Raleigh area gets money for its highways, but Charlotte must wait again.

NCDOT and I-77

Regarding “More lanes - and more construction - coming to Interstate 95 in North Carolina,” (Oct. 6):

With NCDOT perpetually short on funds, imagine my surprise to learn it is spending $1.7 billion to widen 53 miles of I-95. The state also secured $2.2 billion to complete 28 miles of the Triangle Expressway near Raleigh.

Meanwhile, NCDOT has stated no funds are available to add express lanes to nine miles of I-77 south of Charlotte to the S.C. state line until after 2040, even though daily traffic counts along this corridor exceed 160,000 vehicles per day and are projected to rise to 185,000 by 2050.

It appears funding solutions are available for high-profile mobility projects, just not for the highly congested interstate corridor through the heart of our state’s largest city.

Tracy M. Hamm, Charlotte

Traffic stops

Regarding “Mecklenburg sheriff changes rules for traffic stops by deputies,” (Oct. 5):

At a time when one is risking his/her life to drive on Charlotte-Mecklenburg roads and highways, Sheriff Garry McFadden is treating the safety of residents as a non-issue. We routinely see cars without tags, lights out, bumpers taped on, and trash piled so high in back seats that the back view is obscured. We see people following so close that one cannot apply the brake, people driving as if on a raceway, cars with mufflers so loud one can’t hear a car horn, and cars without inspection stickers. We need more police involvement, not less. Yet, this sheriff is caving in to violators, disregarding the safety of all citizens.

Jesse Harrington, Charlotte

Election guardrails

U.S Senate candidate Ted Budd seems to be working overtime to portray increased funding for the woefully understaffed IRS as an election year boogeyman and to tie opponent Cheri Beasley to this sinister plot. I am more concerned about Budd’s votes not to certify 2020 electoral college results in swing states that Trump lost and his recent no-vote on the Electoral Count Act.

It is deeply concerning that many officials who sought to help Trump stay in power after his election loss are now seeking higher offices at the state and federal levels and may replace those who kept election result guardrails in place.

Arnie Grieves, Huntersville

Budd’s ‘no’ votes

Regarding “Five takeaways from Budd and Beasley’s Senate debate in NC,” (Oct. 9):

I am one of the old-fashioned voters who vote for candidates who deliver for North Carolina.

Ted Budd said he wants to be a senator who will support North Carolina, not Biden policies. Well, Budd voted against Biden programs that helped North Carolina, including the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure package. He also voted against the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, which provided $1,400 to every N.C. resident who qualified and extended $300 a week unemployment benefits.

Budd will vote against the rights of a woman to make medical decisions concerning her own body. He said so in the debate.

Just what is he going to do for us in North Carolina?

Daryl Solomonson, Troutman

Drug prices

If the Republicans regain the U.S. Senate, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) is proposing to roll back the recently enacted Medicare drug price controls. Medicare is the only plan that does not negotiate lower drug prices, and Medicare has more buying power than any other drug plan in America.

Countries with national health plans negotiate price reductions with pharmaceutical companies. In effect Medicare has been paying higher drug prices to offset everyone else’s discounts.

Why would anyone be against discounting drug prices for American seniors? I worked in the health insurance field for decades- pricing, negotiating and managing health plans.

The only logical explanation is political indoctrination. It’s not the kids we need to worry about.

Jane E. Kraemer, High Point

Foreign oil

Some people think it’s the government’s fault that we’re in another gas crisis. Whatever government is in power at the time is blamed for the gas crisis. It is time that Americans control our own energy sources instead of depending on others.

During the pandemic we improved our ability to work from home and reduce our dependence on gasoline. Now, companies are encouraging people to go back to the workplace. Is this what workers really want to do?

If all Americans could rearrange their schedules and combine errands and other activities, we could eliminate a substantial percentage of our need for foreign oil. The increased use of a four-day work week could also be a problem-solver.

Americans must stop expecting the government to take care of us.

James Muldrow, Columbia, S.C.

Texas Pete

Regarding “Texas Pete hot sauce ‘deceptive,’ made in NC, lawsuit says,” (Oct. 11):

I just checked my freezer and Klondike Bars are not made in the Klondike! I’ll sue Unilever for deceptive packaging. Just kidding.

So a gentleman wants to sue the Garner company because Texas Pete hot sauce is made in Winston-Salem, not in Texas. He wants monetary reparations.

Give him his $3 back and call it even.

Kent Rhodes, Charlotte