More than 10 times the normal traffic levels turned many rural Maine roads into bumper-to-bumper congestion
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 inFranklin, Maine
Maine got lucky with Monday’s solar eclipse
Totality lasted two and a half minutes. But everyone who saw it will never forget what they witnessed.
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Posted inMaine, News
Video: Eclipse watchers settle into Rangeley to ‘witness celestial mechanics in motion’
There were many woos and aaaahhhhs as people took off special glasses that let them look at the sun and stared with naked eyes at the astonishing sight of the moon replacing the sun.
Posted inBusiness, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine
Maine to allow more hoop houses and greenhouses for residents to grow food
A legal change removes building code provisions that made it hard to erect the structures in urban areas.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Nebraska may cease using Maine’s system to allocate electoral votes
Trump follows governor’s lead and calls for Midwestern state to return to winner-take-all system for presidential elections.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Former Gov. Paul LePage raises $475,000 to help Lewiston shooting victims
LePage’s Celebration of Life fundraiser benefits families of the slain and those injured in the mass shooting.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Democrat Dan Campbell seeks state House seat in Auburn and Minot
The only declared candidate in the district is state Rep. Laurel Libby, a Republican.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Healing Hearts gala kicks off fundraising drive for Lewiston mass shooting memorial
Organizers hoped to raise $20,000 or more from the event for the new fund that is expected to help cover the cost of an Oct. 25 memorial and related events.
Posted inElections, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, Politics
Jared Golden said he’s not worried about Trump’s endorsement of opponent
Former president backed Republican Austin Theriault’s bid for Maine’s 2nd District seat.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine, Schools & Education
Maine schools changing schedules for the eclipse
Many districts in or near the path of the total eclipse are sending students home early.