Letters to the Editor - Global warming, the STAAR exam, THC ban, light rail, PBS

We learned this in school

Hard to imagine but, yes, an elementary school science lesson taught most of us the basics regarding cloud formation. There are lots of variables, but the premise is understandable even to a grade schooler.

Heat over an ocean, lake or river starts a process called evaporation. Evaporation is the process of turning liquid to vapor. Warm air rises from oceans, lakes and rivers. That evaporation is now turned into water droplets and ice crystals to form clouds.

To keep it simple: The hotter it is, the greater the evaporation; the greater the evaporation, the greater the amount of water droplets are held in our atmosphere above us. The water droplets may travel hundreds or thousands of miles in the form of clouds before becoming so heavy they fall back to earth.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2023 and 2024 were the hottest years on record.

Not surprisingly, there have now been more floods in 2025 than any of us have seen in our lifetimes.

After all the historic floods, if your feet are not sunk too deeply in the mud on one side of the political fence, maybe it’s time to consider the possibilities that global warming is real and a serious threat to the well-being of your grandchildren and future generations.

Glen Blankenship, Ingleside

Perhaps review standards, too

Re: “Replace STAAR? OK, But … Let’s be sure we get something that better measures whether students are learning what they should,” Monday editorial; and “Math scores shrink,” June 26 Metro & Business story.

Perhaps the STAAR test is not the problem. For some reason, too many students are “not up to standards” or performing “below grade level.” It made me wonder whether the grade-level standards are too high.

I reviewed the TEKS standards for third-grade math, and I took the 2024 STAAR grade 3 math released test, which is available online. While I was able to answer all 30 questions correctly, I thought several of the questions were out of scope for third-grade math, but they do reflect the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills expectations.

I suggest that only 23 of these are reasonable for third graders, although some would be challenging. These include not just simple arithmetic, but plane geometry; numerical relationships, including symbolic representations of value; common fractions; and units of measure.

The seven questions that I would think are beyond what a third grader needs to know include one on economics (supply and demand); one on three-dimensional geometry; two using algebraic equations; two using data collection charts such as those used for statistical analysis; and one on the use of credit to borrow money.

I think the TEKS standards demand too much of young students, trying to teach them too much too soon.

Terry Sibley, Richardson

Such initiatives not allowed

Re: “Near-total THC ban is back on the table — Abbott pushes for regulation, calls suggestion he’s for legalization ‘absurd’,” Wednesday news story.

This story claims, “Voters have never been asked the question.” That is misleading.

Texas voters haven’t been asked because we are not allowed to be asked. Texas does not permit citizen-led statewide ballot initiatives. Only the Legislature can place marijuana legalization on the ballot. Despite public support, lawmakers refuse to let the people decide.

Advocates have pushed for reform for years. Cities like Austin, Denton, Killeen, San Marcos, Elgin and Dallas have passed local decriminalization ordinances by wide margins. Dallas voters approved Proposition R in 2024 with nearly 67% support. But state officials block enforcement.

Public opinion is clear. A May 2025 poll found 80% of Texans support legalizing marijuana in some form. A University of Texas poll shows most want marijuana laws to be less strict. These views cross party lines.

Saying “voters have never been asked” hides the truth. Texans want to decide, but the state won’t let them.

That is not democracy. That is obstruction.

Brian Goosen, Dallas

Don’t pass buck on rail

In Dallas, it has always been in vogue to go out on the town in your car. But let’s assume that’s only because it was your only choice. Rail is relatively new here but having the largest light-rail system means very little if it can’t get you where you’re going quickly and efficiently.

We lack east-west connectivity, and let’s be frank, folks, buses do not cut it in the 21st century. Anyone who has lived in a city with great transportation knows that Dallas’ spoke-and-hub light-rail system was the wrong idea from the beginning. But it’s water under the bridge at this point. We need a fresh new idea — or do we?

Imagine if you could be whisked quickly above the traffic below in a modern magnetic monorail, so quiet you can only hear the air whoosh as it passes. More viable today than ever, monorails can be designed efficiently and built relatively quickly on existing rights-of-way over existing highways.

They would be as in vogue as Dallas would like, and almost instantly we would have superior connectivity to every city in North Texas.

Wake up, city hall. The gridlock is here. What are you going to do about it? Time is up — don’t pass the buck.

Tom Zielinski, Irving

We have to behave as a community

Re: “Should we support public broadcasting,” Sunday Letters.

I support the airing of different opinions in the letters to the editor, but I draw the line at close-mindedness.

Bonnie Somer says the government is not a piggy bank for everyone’s personal stuff. She fails to understand that the government tries to provide for everyone and cannot please everyone equally. I wonder how she feels about corporate subsidies and tax breaks for the rich.

Or Frank M. Wagnon, who asks why he should pay for your TV. I imagine that he would believe that childless couples and retirees shouldn’t have to pay school taxes.

The bottom line is that if we do not behave as a community and act only in our own self interests, where does that leave us? The answer is in a society where only the rich and powerful get what they want.

Elise Greenberg, Dallas