Bravo to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Brinkman for her dogged work and U.S. Senior District Judge Arthur Spiegel for his well-justified sentence ("Erpenbeck gets two 30-year terms," April 2).

There's a perception - largely true - that white collar criminals get off easily because they steal your money with a computer instead of a .38 in your face. For once, the federal judicial process worked.

Another big fish is still swimming in the sea - Bush's buddy Ken Lay of Enron, who hasn't even been indicted yet for his part in fleecing thousands of investors and employees. A defeat of President Bush in November ought to remedy that.

Kathy Helmbock, Oakley

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Kudos to Boehner for opposing pork

The news that Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, turned down $14 million in highway funds for the district ought to make all of us jump for joy. If I didn't have to work, I would fly to Washington, D.C., and bow down in front of him. Somewhere, somehow, some way, with someone, the flow of pork must stop. Otherwise, there simply is no hope for a right-sized federal bureaucracy.

It has been nearly impossible when politicians are firmly entrenched in the mind-set of "I hate pork except for my district." And now comes a man of principle who takes a stand. It will hurt him among many voters in his district. It will surely be used against him in his next election. Yet, in the face of this certain adversity, he says, not just with words: No, the buck stops here.

Every one of us in this city, state and country ought to know, this day, that there are politicians who can do what is right, not just what is popular. They have been few. Thank you, Mr. Boehner, for having courage and for truly putting your money where your mouth is.

Rick M. Singel, Hyde Park

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County suit reflects mess in city

Now Hamilton County is suing itself over the Paul Brown Stadium issue ("Now Bengals lawsuit has Hamilton Co. suing itself," April 2). I wonder how much this is going to cost the county. We as voters in Hamilton County have no one but ourselves to blame for this new fiasco brought on by County Commissioners Todd Portune and Phil Heimlich.

We all saw the mess they made of the city of Cincinnati when they were city councilmen, and then we turn around and elect them to run the county. Now they are in the process of doing to the county what they did to the city. Wake up, voters; we can't keep electing the same people to represent us and wonder why things never get any better.

Steve Byrnes, Anderson Township

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Fire Department must be priority

The training staff for the Cincinnati Fire Department is one of the best the department has seen in years. Unfortunately, they are completely understaffed. The Fire Department needs to be a priority for City Hall. The Cincinnati Fire Department is not going to have the luxury of another 22 years before another firefighter's death; there have been too many close calls in the last few years.

Training, staffing and equipment need to be a priority. It's time City Hall open their eyes and ears and find the money to fund the necessary changes described in the Oscar Armstrong report ("Fireman's death reveals problems," March 30). Funding can be found for many projects in this city, including a parking garage for Kroger, flowerpots in Over-the-Rhine and keeping Convergys in Cincinnati, yet they are wavering on funding basic needs for the Fire Department.

Firefighters are a key part in the safety of the citizens of Cincinnati, and should be afforded every opportunity to train, and have up-to-date equipment to not only protect their own lives, but the lives of the citizens of Cincinnati.

Shana Johnson, Green Township

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Some sleepy kids are just too busy

In reaction to the recent sentiment of school starting too soon ("For sleepy teens, bell rings too soon," March 28), I find this somewhat disturbing. School has always started at the same time; by moving back the start time, you only move the time kids get home back and create no real time savings.

The problem is that kids want to do everything and not make sacrifices. Sure they want to play every sport or join every club, but you have to learn you are going to have to give up some things you enjoy to do that. Why don't parents stress effective time management and sacrifice instead of blaming the schools? When will parents take responsibility for their children's actions? An education is something that is paramount in today's society; some parents need to realize that the education is more important than socialization at a sports event.

Paul Dittman, Delhi Township