Jet-skis, to some, are a nuisance. Recall the strange story from a few years back, when a schooner captain fired a black-powder pistol toward a jet-skier off the island of North Haven, as a purported “warning shot.”The incident resonates as a prime example of Maine’s jet-ski debate: clashes between those who desire peaceful, traditional enjoyment […]

Stephen King has written millions of words, but even a gifted writer can be guilty of failing to engage brain before putting mouth in gear.In early April, King told a group of students at the Library of Congress that if you don’t learn to read you may be left with few career options.“The fact is,” […]

A budget doesn’t plow snow-covered roads. A budget doesn’t wait for speeders on a country lane, or protect communities from crime. A budget doesn’t fight fires, build bridges, or educate children. A budget doesn’t do work.People work. And people should be treated better than a budget.Like Eric Samson, in whatever title he now has with […]

In yesterday’s editorial, we wrote Maine repealed its motorcycle helmet laws. Maine did repeal its universal helmet law in 1977, but instituted helmet laws for riders under 15, and riders in the first year of their license or learner’s permit, in 1983.

A Phillips motorcyclist died Tuesday night after failing to negotiate a curve on Route 4, the second local motorcycle death of the season. He was not wearing a helmet.The death will be duly noted by the media, as will the 20 to 30 other deaths which are nearly certain to occur in Maine over the […]

In January, Heidi McIntosh testified on the sixth day of Scott Poirier’s murder trial that on a Friday evening before Poirier shot his father, she and Poirier had done cocaine.Jessica Roberts testified that she was at that party and, “We talked, had a few drinks, did a little bit of drugs.”McIntosh and Roberts are employed […]

Melissa Kelson of Turner reached for her cell phone while driving in Auburn Friday, lost control of her car and hit a stone wall. She walked away from the wreck without injury.Heather Bouchard of Yarmouth reached for her cell phone while driving in Cumberland last month, lost control of her car and crashed headlong into […]

Byron is doing the right thing about wind turbines, by wondering whether it wants to have them at all.It is a discussion more towns in Maine should start.Byron, of course, is having this debate after its March rejection of turbine construction by Independence Wind.Now Byron is considering renewable 180-day moratoriums on wind turbines – the […]

There is voting tomorrow in Lewiston and Auburn, on a new issue: school budgets. Welcome to the brave new world of Maine school consolidation, and the mandatory budget referendum.It can be a wondrous and wicked thing.A budget referendum bestows local control over school spending, after budget vetting by school and municipal representatives. The question for […]

To use a recycled analogy, the federal government is tilting at windmills regarding stratospheric petroleum prices. Every floated solution – the latest is a summertime federal gasoline tax suspension – assumes this fuel crisis is temporary, and requires a short-term solution.Yet the conventional wisdom at every gas pump, from sea to shining sea, is these […]