Give Gov. John Baldacci and Maine Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron some credit. In the past week, they’ve faced fierce audiences in Lewiston and Portland regarding plans to consolidate Maine’s sprawling school administration into 26 regional districts.The crowds have been combustible. In Lewiston, an aggrieved former legislator – in the midst of an lengthy […]

Monday’s observation of Catholic Schools Week in Lewiston was a celebration of feeling, faith and confession.Last year, after much planning, the Portland Diocese consolidated St. Joseph’s and Holy Cross in Lewiston and St. Peter and Sacred Heart Elementary School in Auburn under one roof and one name: Trinity Catholic School. The decision was dictated by […]

For something that occupies increasing hours of our lives, it only takes seconds for e-mail to cause catastrophe. Just ask David Watson, the now ex-vice chairman of the Brunswick Town Council, whose hasty click of the “send” button in his e-mail embroiled him in controversy.On Jan. 14, the day before the nation celebrated the birthday […]

They even stole the church’s door.That’s how far they went to scare Hanley Denning away. At the time, all the young woman from Yarmouth had in Guatemala was inside a room in a tiny church across from a garbage dump. Thieves ransacked the room, taking everything with them. Including the door.It didn’t work. “She talked […]

There are a couple of bills stuffed in Rep. Deb Simpson’s pocket that should stay there.Simpson, a Democrat from Auburn, has introduced LR 1237, “An Act To Extend Black-Powder Season By One Week.” The bill’s aim is precise, but comes weeks after a hunter with imprecise aim, Timothy Bean, allegedly shot a Paris teenager dead […]

Yesterday’s editorial incorrectly stated the turbines on Redington/Black Nubble would have saved the equivalent of 50,000 gallons of oil per year. 50,000 gallons is a per-day figure. We regret the error.

You’re a good man, Chuck Dow, by all appraisals. Your last job as a special assistant to Attorney General Steven Rowe, put you in the Rolodex of every reporter, legislator, lobbyist, politico and policy wonk that haunted the State House during the past six years, who knew you as the AG’s spokesman and legislative liaison.Before […]

“It’s in our vital interest to diversify America’s energy supply – the way forward is through technology. We must continue changing the way America generates electric power, by even greater use of clean coal technology, solar and wind energy, safe nuclear power.”– President George W. Bush, State of the Union, Jan. 23“No.”– Maine Land Use […]

Maine is a trailblazer in domestic violence law. In April 2006, the Legislature included pets under protection from abuse orders, to avoid having helpless animals used to intimidate victims of abuse. It’s a “first in the nation” statute with a laudable goal.This law applies when the family dog, cat or livestock becomes a tool of […]

The worst thing about dreaming is waking up.Jim Bennett, the city administrator of Lewiston, certainly appears to have risen sharply, as evidenced by his recent presentation to the city council on future capital investments. Bennett discussed allocating millions to revive Lisbon Street and demolish the Libbey Mill and Bates Mill No. 5.December’s devastating fire on […]