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.

Elections, Maine, Politics

Bruce Poliquin says he plans to move to the Bangor area for his congressional race

by Steve Collins October 11, 2021October 12, 2021

Republican primary foe Mike Perkins says Poliquin ought to stay at his seaside mansion instead to ‘twiddle his thumbs’ or take on Chellie Pingree.

Maine, Nation / World, Politics

Maine’s delegation backs repeal of measures that authorized war in Iraq

by Steve Collins October 9, 2021October 9, 2021

Congress eyes possible passage this fall of a resolution to repeal approval of war in Iraq, a rare step toward restricting presidential power.

Maine, Politics

Analysis: Bruce Poliquin misrepresents federal steps to crack down on violence and threats to school boards

by Steve Collins October 8, 2021October 8, 2021

Former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin says feds are “targeting parents” who just want to speak out.

Androscoggin County, Maine, Schools & Education

Faced with growing ire from extremists, school boards searching for federal help

by Steve Collins October 6, 2021October 7, 2021

Insisting that requiring masks in school is akin to human trafficking, one woman warns RSU 16 board to stop harming children or face God’s wrath.

bPlus

Hard cider bounces back in Maine, 150 years later

by Steve Collins October 3, 2021October 18, 2021

Mainers once guzzled gallons of hard cider year-round. Some hope they will again, as a growing number of producers add new twists to the once commonplace drink.

Lewiston-Auburn

Troubled cremation business property headed for foreclosure sale

by Steve Collins October 1, 2021October 1, 2021

The Affordable Cremation Solution site in Lewiston is set for auction Oct. 27.

Health, Maine

Health experts look to children as messengers to encourage more COVID-19 vaccinations

by Steve Collins September 29, 2021September 30, 2021

Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention, says informing youngsters of vaccine benefits could lead them to prod wary parents to get vaccinated.