It seems as though the Republicans have made unto themselves another golden calf. The last time I saw a similar calf was at the end of the movie, “The Ten Commandments.” When the people presented it, they all danced around what they had constructed. It was at that moment, the earth opened up and they […]
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
Gil Steward: Thanks to Auburn cleanup crew
I want to give a big shout-out to the city of Auburn for its cleanup week. We live on a dead end street in East Auburn with 11 houses/camps/trailers on our street, so we have one common place where we put our trash for pick-up on Mondays. With no cleanup last year, we had a […]
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Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Leonard Pitts Jr.: ‘What’s Going On’ still feels urgent, still feels now
One seldom hears anyone talk about — much less sing about — the existential pain of being alive, the sheer exhaustion sometimes of simply being, in a world stained by sins of malice, abuse, selfishness and despair. But Gaye did. So this masterpiece — named the greatest album ever by Rolling Stone — doesn’t get old or become corroded with nostalgia because it is tethered not to time, but to that common brokenness and the shared humanity from which it springs.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Edward Walworth: Support for ‘Safe Storage’ firearms bill
The Maine Legislature will soon be considering several bills regarding gun safety. The passage of such laws has been infrequent at best, as many of our representatives from both political parties and occupants of the Blaine House have been reluctant over the years to embrace the cause. Witness the watering down of a fairly strong […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Casey Knight: Low-income people need dental coverage, too
The lack of adult dental coverage among much of Maine’s workforce contributes to systemic racism. These immigrants and lower income families are worthy of holistic, inclusive health care. As a social worker, I have had clients affected by the lack of dental coverage. One client lost her teeth to devastating abuse in a refugee camp. […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Shanna Cox and Robyn Merrill: Solving child poverty is everyone’s business
Addressing families’ basic needs will create opportunities for parents and caregivers to succeed in the workforce, strengthening our communities, bolstering our economy, and reducing child poverty. Lifting children out of poverty today will, in turn, increase their opportunities, support their growth, and fortify Maine’s future workforce, leading to less child poverty tomorrow.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Shelby Wright: In-state debris recycling needs ‘serious discussion’
With the introduction of LD 1639, “An Act To Protect the Health and Welfare of Maine Communities and Reduce Harmful Solid Waste,” the future of construction and demolition debris recycling in Maine has been brought to the forefront, and that future is grim. To focus just on “out-of-state” CDD waste, as LD 1639 does, means […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Richard Whiting: IRS needs improvement, modernization
Cal Thomas’ column attacking the IRS (“The Infernal Revenue Service,” May 12) reminded me of an excellent May 4 Washington Post editorial by former IRS commissioners who represented both parties and all administrations from Reagan to Obama. There is a real opportunity right now for bi-partisan actions to improve the IRS. Legislation proposed by President […]