Dog poop is not the stuff of polite conversation. It is, however, the stuff of daily life in cities where dogs are common companions to man.Marvin Coker is diligent about picking up after his dog during their daily walk in downtown Lewiston, and he’s appalled that other dog owners don’t do the same. He should […]

We hope New Hampshire will pardon us for meddling, but when a neighbor is about to make an unfortunate mistake, one has a duty to intervene.The state is talking about dumping its long-time slogan, “Live Free Or Die,” in favor of something a bit more … well, inviting.This would be a blunder, and it shows […]

At Saturday’s annual town meeting in Otisfield, resident and assistant district attorney Craig Turner questioned the legality of discussing a petition drive at the meeting.While a good question, it wasn’t the right one.The real question is why this town of about 1,500 residents is petitioning against the loosely organized Voices of Otisfield at all.The community […]

How much money and public debate will it take to bring 18.8 percent of Maine’s toddlers out of poverty? The rate of poverty among Maine children age 5 and under increased last year by more than 3 percent to stand at 18.8 percent of all preschoolers. The reality should break our hearts: almost one in […]

The number was a real shocker when we first heard it: A single mother in Maine with two children working at minimum wage would have the equivalent income, when state benefits are added in, of $54,000 per year.We thought this might come as a big surprise to most single welfare mothers.State Rep. Brian Duprey of […]

We’re normally opposed to state government poking around in the affairs of private businesses. But, when the state of Maine must become a partner in providing health care coverage to the employees of some of the state’s largest and most profitable businesses, taxpayers have a right to the facts.On Wednesday, state Senate President Beth Edmonds […]

On Monday, the Auburn City Council moved into executive session to deliberate appointments to five boards.It was pretty routine business and it was improperly done.Maine law is precise about how and why public bodies may go into executive session.The first step, under the recently revised Freedom of Access Act, is to make it clear what […]

Gov. John Baldacci should be commended for wanting to increase the base salary of Maine teachers, but he also should be admonished for leading people to believe the idea would cost only $4 million a year.The governor doesn’t mention that boosting the base pay will almost surely increase the pay of all teachers, as well […]

Gov. John Baldacci should admit his prized Dirigo Health program is in serious trouble and agree to work in a bipartisan way to refashion the program while there is still time.No one questions the honorable intent of providing health insurance to the working poor, but three years after its inception, many people question whether Dirigo […]

It’s hard to call it bad news when the state is projecting a surplus over the next year and a half of more than $150 million.On Thursday, the Maine Revenue Forecasting Committee issued an updated report on projections for tax collections. A $164 million surplus predicted in December will likely fall short by between $7.3 […]