It’s The Star’s deep winter mailbag.

In casually banning public expression that they did not like, officials in Bay City, Mich., put themselves up against the heaviest of hitters on the issue.

In praise of those members of the East End G.O.P. who, instead of hosting screenings of wild-eyed-fantasy films produced by the far right, are standing up to defend the actual, longstanding principles of real Republicans.

Reflections on the deaths of four young people on their way home from worship in 1716.