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Four business owners in Columbus, Indiana, the hometown of Vice President Mike Pence, share their thoughts on Pence's legacy in the White House. Indianapolis Star

It was a grave, grave disappointment to hear former Vice-President Mike Pence's recent speech in South Carolina.

Pence praised Trump and his presidencybut refused to disavow or even mention the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6. That assault was carried out in Trump's name with the express purpose of overturning the result of the 2020 presidential election. Pence was also a main target of that assault because he refused to overturn the certification of the vote on that day.

Even though Pence had echoed Trump's big election lie from November until early January, he knew that Biden's win by more than 7 million votes had been legally verified several times.

And on Jan. 6, Pence courageously upheld the Constitution.

He and his family had to hide during the assault, while protesters yelled "Hang Mike Pence."

But now, for the sake of retaining the support of Trump's base, Pence has turned his back on the truth. In spite of being targeted on Jan. 6, Pence is willing to sweep an act of sedition under the rug. This is truly shocking. Democracy depends upon the truth.

And there is no greater threat to democracy in America than the

conspiracy theory known as The Big Lie. Pence knows that, and yet he is more than willing to brush The Big Lie and Jan. 6 aside in favor of his ambitions.

Zoe Sitzmann

Zionsville

Excellent articleon the umpire shortage.

When I was 16 (1966), I worked at a car dealership in the parts department. One of the mechanics was in his 60s and knew all about auto engines going back to the Model T. When a younger mechanic asked him how to fix an issue with an engine, he asked the younger mechanic if he wanted a remedy or if he wanted a cure. A remedy is a Band-Aid, while a cure fixes the problem permanently.

Using this analogy, I think a cure is needed, not a remedy.

The IHSAA and also the governing bodies of local non-IHSAA sports need to implement the following:

Once the fans in the stands hear this enough times, it will sink in. Once an unruly fan gets ejected, the taunting will stop.

Now it's up to the sports writers at IndyStar to do their part, which is start beating the drum with the IHSAA to implement the above. You know who the folks who make the decisions are, so the ball is in your court.

Once the IHSAA agrees to implementing this set of rules, the media statewide needs to publish articles before each sport season about these road rules.

This will also send the message to the umpires/referees that they are appreciated, and more will join the ranks.

Jan Bednarz

Indianapolis

Kidney Disease is a public health crisis that affects more than 37 million adults in the U.S. and results in greater risk of severe COVID-19 complications.

As a PhD candidate at Notre Dame studying kidney disease, reading the April 12 article on Gov. Eric Holcombs 2021 legislative agenda made me think about how much we spend treating kidney disease versus how little we spend to prevent it. Medicare spends $130 billion, 24% of the budget, on kidney disease patients. Kidney disease affects 11% of adults in the U.S., yet kidney-related research represents less than 0.2% of research at the National Institutes of Health. As NIH funding rose 37% (2015-2020), kidney research funding increased only 19%.

The CDCs Chronic Kidney Disease Initiative is similarly underfunded at $2.5 million. Investment in cancer research increased tenfold, which contributed to a 400% decline in cancer deaths. However, death and disability of kidney patients increased by 65%.

It is imperative that senators Young and Braun prioritize the 37 million Americans with kidney disease and treat these disparities as the public health crisis it is.

Investing in research and early detection at NIH and CDC will relieve the financial burden kidney disease places on Medicareand, more importantly, save lives.

Hannah Wesselman

Granger

The International Affairs Budget makes up 1% of the U.S. federal budget but impacts all aspects of life in America. These funds are imperative for helping the world's poor, and as global citizens, we must back initiatives that save millions of lives domestically and abroad.

As poverty and malnutrition rates drop, emerging markets are created for U.S. companies to reach and trade. Today, 45% of all U.S. exports now go to developing countries. U.S. job creation and national security are all linked to the plight of the world's poor.

Work remains, especially as 131 million people globally are at risk of starvation due to the impacts of COVID-19. Now more than ever, it is vital to prioritize international funding and provide relief to the world's most vulnerable communities.

Representatives shouldtake action to further global poverty reduction efforts and protect vulnerable members of populations other than our own. When we take care of each other, we all benefit.

Mary Molander

Indianapolis

Over a year ago, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and schools in our state had to instantly pivot from in-person to virtual learning. Thousands of children across Indiana were in danger of losing access to the nutrition they rely on from school meals. But Hoosier school nutrition staff immediately stepped up, working day and night to figure out new systems of getting meals to students through grab-n-go pick-ups, meal drop-offs and more.

Because of the crisis, even more families in our community are facing financial strain. In 2021, an alarming 1 in 6 kids could face hunger because of the pandemic. Yet throughout, school nutrition staff have been there, working tirelessly through the summer, through weekends, through holidays, to make sure kids in our state get the nutrition they need.

On School Lunch Hero Day and every day, thank you to all the school nutrition staff across Indiana. You help guarantee kids are healthy and ready to learn, and provide a constant in these challenging times. Your love and dedication for what you do and those you serve are noteworthy and extraordinary. Our gratitude cannot be overstated!

Help No Kid Hungry Indiana celebrate Hoosier Hunger Heroes by sharing the stories that impact your family and community on social media using #ThankAHungerHero and on Facebook (@NoKidHungryIndiana).

Tarrah Westercamp

Greenwood

I was very disappointed to read all the elected officials' Republican responses to President Biden's address to Congress Thursday night. Their published partisan remarks only serve to push the parties farther and farther apart.Being interviewed was their chance to take the high road and prove they are determined to govern the United States of America, not to further partisanship or their own careers.

The only way we will get beyond the Republican-Democrat stalemate in this country is for members of one party to begin publishing their points of agreement with the opposite party. And those of the other party to do likewise.That would be a mark of statesmanship in the leaders.Such statesmanship seems to be lacking. Our Indiana senators and representatives seemed to find no points of agreement with Biden's plans.Such pettiness and partisanship!Americans are weary of this! Democracy is being challenged and tested. We need real leaders who are willing to put the democracy first.

Are there not two elected officials who will take the same platform and declare to the world their willingness to work together?Who will proclaim that democracy is worth saving and thus requires tolerance and compromise?Where are the leaders who will call everyone who wants to live in this democracy to join them?

Let us see the beginning of bipartisanship in our leaders for the sake of the common good of all Americans!

Mary Heins

Indianapolis

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Letters: Pence turns his back on the truth to retain the support of Trump's base - IndyStar