Wednesday’s wind whipped up so much flame, we were forced to wonder what area fire department wasn’t fighting a woods or grass fire. Auburn, Lewiston, New Gloucester, Turner, Greene, Freeport, Durham and many other towns scrambled to answer calls. It was, Lewiston Assistant Fire Chief George Merrill said, a “highly unusual day.”Unusual and frightening.In Oxford […]

Tuesday, we asked you whether or not Maine should discontinue its sex-offender registry in light of the recent slaying of two offenders apparently located on the Web site. Most of our readers were adamant that the registry serves a purpose, but others disagreed. To participate in this discussion, or to read all of the responses, […]

It is becoming apparent that the gunman who shot two former sex offenders in their homes Sunday found their names and addresses on the state’s Sex Offender Registry Web site.That raises an obvious question: Should the state discontinue the site?That, we think, would be a mistake, at least without a great deal more deliberation.The gunman, […]

The concept of setting aside “recreation zones” for tax benefits makes a lot of sense for Maine’s recreation-based businesses.However, setting boundaries for recreation zones by whim is bad law.Last week, legislation crafted to improve the economic climate for outdoor recreation in the most rural parts of Maine through tax incentives and other breaks through Jan. […]

Ever seen what appears to be a perfectly healthy person park in a handicapped spot? Watch the driver hop out and run into a store? Does it bother you?Then you’re pretty typical. It bothers us because handicapped parking is reserved for those who truly do not have the physical ability or stamina to walk great […]

At a time we’re telling young people that a college degree is a passport to financial security, we’re neglecting to tell them it can also be a ticket to bankruptcy.Tuesday, students at the University of Southern Maine protested, with a giant ball and chain no less, the growing risk and burden student loans are becoming […]

We applaud the work of a dozen citizens who have spent time analyzing spending by the city of Auburn and have come up with $1.5 million in possible cuts.We’re impressed with the Citizens Budget Review Committee’s commitment to consolidating services with the city of Lewiston. And we also like the group’s determination to turn additional […]

We find ourselves in the odd position of hoping an out-of-state firm wins its lawsuit against the state of Maine.Mainers should have access to the hundreds of wines that are available elsewhere in the U.S., and Maine wineries should have the right to ship to out-of-state customers.Right now, imports and exports are illegal in Maine, […]

Mainers are just plain tired of paying taxes – for good reason – and are demanding that public and elected officials clip the cost of government to the quick. We advocate lean government as much as anyone, but blindly keeping costs down to the exclusion of all else is not always the best thing for […]

We realize the wheels of justice grind slowly, but granting a third murder trial to Brandon Thongsavanh would itself be a travesty of justice.It’s now been four years since Thongsavanh stabbed Morgan McDuffee five times, including once in the heart, in a street brawl. And last week, new lawyers for Thongsavanh filed a lengthy brief […]