We talk to area residents about the losses and the lessons one year after COVID hit Maine.
Steve Collins
Columnist
Steve Collins became an opinion columnist for the Maine Trust for Local News in April of 2025. A journalist since 1987, Steve has worked for daily newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Maine and served as the State House reporter for the Sun Journal since 2016. The Maine Press Association named him Maine's Journalist of the Year in 2022. Among his other awards are the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2016 Ethics in Journalism Award, the I.F. Stone Whistle-Blower Award in 2015 and the Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award from the New England Newspaper & Press Association. Steve is a founder and board president of Youth Journalism International, a charity that teaches students around the globe about news writing, media literacy and issues of the day. His wife, Jackie Majerus, serves as its executive director. Born in Massachusetts, he grew up in a military family that took him to Norway, Ohio and Virginia, where he earned a degree in history from the University of Virginia. He and Jackie live in Auburn. They have two adult children, two collies and not enough time.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston might be getting some extra transit money from the federal COVID-19 relief bill
A U.S. senator from Pennsylvania congratulated Lewiston and Bangor for being among six cities that would benefit from COVID-19 relief funding if a $1.9 trillion is adopted.
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Posted inMaine
New bill that targets press is part of a nationwide push
Proposed Stop Guilt by Accusation Act introduced in Augusta follows failed efforts to pass the measure in other states.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Lewiston housing advocates back proposal for new state rental assistance voucher program
Lewiston housing officials are among those asking the Legislature to help tenants with rental assistance.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine, Schools & Education
Bates College optimistic that fall semester 2021 may be almost normal
With more vaccines available, the Lewiston-based college hopes student life will no longer have so many COVID-19-related restrictions.
Posted inMaine
To protect loons, lawmakers may allow restrictions on boat races in Maine
Wildlife advocates urge the Legislature to give state regulators power to curb racing near loons.
Posted inMaine
Legislature may eliminate the $7 fee for online burn permits
Hoping to encourage people to follow safe practices and prevent wildfires, lawmakers consider axing the charge.
Posted inHealth, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, Schools & Education
Worried about COVID-19, Bates cracks down on students violating rules
The college warned students Friday that it may need to impose in-room remote learning to stop the disease from spreading after it reported 18 cases this month.
Posted inMaine
Legal experts slam proposal to create a new felony for recording crimes without calling police
Proponents said people too often feed online audiences instead of taking steps to protect victims.
Posted inHealth, Lewiston-Auburn
How to get vaccinated
If you meet the qualifications for getting a COVID-19 vaccine in Maine — currently those age 70 and older — you can try to get one at a number of places. Be aware that vaccine supplies are still hard to come by and the system for receiving one can be confusing and difficult. Be patient […]