On June 12, Alex Padilla, the senior senator from California, was forcibly removed from a press conference held by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, forced to the ground and handcuffed. Padilla’s “crime” was interrupting Noem to ask a question. Noem went on Fox News to say that the senator did not identify himself, […]

It’s urgent to draw more attention to a very harmful short phrase in the federal budget bill currently undergoing review in the U.S. Senate. It would essentially make the president a king, suggesting he couldn’t be prosecuted with an enforceable contempt citation in the usual manner. So far, our courts have been the main backstop […]

A recent article addressed the impact of planned federal funding cuts on the nonprofit sector, with particular concern for the likely impact on small nonprofits in rural areas (“Maine nonprofits try to navigate funding cuts, unclear rules and an uncertain future,” April 29). One commenter suggested that local communities can just pick up the slack. […]

In a recent article (“Despite fears, most Maine districts OK school budgets,” June 12), a voter asked, “Why in hell should I be paying school tax when I don’t have students in school?” We don’t pay taxes to have our own children go to school. We pay taxes so we can have an educated society. […]

I’m writing to thank the newspaper for its continuous publishing of letters and articles on transgender student-athletes and the bills pending in the Legislature. Your unbiased coverage is much needed. Transgender young people have enough issues and situations to deal with in their lives. There are solutions to the situation. Publicity-seeking legislators are not among […]

This is in response to the June 8 letter “Fund Maine’s schools and support its future.” I do uphold all the highlights that the writer underlines in that article. However, the outcry from different sources relating to the “increasing cost” of education has its own truths. The reality is that the cost of grade K-12 […]

I write to comment on the May 14 letter in which a freshman student-athlete responded to action taken by Maine District 90 Rep. Laurel D. Libby (“Rep. Libby’s rhetoric spoils high school running“). It is the responsibility of every adult to assist, whenever possible, any child or youth. It is certainly the further obligation to […]