PARIS — Paris Utility District employee Louise Grant received the 2021 Environmental Protection Agency Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Award for Maine in January. The award was established to recognize employees of publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants for their commitment to improving water quality with outstanding plant operations and maintenance, according to a […]
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.
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Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Rich Lowry: BLM is a moral, political and policy disaster
The rise in violent crime is a clear and present danger to the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, and progressive prosecutors allied with Black Lives Matter who have pursued soft-on-crimes policies in the midst of a crime wave are under fire, facing either recalls or heavy criticism.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Heidi Webber: Real memories of the ‘Rosine Bomber’ in WWII Germany
As I read through the paper on Feb. 17, seeing the article “Candy Bomber’ who dropped sweets during Berlin airlift dies at 101,” it brought back memories from my childhood in Berlin, Germany, and stories about the “Candy Bomber” — but we called him “Rosine Bomber,” or “Raisin Bomber.” I thought people might like to […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Rev. Doretta Colburn: Our constitutional rights to a clean and healthy environment are long overdue
Who among us does not treasure the natural beauty of Maine’s landscape from ocean to mountains, lakes, rivers and all the breathtaking wonders we are so fortunate to be surrounded by? It is why we love Maine and why we want to protect it for future generations.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Froma Harrop: Fight Russian aggression with clean energy
Moving the world away from fossil fuels would erase Russian President Vladimir Putin’s biggest nonnuclear weapon. After all, oil and gas accounted for 39% of Russia’s budget revenue and 60% of its exports in 2019.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Matt Leonard: Government shouldn’t control electric utility
In all human history, government takeover has never been truly beneficial to the lives of the people. We all should be fearful of giving the government even more control over our lives. It already has way too much. That’s why I oppose the government taking over and running Maine’s electric companies.A government-run electrical company will […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Leonard Pitts Jr.: What begins in lies tends to end in carnage
It is far too early to know how devastating this latest European war will turn out to be, how many will die, how many will be left homeless and stateless, how the repercussions will play out across the globe. There is, however, an ominous resonance in the lies from which it arose.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
In rebuttal: Norman Smith: Party power struggles divide America
I am responding to a letter to the editor from Thomas F. Shields (“Questions for Democrat-controlled government,” Feb. 24). The letter is a list of whys regarding the way the Democrats and President Biden are governing. (“I don’t think President Biden is mentally capable of doing anything more than carrying out directions from others.”) I […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Ben Lounsbury: Trump wrong to admire an ‘evil genius’
All over the world, the response of international leaders has been strong condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. In contrast, our former president, Donald Trump, has described Putin’s handling of Ukraine as “genius.” Yes, Putin’s moves are those of a genius: an evil genius. But Trump did not say “evil genius.” He […]