ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAV

Costa's hummingbird set free

Just when I'm at the end of my rope with humanity and its propensity towards selfishness, I read the story about a group of humans in their quest to save a tiny creature, Bob, the Costa's hummingbird, from sure death from a cold environment in which he found himself, approximately 1,000 miles from his natural habitat. Thankfully, Bob Costa's was set free in his natural environment in Tucson. The relationship built between Bob Costa's and his human "family" is irreplaceable and one that many of us who value nature have experienced from our own pets or other wildlife at some time in our lives. The story touched me deeply — it's nice to know there are others out there who care about more than themselves, even the tiniest among us.

Terry Hawkins

East side

We are threatened by THC

I laughed on Saturday as I picked up the newspaper and read the title of a front-page article: “Ban threatens THC-infused products.� I think you mean to say that the ban threatens those who make profit off of selling us products that contain THC, a compound in marijuana, a drug that is linked to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke in people less than 50. It is beyond me how people can be threatened by efforts to ban something that is slowly poisoning my generation. I am only 20 years old, and I am constantly coughing and avoiding social situations because people are smoking marijuana left and right. A journal published by the American Heart Association makes clear that marijuana can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. It’s time to stop smoking marijuana. Arizonans made a mistake by voting to legalize it. The health of my generation is at stake. Can we please understand that?

Hector Guzman

South side

Past time

It is time that City and County officials stop wringing their hands and address the epidemic of red-light runners and speeders in Tucson. Reintroduce red light cameras and a fine of $250 for first offense, $500 for second offense, $750 and license suspension for third offense. Speeders should get a wink for 5 mph over the limit and $100 for each mph over the limit after 5. IE 6 mph over the limit receives a $600 fine. Cameras on Craycroft and Swan south of Sunrise and Sunrise/Ina to Oracle would pay for themselves in weeks.

Todd Ackerman

Foothills

Answering: 'Put up or shut up'

Re: Letter, "Put up or shut up" (Nov. 29):

I can put up, thank you. The claim is: How can Donald J. Trump do enough good, when he has so many personal sins against morality, ethics, etc.? A sincere comparison through Matthew 23: 2-3, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice." DJT rarely attends Sunday worship, but Trump has proven that he advocates worshiping our God of the Bible. Trump proves that he values the tenets of religion operating in public life as an active force. An example is: Trump has defunded the abortion giant, Planned Parenthood, for one year. On the federal level in all documents, Trump will only recognize traditional male and female. For the Catholic faith, Trump is 100 times better than "Catholic" Biden was. Limited space permits only this small snapshot. There's more.

Daniel Pryor

West side

Criminal recidivism

A loyal writer appears to have a new hot topic. Crime. Yes, people who have been convicted of various crimes get released and then commit another crime. And it appears it is apolitical. View those pardoned by the current President. Some had prior criminal records, convicted of J6 violence, pardoned and have subsequently been charged and convicted of crimes and some serious felonies. One could spend hours researching recidivism rates of various groups. Maybe that is what our loyal friend should do in his spare time.

Gerald Schwartz

Foothills

Gold standard science

I applaud the AZ Daily Star article ‘Gold standard’ science and its critical look at “evidence-based medical research,� noting that both President Trump and health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have lowered research standards by “relying on preliminary studies, fringe science, or just hunches� for health policy. Kennedy supported a change in the HHS website to contradict the scientific conclusion that vaccines do not cause autism, a change viewed by Dr. Daniel Jernigan, formerly of the CDC, as “going from evidence-based decision making to decision-based evidence making.�

The article notes five traits of rigorous scientific research: setting an unchanging hypothesis in advance, disclosing funding and conflicts of interest, thorough peer review, an explanation of the data to show work, and citing reliable sources. I was most pleased with the section containing recommended questions for anyone evaluating a research paper or news article advocating shifts in scientifically supported practice. These practices and questions will prove invaluable in judging ongoing fact fabrication and the proliferation of AI assistants/assistance.

Roger Shanley

East side

Star editorials represent minority

I just read the Tucson Speaks Out and must suggest that a word was left out of that title: Liberal.

I know The Star is a left paper. That’s always been the case in my 67 years as a Tucsonan. I recall as a child that there were two papers: the Democrat Star in the morning and the right-leaning Tucson Citizen in the afternoon. Those days are gone when both halves of the world are represented for people to make informed decisions. News and editorials are now propaganda to fuel people’s hatred in search of an insatiable lust for political power. I am so sad that The Star has wholeheartedly sold its soul to the left and is not ashamed to publicize it. They are representing Tucson with biased views.

I have zero expectations that this letter will be published.

Paul Robb

Northeast side

Stay right law

Ignorance of the law is not an excuse, I was always told.

ARS TITLE 28-724 A 2 and 3. Overtaking on the right. (Legal to pass on the right as long as it is done in safety)

28-721 A 3 and 4 Driving on right side of roadway; driving on shoulder; exceptions.(Look around at the signs before you enter any roadway, but look at the one-way signs all over a freeway or highway entrances)

28-729 Driving on roadways laned for traffic (this is the one that is partially read and used incorrectly) unless the roadway has signs posted as identified in section 3.

The silent part out loud is we all know how fast we are all going ... slow down and safely move around, there is no approval for driving over the posted speed limit.

Lucas Kannegaard

Sahuarita

Is it really that bad?

As the current mantra of the left-wing media and liberal Democrats is affordability, one would assume that the nation is in the throes of a serious depression with few people able to find jobs, absolute financial ruin, and wide starvation. Interestingly, the stock market is at record levels and 150 million citizens are invested to some degree. Perplexing, it is interesting that $150 billion was spent on sport betting with gaming revenue $72 billion. Some 85 million people traveled on Thanksgiving, with 6 million flying. A Thanksgiving meal is 10% less expensive than last year. Gasoline price is near $3, lower in many areas except crazy California. Every NFL and many NCAA football stadiums are full, even with outrageous ticket and concession prices, and those fans are not millionaires. Legal marijuana sales in the U.S. totaled $30.1 billion in 2024. Strikes me that there is an enormous amount of expendable money available to even the common folks. Many times, it's the choices made. What say you?

Loyal M. Johnson Jr.

Oro Valley

Right on, Loyal

Loyal Johnson always tells us how misguided we are. One of his latest LTE says that we are soft on crime. For once, I and most Democrats agree with him that criminals committing rape, drug distribution, murder, armed robbery, etc. need to be punished appropriately — no mercy.

But LJ has blinders on felon Trump’s crimes: twice convicted for defamation of E. Jean Carroll (the judge said he raped her); lifetime business fraud worse than armed robbery; pardoning Honduran ex-President Juan Orlando-Hernández for smuggling more than 400 tons of cocaine; Hedgspeth and Trump murdered 83 men in boats in Latin America without warrants or due process, etc., etc. He will likely be linked to sex with teenage girls in the Epstein files. No mercy. But ICE treats thousands of first-time illegal immigrants as felons without mercy for misdemeanors. Democrats are loyal to the constitution and law — not Trump’s lawlessness.

Tom Van Devender

North side

Tucson 9-1-1

The purpose of the emergency number is to provide even the most vulnerable of us, including toddlers and the cognitively impaired, help in the moment of their most dire need. Does Tucson provide effective service? Nothing happens until the 9-1-1 call is answered; without a person answering the phone, no help is sent.

Does anyone care if the call is answered or not? How would you even know that Tucson 9-1-1 is effective? Whose job is it to make 9-1-1 work effectively?

We used to know how to provide top-quality service.

Former Emergency 911 Operator and emergency number professional.

Michael LaFond

Goodyear

War crimes

So, President Bone Spur is defending Pete Hegseth for apparently ordering a second strike on a small boat allegedly carrying drugs, ostensibly to the US. But, of course, our illustrious leader just pardoned one of the most prolific drug dealers in history, the former President of Honduras. Hmmm!? Please, someone with more smarts than I have, explain this, so I can understand.

And, our corrupt President is now selling out Ukraine, with his negotiators, including his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, schmoozing with Putin, demanding that Ukraine capitulate and surrender. No doubt, of course, to smooth the way for a Trumpian hotel and golf course in Moscow.

Hey, what the heck, democracy ain’t what it used to be. It’s now a full-fledged kleptocracy and criminally corrupt enterprise.

Congratulations if you voted for MAGA. You are participating in the dismantling of this great country. Hope it makes you proud.

James Mulhall

Northwest side