LGBTQ kids and their allies can only put their heads down, work for change and take such satisfaction as they may find in the fact that, where social evolution is concerned, conservatives lost the 20th century.

Now they’re about to lose the 21st.

If fossil fuels are to be replaced, or our reliance on them reduced, technology must precede politics and wish lists. Otherwise — and without a change in policies that return us to what as recently as 2016 produced energy independence — prices will continue to rise.

Maine people are struggling to pay for their basic necessities in the face of crippling inflation, and in a rural state like ours, gasoline is absolutely a necessity. We need to provide relief for Maine families now, rather than waiting for the federal government to do so. Suspending Maine’s gas tax will provide immediate relief for families and businesses alike, and is the right thing to do.

The Freedom of Access Act requires that agencies respond to requests within five days and produce records within a reasonable period of time. Compared to public record laws in other states, these are very lenient requirements. There is no excuse for not responding. There is no excuse for not taking the time — especially when broadly defined as “reasonable” — to gather records. There is no excuse for the secrecy.