, developed by Dr. Michael J. Pomante II, of the University of Michigan and Claremont Graduate University, to evaluate differences in voting access across all 50 states. The index examines state election laws governing voter registration, early voting, voter identification, absentee voting and other factors that affect casting a ballot. Texas was 48th in 2024 on the index.\u00a0<\/p>\n
CNBC isn\u2019t just saying that the ability to vote matters to democracy. By including voting access, it recognizes that the ability to participate in our democracy is part of what makes a state a good place to live, and part of the broader environment that businesses should consider when deciding where to invest, grow and attract workers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The ability to vote is part of quality of life. That\u2019s a story worth telling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Co-founder, National Coalition for Voter Rights\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Step up, council members!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: \u201cDallas City Hall Needs a Diet,\u201d Sunday editorial and \u201cCity Council should stop taking July off,\u201d by Dallas Cothrum, Sunday Opinion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I recognize that the city leaders already know the problems set forth in the two pieces, but I hope they do read them. As the editorial asks, are we getting what we pay for? Probably not. \u00a0<\/p>\n
It is time for leadership to ensure every dollar is spent wisely. No more trips to look at trains, give careful consideration to departing employees’ severance pay, like when our previous city manager went hopping and skipping off to Austin (with near one-half million) and, I presume, the vans to the FIFA games that were at the taxpayers’ expense. \u00a0<\/p>\n
As Cothrum implies in his column, council members should stop treating the position as a part-time job. I suspect all citizens are thankful that the vote to increase the pay to $110,000 was soundly defeated. Council members, please step up!\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Fragility of life\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the most prominent, influential and recognizable figures in American politics, helps to remind us that we are not promised tomorrow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It will be different not seeing Graham\u2019s face on the political shows or the nightly news. Clearly, he has helped to shape our foreign policy and influence our allies as well as our enemies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Regardless whether we agreed or disagreed on Graham\u2019s politics, his unexpected and surprising passing allows us an opportunity to reflect on our own lives and legacy, and to remember that the fragility of life is the one equalizer that unites us all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Barry Rothschild, Dallas\/Preston Hollow\u00a0<\/p>\n
Quoting Pope Leo\u00a0<\/p>\n
My 3-year-old picked out his Bluey PJs to wear to bed tonight. They are his favorite. And as he did, my heart broke for another 3-year-old in Maine who wore her Bluey pajamas and now won\u2019t have her parent by her bed tonight to read her stories or give her one more kiss.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The senseless violence being carried out by ICE is cruel, and it is desecrating the sacredness of human life. We are seeing time and time again that there is no respect for human life and basic dignity in the actions being taken across our country by ICE agents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pope Leo recently said, \u201cTo receive [immigrants] with compassion and generosity is not only an act of charity, but also a recognition of the \u2060dignity that belongs to every human person.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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I pray for that sweet innocent child in her Bluey PJs, and I pray for our country to see that she and her family deserve dignity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marti S. White, North Dallas\u00a0<\/p>\n
Protecting citizens?\u00a0<\/p>\n
How many ICE agents are there in the United States \u201cprotecting\u201d citizens from all those who look or act like immigrants? Is ICE surveilling all of us? Are they roaming the streets of every city and town looking for anyone who doesn\u2019t fit the description that the agent thinks an American should look like? \u00a0<\/p>\n
No wonder a person might run when approached by a fully armed and masked agent. I certainly would.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The canary is dead\u00a0<\/p>\n
The news every day is filled with terrifying stories of unprecedented wind and rainstorms, drought, wildfires, record heat and floods. Scientists were reported in your paper recently as attributing the frequency, intensity and duration of these weather events to climate warming caused by our over a century use of fossil fuels. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Our long-term weather is the canary in the coal mine for our livable planet. Well, folks, the canary is dead. Time to wake up and finally do something to save our planet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tour de France\u00a0<\/p>\n
Re: \u201cPogacar scorches rivals, regains lead,\u201d July 10 SportsDay story.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thanks for extra coverage of an exciting stage at Tour de France. Usually there is just a short reference because not much happened. Race day on July 9 had a lot going on.\u00a0<\/p>\n