Continuing its homage to the timber, mining and oil industry, the Bush administration on Thursday opened up more than one-third of the nation’s national forests to new road construction.Governors get 18 months to petition the U.S. Forest Service for more or less protection. The rule change reverses a decision in the waning days of the […]

The state is a leader in using technology to connect with its residents. From laptops in the schools to a highly useable and interactive Web site, the state has put computers to work.It’s time to take another step.Rep. David Trahan of Waldoboro has introduced legislation that would install cameras in the State House for two […]

Talk about being railroaded.Raymond Baker lives near the railroad tracks in Rumford. Baker’s the kind of neighbor everyone might want to have, at least in one regard. Seeing what looked to him to be unusual wear on the tracks that run through his community, Baker started asking questions. He called the Sun Journal and showed […]

One of the greatest struggles in the history of mankind ended 60 years ago today – May 7, 1945 – when German forces signed the final documents of an unconditional surrender at Gen. Dwight Eisenhower’s headquarters.The surrender did not take effect until 11:01 p.m., May 8, which from then on was marked as V-E Day, […]

Concerned about the health of the Androscoggin River, scores of people from Lewiston, Auburn and all along the waterway made the trip to Augusta on Wednesday to testify in favor of L.D. 99, legislation that would force the river to meet higher environmental standards than currently required by the state – standards that already apply […]

It gets dark early during the winter. Outdoor activities are cut short, lights are turned on and many residents head inside. All that’s true.But it’s not enough to prompt Maine to switch from Eastern Standard Time to Atlantic Standard Time. Legislation that received support from the State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday would put […]

Spending between $55,000 and $60,000 on professional marketing and management of the Colisee is a good investment that should pay off for Lewiston.The city, which bought the arena in 2004, recently completed major renovations on the former Central Maine Civic Center. The facility, however, has been without a professional management team since the turmoil surrounding […]

Faulty software. Bad telephone computers. First no payments, then overpayments, partial payments and mixed up payments.The Department of Health and Human Services has been struggling for more than four months with a new computer system that administers Medicaid payments to service providers. The new system, mandated by the federal government, so far has been a […]

Auburn City Councilor Bob Mennealy scored a victory Monday night, although it might be difficult for the outspoken populist to recognize.Mennealy has led a crusade to undo a vote taken last year to issue $5 million in bonds to build a new parking garage downtown. Monday night, Mennealy, Councilor Donna Lyons Rowell and Councilor Belinda […]

It’s just nuts that Maine has tough restrictions on fireworks but is reluctant to apply the same type of standards on military-style, semiautomatic firearms.As a state, should we really say no to bottle rockets and say yes to .50-caliber sniper rifles that the military uses primarily to destroy equipment and attack armored vehicles?When Congress allowed […]