Not everybody who moves into downtown Lewiston gets a news conference, a city councilor delivering an invocation, and Jimmy Simones, Chip Morrison, the police chief, senatorial staffers, and journalists munching appetizers in their kitchen.Then again, Eric and Carrie Agren are proving they are certainly not everybody.In February, these newest downtown denizens are opening Fuel, an […]

The Washington, D.C., political Web log “Wonkette” speculated Wednesday that the 50ish Falmouth female, whose illegal U-turn in a light-colored Cadillac caused a seven-car pileup on I-295 last week, was Sen. Olympia Snowe.Implausible, right? Who knows; Police have yet to release her name. A theory is the driver’s name is being withheld because of status […]

Some days, it’s good to be the governor. Like Tuesday, when Gov. John Baldacci arrived in Farmington to announce the occupation of the town’s vacant MBNA building by a medical company, NotifyMD, which promises to create more than 100 jobs, thanks to the magic of “economic development.”What is economic development anyway? Lately in Maine, it […]

With a yawn, a volunteer in a Santa cap stood outside Jamie and Karen Loggins’ home on Vista Drive in Auburn on Sunday, wearily staring at the line of cars. Since news of the Loggins’ ebullient Christmas esplanade hit the news, this quiet cul-de-sac has experienced traffic jams to make any commuter apoplectic.After sundown, the […]

Sen. Susan Collins has done her part to support the Lewiston Maineiacs. Now it’s our turn.Late Friday, the senator’s bill to change the visa status for professional minor-league athletes in the United States was approved by the House of Representatives. The change places minor-leaguers and major-leaguers in the same visa category for immigration purposes.Before, minor-league […]

John Larson (D) Roman CatholicJoe Courtney (D) Roman Catholic (n)Rosa DeLauro (D) Roman CatholicChristopher Shays (R) Christian ScientistChris Murphy (D) Protestant (n) Maine Tom Allen (D) ProtestantMike Michaud (D) Roman Catholic Massachusetts John Olver (D) unaffiliatedRichard Neal (D) Roman CatholicJames McGovern (D) Roman CatholicBarney Frank (D) JewishMarty Meehan (D) Roman CatholicJohn Tierney (D) unaffiliatedEd Markey […]

WASHINGTON – The new Congress will, for the first time, include a Muslim, two Buddhists, more Jews than Episcopalians, and the highest-ranking Mormon in congressional history.Roman Catholics remain the largest single faith group in Congress, accounting for 29 percent of all members of the House and Senate, followed by Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Jews and Episcopalians.While […]

Like L.L. Bean in Freeport or Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, visiting Portland is incomplete without strolling the Old Port. Officials in Maine’s largest city know this well, and go to great lengths to protect its signature district, which is clustered with bars, restaurants and shopping.The mere mention of a chain-store interloper sends the […]

Religion ………… House . Senate . Total . Percent of Congress. Percent of Population.AME (v) …………… 2 …….. 0 ……….2……………..0.4………………………..(u)Anglican ……………. 1 …….. 0………. 1 …………… 0.2 …………………….. (w)Assembly of God ….4 ……. 0………. 4 …………… 0.7 ……………………… 0.5Baptist ……………….59 …… 7……… 66 …………..12.3 ……………………. 16.3Buddhist ………….. .2 …….. 0………. 2 …………… 0.4 ………………………. 0.5Christian […]

Today is the end of Maine’s deer hunting season.Unless you live in, say, Rangeley, where deer hunting ended last week. Only muzzle loader hunting, though. If you use a rifle, the season ended in November. Bow hunters have been idle for weeks.All in all, deer season in Maine lasts about 10 weeks, another reason the […]