Gary Blankenship, who created a stir in St. Agatha over the winter, vows to settle quietly with his family far from the spotlight.
Steve Collins
Columnist
Steve Collins became an opinion columnist for the Maine Trust for Local News in April of 2025. A journalist since 1987, Steve has worked for daily newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Maine and served as the State House reporter for the Sun Journal since 2016. The Maine Press Association named him Maine's Journalist of the Year in 2022. Among his other awards are the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2016 Ethics in Journalism Award, the I.F. Stone Whistle-Blower Award in 2015 and the Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award from the New England Newspaper & Press Association. Steve is a founder and board president of Youth Journalism International, a charity that teaches students around the globe about news writing, media literacy and issues of the day. His wife, Jackie Majerus, serves as its executive director. Born in Massachusetts, he grew up in a military family that took him to Norway, Ohio and Virginia, where he earned a degree in history from the University of Virginia. He and Jackie live in Auburn. They have two adult children, two collies and not enough time.
Posted inMaine
Rural Maine proves a challenge for U.S. Census
Some parts of Maine have among the lowest rates in the country for responding to census takers.
advertisement
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Schools & Education
RSU 16 budget passes by narrowest possible margin
The $24.2 million spending plan was approved by a 446-445 weighted vote that saw more members vote against it than for it.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Black Lives Matter protests pose threat of spreading coronavirus
There’s concern that three rallies in Lewiston this week may worsen the disease’s impact on the already hard-hit new Mainer community.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Rally draws more than 700 demonstrators to Lewiston to demand justice
Organizers said the peaceful Black Lives Matter protest, the third this week in the city, won’t be the last as they press for change following the death of a black man in Minneapolis.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Schools & Education
Officials told pandemic requires more, or less, spending on schools
RSU 16 School Board hears pleas pro and con on its proposed 7.6% budget increase that would raise taxes during a tough time.
Posted inBusiness, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine
Local restaurants take it outside as Androscoggin County reopens slowly
A number of restaurants in Lewiston-Auburn began serving outdoors Monday, with more expected as the week goes on.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
VIDEO: Calling for justice, Black Lives Matter rally draws crowd in Lewiston and Auburn
Protesters marched in Lewiston and Auburn on Monday demanding justice in the wake of the May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Posted inBusiness, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, News
Lewiston restaurants unhappy they can’t reopen next week
Owners cry foul after Gov. Janet Mills reverses decision to allow inside dining starting June 1.
Posted inMaine, Politics
U.S. Senate candidate complains that pandemic politics are unfair
U.S. Senate hopeful Tiffany Bond has 2,500 of the 4,000 voter signatures she needs to get on the ballot, but securing the rest in a time of social distancing will be tricky.