Maine’s single largest state department has been without a top leader since last December and isn’t likely to get one until after the election this November.If Gov. John Baldacci’s support were deeper, perhaps he could recruit someone to take over the troubled Department of Health and Human Services despite the risk that the job might […]

Regardless of the political veil through which we each view the war in Iraq, there is no denying that the pain of this conflict is dreadfully real for people on both sides of the fighting.On Monday, the pain hit home hard when news that 2001 Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School graduate Corey Dan was killed […]

Well, don’t that beat all. The governor buys a new shirt at L.L. Bean and it sets the State House to snickering.Hey, look around, gentlemen. There’s much to mock; the only clothes horses stalking these halls are lobbyists.We “enjoy,” and we use that term loosely, what’s called a citizens’ Legislature in Maine. The pay isn’t […]

Ten years into the 20th century, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis wrote a book titled “Other People’s Money.” In it, he argued that transparency in the nation’s financial markets was vital to guard against market fraud. In the book, he wrote: “Sunlight is said to be the best disinfectant (and) electric light the best policeman.”The […]

By The Associated PressTom Curley, The Associated Press’ president and chief executive officer, has been an outspoken advocate in the campaign against government secrecy. In question-and-answer form, he discussed this year’s Sunshine Week initiative spearheaded by media organizations. Q: Sunshine Week 2005 was declared a success in initiating a national dialogue in the United States […]

By ROBERT TANNER,AP National Writer EDITOR’S NOTE – This is the first installment in a two-story package tied to Sunshine Week, organized by media organizations and other groups to combat government secrecy and bring attention to the public’s right to know. The second installment will run on Monday. Some things your government doesn’t have to […]

If it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck and quacks like one, it’s probably a … campaign funding scandal. You see way more of those these days than ducks.We see impropriety written all over the recent admission by Maine’s Democratic Party that it donated $10,000 to a Rhode Island candidate for the U.S. […]

We’re puzzled by a local judge’s decision to reduce bail for a freshly collared criminal, allowing him to walk out of jail, leaving police angry and dismayed.The suspect, Jesse Caron, faces numerous counts of aggravated trafficking in narcotics and firearms possession, and police were questioning him for an unsolved rape.But here’s the kicker: Police spent […]

One of Maine’s winningest ice hockey coaches will lead the Lewiston Blue Devils – recent victors in the state’s longest scholastic hockey game – against Cheverus High School in tonight’s Class A state championship at the Colisee. We wish Lewiston the absolute best.Getting to this point in the game is not an easy task for […]

Ron Kugell is a rich man.Last night, his friends and colleagues gathered in Paris to bid him a happy, healthly retirement. After serving 40 years as chief in Oxford, Kugell deserved every clap on the back and every genuine expression of affection and appreciation he got, and more.Kugell, a extraordinarily successful entrepreneur, has devoted himself […]