Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi needs to stay out of our bank accounts. She wants the Internal Revenue Service to more closely monitor money coming into and out of our private bank accounts because she needs more money, and so she can keep track of our spending. If she needs more money, let her […]
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.
Kevin Landry: Families are critical for children’s sake
In 1965, Daniel Patrick Moynihan published his report for the U.S. Department of Labor, “The Negro Family: The Case for National Action.” Moynihan wanted to shed light on the deep-seated roots of Black poverty for leaders to address those needs. Racial discrimination was very prominent at the time, and the Black family, according to the […]
Claire Guerrette: Veterans park founder, others lacked mention
I am thankful for the honor and recognition for those veterans who served proudly. My disappointment in the newspaper’s Veterans Day coverage was the lack of mentioning the oldies such as Joseph R. Paradis, the founder of the Veterans Memorial Park, plus others like Bert Dutil, Arthur Paradis, Mr. Gendron and many others unknown to […]
Mark Wood: Questions about reporting COVID cases
In late February and March, I received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine; in late September, I received the Pfizer booster. I was exposed to COVID-19 Nov. 22. I took immediate measures to inform my family members scheduled to come for Thanksgiving dinner, and we agreed it was better to be overly cautious and cancel dinner. On […]
Andrew Tasker: U.S. needs to ramp up infrastructure improvements
Our country needs significant preservation to provide safety and profitability to our people. Roads, mass transit, water systems and the electric grid are all in sad shape because it’s time for more than mere maintenance. The rest of the industrialized nations make America appear to be stuck in the ’60s with innovations in their rail […]
In rebuttal: Bob Casimiro: U.S. needs border control, orderly immigration
University of Maine at Farmington student Milly Mpundu’s guest column about U.S Immigration and Customs enforcement and the Border Patrol is disturbing, in that the author seems totally unaware we are a sovereign nation, with a Constitution and laws, and we are defined by our borders (“Abusive practices by US ICE must stop,” Nov. 27). […]
Roland Hachey: Rotundo’s return to Legislature would benefit Lewiston
I was extremely pleased with Peggy Rotundo’s announcement that she will be a candidate for our Lewiston State Senate seat. Her experience in the state Legislature — especially her years of service on the Appropriations Committee, including serving as chair — has helped our community and our state. I find Peggy extremely approachable. She listens […]
Cal Thomas: Isn’t it rich?
The death of composer Stephen Sondheim at 91 is more than the end of an era. It is the end of a chain of great Broadway musicals dating back to the 1920s, when Jerome Kern’s “Showboat” first dazzled theater audiences.