Alex Lear
A Maine native and Colby College graduate, Alex has been covering coastal communities since 2001. He lives in the Portland area with his wife Lauren, 4-year-old daughter Alaina, and 7-year-old bulldog Walter. He has released four CDs of original music and does occasional research work for Marvel Comics' collected editions.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Patrick Eisenhart: GOP lacks platform, suppresses voters
What am I missing? In the 2020 election, the Republican Party failed to put out a platform to help us all decide if we agreed with it or not. Nonetheless, 73 million Americans voted for Republican state legislators, thus putting them in full control over 23 states. Those states are now proposing and passing bills […]
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Posted inLetters, Opinion
Joyce Bucciantini: LD 1622 a ‘win-win’ for Maine workers
Many of us grew up hearing the phrase, “a penny saved is a penny earned.” Yet for many Mainers, being able to save seems out of reach. LD 1622, “An Act to Promote Individual Retirement Savings through a Public-Private Partnership,” was approved by the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services with overwhelming and […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Froma Harrop: 2020 brought us startling, weird numbers
The country as a whole last year grew at its slowest pace since 1918 — by only 700,000 residents, or 0.2%. Some of that low count reflects deaths from COVID and a lower birthrate. The number of babies born in the U.S. hit a 4 million high in 2015 and has fallen every year since.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Crystal Ward: Water rate hike ‘drastic’ in trying times
At its May 17 meeting the Lewiston City Council approved a water rate increase of 23%, 7-0. This is a drastic increase in a very trying time. The only information provided to the public was a one-page blue sheet of paper from Public Works. Very little information was provided as to the great need for […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Cathy Harris: LD 759 ‘an attempt to save lives’
When I was 16, many years ago, I used to babysit my neighbor’s children. One evening their 5-year-old son pointed a revolver at me. I managed to coax him to give me the gun. To him it was a toy. When I told his parents, they were shocked. They thought it had been locked in […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Steve Bien: Health Care Affordability Fund a good deal for Mainers
As a physician, I am supporting LD 1463: An Act to Make Health Care Coverage More Affordable for Working Families and Small Businesses. This bill would continue the federal health insurance assessment on a state level, and it lays out how it would use the potential $30 million in revenue to lower health care costs for Mainers.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Silver Moore-Leamon: Police need reforming, not defunding
“Prosecutor finds deputies justified in shooting Black man,” a headline in May 19’s Sun Journal reads. “… (b)ecause he struck a deputy with his car and nearly ran him over while ignoring commands to show his hands and get out of the vehicle,” the article states. Did we really think they would be found guilty […]