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
Virginia Macdonald: Statue’s placement ‘a punch in the gut to all our veterans’
As a former member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post 9150 here in Lewiston, I couldn’t agree more with Kathleen Case Keene and her letter “Muhammad Ali statue is being disrespectfully placed,” published Jan. 18. The site chosen for this statue shows very poor thought and planning by someone. What a punch in […]
advertisement
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Roger Belanger: Ali took a stand, never wavered as conscientious objector
I write in response to Kathleen Case Keene “Muhammad Ali statue is being disrespectfully placed,” Jan. 18). As a 16-year-old teenager, I met Muhammad Ali during his visit to Maine for his championship fight. He was still named Cassius Clay and had not yet made his intentions known to the world about his conversion to […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Clem Bechard: Media to blame for Trump protests
The media should take most of the blame for the protesting we saw in Washington before President Trump’s inauguration. The constant false reporting being spewed has been unrelenting. Even conservative stations are not helping whatsoever. One example of this has been using the word “insurrection” instead of “riot” for Jan. 6, 2021. The FBI has […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Froma Harrop: A new Trump presidency inaugurates an old con
Right before his inauguration, Donald Trump issued a $TRUMP meme coin featuring a defiant him pumping his fist after an assassination attempt. Shortly after their release, the market capitalization for $TRUMP coins passed $5 billion.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Cal Thomas: The second time around
In his second inaugural address, the old/new President Trump decided to mostly turn from the dark side, displayed and disliked by many in his first address, to a more optimistic (for him) view of America’s future.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Crystal Ward: Repeal of two Social Security provisions will have ‘profound impact’
Almost 25 years ago I stood in front of my colleagues at the National Education Association Representative Assembly to fund efforts to repeal two unfair Social Security provisions — the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, called the Social Security Offset. Over 10,000 NEA members from all 50 states voted to support this initiative, […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Patricia Fogg: Today’s America revisits the Gilded Age
The Gilded Age was time and climate remarkably similar to today, in which “robber barons,” the giants of industry, hoarded the wealth of this nation and exploited working people for greater profit while the people’s standard of living declined. People suffering from the effects of depression, inflation, poverty, hunger and homelessness were ignored. Do people […]