Wow. Wasn’t that a great speech? No, not Tuesday evening’s State of the Union, which was competent and polished but, as a famous president once said, “The world will little note, nor long remember …” The better speech Tuesday was delivered in Augusta by former Sen. George J. Mitchell, which he then elaborated upon in […]
Our View
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Tell your student: Marijuana is risky
Is alcohol better or worse for your brain than marijuana? We’re not sure, and it really doesn’t matter when it comes to young people, their futures and their performance in school. In a recent survey of 900 students at Lewiston High School, more than half said they believe smoking pot causes little or no harm, […]
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New ice arena nice addition to area’s amenities
It’s amazing how quickly the Norway Savings Bank Arena has become an established part of our community. But the official recognition of that fact occurs this weekend with a grand opening and open house. That means it’s time for an official nod to the major players responsible for this addition to the recreational assets of […]
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Our View: Why we need to re-think what it means to retire
For five years cultural anthropologist Caitrin Lynch immersed herself in the working environment of Vita Needle Company in Needham, Mass., a family-owned business that makes a practice of hiring older workers, so many in fact that the median age of their employees is 74. Vita Needle is a small company, employing 45 people that makes […]
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Medicaid expansion will save us money
The most compelling argument for expanding Medicaid to cover about 70,000 more people is the simplest. The people are here. They will get sick. When they do, they will receive care they cannot afford. That’s not liberal or conservative; that’s just reality. And that fact leaves only one question: Who will foot that bill? Will […]
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Please join in strengthening public access
We’d like to see a little statutory muscle added to Maine’s Public Access Ombudsman to really strengthen the public’s right to access records and attend meetings. During the Baldacci administration, the Legislature — upon the recommendation of the Right to Know Advisory Committee — created the ombudsman position to review public access complaints and to […]
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LePage won’t let public see costly report
We’ve all seen the darker side of Gov. Paul LePage, so we need not recite each of the inane and offensive remarks he has made over the past three years. It’s like the governor has an inner third-grader, a tirade-throwing little boy he cannot contain. When it takes over, usually when he is angry, he […]
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‘Common sense’ approach to a short session
The 126th Maine Legislature reconvenes in a short session Wednesday, and its top priority is to close a $100 million budget gap. That’s a big gap, which means lawmakers are going to have to compromise, collaborate and be civil toward one another to get the task done. And that goes for every lawmaker, not just […]
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We cannot tolerate ‘rot’ in nuke force
Today, when we think about nuclear weapons, we think of rogue states such as Iran and North Korea. Or, perhaps, we worry about a terrorist attack here involving a nuclear weapon, such as the much-discussed “suitcase bomb.” But several events in 2013 show we need to pay more attention to the safety and security of […]
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A new year of new experiences
Every new year, and sometimes more often than that, we resolve to get healthy, work better and love more. This tradition of resolution dates back to the Babylonians, when they would resolve to pay back debt and return stuff they borrowed. The Romans made resolutions each new year, as did medieval knights who affirmed their […]