Put aside sentiments on casino gambling for a moment: the lawsuits filed by Rumford attorney Seth Carey, who seeks to have his signature-gatherers allowed into shopping malls and supermarkets, sparks a battle between two basic rights: private property and free speech.The owners of the malls and markets, like Hannaford Bros. and Wal-Mart, are entitled to […]

Assigning blame in this Mainsail mess, the contrived investment fund now holding millions of Maine’s taxpayer dollars in stasis, is futility unparalleled. In America’s subprime mortgage meltdown and consequential credit crunch, there are villains lurking around every corner.This week, former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Arthur Levitt blasted credit-rating agencies for downplaying danger. “There has […]

Auburn’s K-6 schools still have early release Wednesdays, but not because of consensus decision-making by its school committee. In rejecting a compromise to take six early-release days from the school calendar, the committee neither endorsed nor improved upon the controversial policy.Three members supported the compromise. Two did not. Two felt the policy should be scrapped. […]

Soon, maybe even today, the Loggins home on Vista Drive in Auburn will make its neighborhood awash in a twinkling deluge of holiday spirit, with audio accompaniment, intricate illuminated choreography and rubbernecking spectators.This year will be reportedly even bigger, better, but shorter, than last year.For those who haven’t seen it, the Logginses’ display is merriment […]

John and Charlene Messinese, of Rumford, had just finished telling Sen. Olympia Snowe about their appreciation for the government aid they receive for heating oil. John, a retired law enforcement officer, then leaned his crewcut head toward Snowe, and said, “It’s still so hard to ask.”Maine’s senior senator replied with a tone of frustrated understanding. […]

Auburn satisfied public notice provisions prior to its Nov. 26 city council meeting, but it didn’t fulfill them. Mary Lou Magno, the city clerk, admitted a written notice wasn’t posted in Auburn Hall until the morning of the meeting, a technical violation of the city charter.This was offset, though, by Mayor John Jenkins’ public mention […]

Anybody with a newspaper subscription, television, Internet access or friends or relatives in Monmouth knows why former teacher Christopher Dumaine lost his certification. His high-profile extracurriculars with an underage student have earned him dismissal, jail, and 10 years on the state’s sex offender registry.And cost him his certificate, yanked by the Maine Department of Education […]

Gov. John Baldacci is pretty skilled at assembling committees. His latest creation, the Governor’s Council on Competitiveness and the Economy, is a star-studded lineup of Maine business heavies chosen to inject capitalist wisdom into public policy.Some have noted the council tends to lean Democratic, ala the governor. We’re unconcerned with this description as long as […]

There’s not much we and James Moore, the former federal agent turned ringmaster of the “Free Dennis Dechaine” movement, agree upon. Dechaine, as if anyone is allowed to forget, is the Bowdoinham farmer convicted in 1989 of the heinous murder of 13-year-old Sarah Cherry.Dechaine maintains his innocence. Many murderers do. Unlike other killers, however, Dechaine […]

Gov. John Baldacci is pretty skilled at assembling committees. His latest creation, the Governor’s Council on Competitiveness and the Economy, is a star-studded lineup of Maine business heavies chosen to inject capitalist wisdom into public policy. Some have noted the council tends to lean Democratic, ala the governor. We’re unconcerned with this description as long […]