Alex Lear
Staff Writer
Alex Lear is a lifelong Mainer who has spent 25 years in journalism -- the first 20 as a reporter for newspapers in Damariscotta and Falmouth, then as Opinions section editor for the Sun Journal and now a digital producer with the Maine Trust for Local News. His long-running “Learics” column won first place in the Maine Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest. He and his wife Lauren are kept young by their 9-year-old daughter Alaina. Send feedback and suggestions to Alex.
Clarence Page: Evanston’s reparations program, meant to attack discrimination, is accused of being discriminatory
Americans have a long tradition of offering reparations for slavery, only to see them clawed back.
Sen. Peggy Rotundo: A supplemental budget that serves the people of Lewiston
Altogether, this supplemental budget — which is designed to address emergencies and keep our biennial budget in balance — dedicates more than $18 million for new mental health initiatives. This has long been a bipartisan priority and, in the wake of the Lewiston tragedy, I am glad we are taking bold steps to address mental health issues people are experiencing before they might result in acts of violence.
Rich Lowry: Don’t hate Caitlin Clark
For anyone who values the WNBA, it is self-sabotaging to treat Clark as a white interloper. She’s an incredible draw and an invariably courteous emissary for the game. She has inspired girls around the country and patiently signed their signs, jerseys and sneakers.
Austin Bay: Poland’s Eastern Shield: On NATO’S Eastern Flank: Part 2
Poland, next door to Ukraine, wants to deter a Russian air and ground invasion.
Joe Voisine: Enough of Biden’s malarkey
President Biden has served 50-plus years in government. He says he knows how to make government work. He’s had 3 ½ years to prove it. Shame on President Biden. He’s run government like a monopoly at taxpayers’ expense. Unlike the private sector that strives to survive without taxpayer support, he has forced retirees — who’ve […]
Diane Jackson: Medicare should cover anti-obesity medicines
Rural communities in Maine face significant disparities in accessing essential health care services. Recent findings from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveal a growing gap in mortality rates between rural and urban areas nationwide. As one of the nation’s oldest and most rural states, Maine feels this impact tenfold. Maine’s leaders in Congress must act […]
Clarence Page: Dr. Anthony Fauci’s hearing gave us politics at its most paranoid
Appearing voluntarily at a House subcommittee on the very serious topic of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fauci knew he would be fielding every controversial question that rose up during and after that fraught period. After all, the pandemic was a plague that affected all Americans in one way or another — and everyone seemed to have a pet theory about where it came from, what to do about it and, quite often, whom to blame for it.
Froma Harrop: Biden finds muscle on securing the border
President Biden now makes clear that the Southern border can no longer serve as a workaround to U.S. immigration laws. It is good politics for him but needed policy for the country.