The bussing of migrants from border states to big cities has been an enormous political success for Republicans seeking to focus attention on President Joe Biden’s policies that have failed to stop — indeed, affirmatively encouraged — a massive surge of illegal immigration.
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.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Tina Jennings: Child care bill would ease strain on Maine’s families
Maine’s 15 YMCA serve thousands of children in our early childhood education programs, before/afterschool programs, and summer camp. These programs provide children with safe, nurturing and enriching care, and are a critical component of our state’s infrastructure to support working parents and our economy. Unfortunately, the child care system is under incredible strain. The Ys, […]
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Posted inLetters, Opinion
Jim Deming: Organic farmers need us, and we need them
We recently moved from Nashville to Bowdoinham, and we faced a practical dilemma: On our one-acre lot, do we plant our own large garden or do we buy our vegetables from the six local organic farmers nearby? Sounds like a small problem, but it has more impact than one might imagine when solved on a […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
In rebuttal: Edward Walworth: Maine needs stronger gun laws
In her letter published May 11, Sheila Richardson repeats the familiar mantra that “more gun laws would only limit law-abiding people,” not those who don’t obey the rules (“More mental health support needed, not more gun laws“). To an extent that is true, but even though no one “gun law” will solve the problem of […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Ellen Grunblatt: Maine should offer parole when safe, appropriate
I’m a retired physician and a therapist, and I’m writing in support of LD 178, the effort to reestablish parole in Maine. Although Maine’s incarceration rate is half that of the U.S., it is greater than that of most advanced democracies. This fact is shocking and shameful, and it’s so much more than just a […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Margaret McRae: LD 1639 is a bad move for patients and nurses
LD 1639 (“An Act to Address Unsafe Staffing of Nurses and Improve Patient Care”) removes nurse autonomy to make the necessary decisions to provide safe, effective, quality care. It essentially reduces every patient and every nurse to just a number by mandating nurse-to-patient ratios. These ratios are not evidenced based and do not take into account the patient as an individual.
Posted inBusiness, Noteworthy
Maine food assistance fundraiser brings over $60K
AUGUSTA — Maine State Credit Union, local hunger organizations and the community joined together April 22 at the 18th annual Maine State Credit Union FeedME 5k at Capitol Park. Over $60,000 was raised to help 30 local organizations provide food assistance to local Mainers in need. The approximately three-mile walk was along Augusta’s Kennebec River […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
George Ferguson: Uninsured dental costs are too high
I have two relatives who went to a dentist office (it’ll go unnamed) who were charged, in my opinion, a ridiculous price for work done. First one had a cavity that would have cost him over $300 but, because of his great dental insurance, only cost him $185. The second one had a tooth extraction […]