Former governor Angus King is not blowing smoke about wind power. His appeal for a “wind ranch in the Gulf of Maine becomes more and more appealing with every passing day of rising energy costs.Earlier this week, during a speech at Bowdoin College, King said the Gulf of Maine could be a “Saudi Arabia of […]

 Correction Friday’s editorial regarding the state’s increases on alcohol taxes was incorrect in two important regards. The tax increase on wine is based on gallons produced, not bottles. And the overall tax increase on alcohol is based on a brewer’s or vintner’s overall production, not the amount of product distributed within the state of Maine. […]

Lewiston’s City Council has rejected funding of two significant projects for Kennedy Park: a $267,000 pool house renovation and a $250,000 master plan, both of which were approved by previous councils.The all-new council has an all-new way of doing things. One of its first actions was reviewing all approved, but incomplete, city projects. Within this […]

Only driver’s licensing requirements could make ethics reform seem simple.The Legislature is debating Gov. John Baldacci’s bill to make proof of immigration status requisite for a driver’s license. A companion bill that would require proof of Maine residency has already received broad legislative support.Immigration status is demanded by the Transportation Security Administration for Maine to […]

The Maine Senate has endorsed one version of House Speaker Glenn Cummings’ bill to reform ethics laws.Senators are uncomfortable with changing the definitions of “undue influence” and “conflict of interest.” The Maine House has endorsed another version, in which undue influence and conflict of interest are sharpened.In legislative parlance, this is called non-concurrence, which is […]

In the fury of today’s tax filing, the little check-box might be easy to miss.It asks whether you, Maine taxpayer, will allocate $3 to the Maine Clean Elections Fund. Saying yes neither raises your taxes nor reduces your refund. It is simply a vote for clean elections.Of all the ways Mainers can ensure the quality […]

Zealotry negates credibility. See Heath, Mike.The executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine is again railing against homosexuality and equal rights. He uses inflammatory speech, buttressed with suspect religious interpretations, to further what most of Maine considers a hateful agenda.As the self-appointed representative of Maine’s moral high ground, Heath’s sentiments draw support and […]

The campaign for an Oxford County casino got wicked fun this week, with the announcement of Pat LaMarche as its spokeswoman.LaMarche – an ebullient Green Party candidate for Maine governor and U.S. vice president, radio personality, author, journalist and bartender – has climbed aboard the casino campaign to strengthen its public relations effort.That’s the official […]

Claude Rioux retired from teaching in Lisbon, but hoped to coach Lisbon soccer and tennis for years to come. He can’t, because he’s in his 50s, and Maine law prohibits educators retiring younger than 60 from collecting benefits while working more than 60 days in any capacity in Maine’s schools.So he is quitting coaching after […]

When doctors lose their privilege to practice, the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine discloses details of the reasons why. When lawyers are reprimanded, the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar makes it public.When teachers have their certificates revoked or suspended, the Department of Education would report this status to a national accrediting agency, […]