A proposal by the Auburn School Department for early-release Wednesdays for middle- and high-schoolers sounds quite a lot like its proposal for late-start Wednesdays, pitched and quickly folded in 2012. Five years ago, Superintendent Katy Grondin said the department is “committed to raising student achievement by increasing teacher effectiveness in order for all students to […]
Our View
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Johnston: Where did facts and fairness go?
Tom Johnston was a character. He was an award-winning meteorologist whose antics endeared him to viewers. He was also a hothead whose temper got him into trouble with his former station in Florida, and earned him a minor record in 2010 for criminal mischief and trespassing. He was a father. A brother. A son. And, […]
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Basic civil rights, even for prisoners
District attorneys representing five Maine counties decided, after becoming aware of allegations of prisoner mistreatment by Prisoner Transport Services, to stop contracting with the for-profit Tennessee-based company. Good. Maine taxpayers must not be party to known civil rights violations, financially or otherwise, particularly when public agencies have long proven prisoners can be securely, safely and […]
Posted inOur View, sj-web
Our View: Humiliation, abuse and profit
Meghan Quinn is a thief. She is also a human being. Quinn, who has more than a decade of petty convictions and trouble controlling her behavior, was charged with forgery in 2011. She stole $1,800 from her mother by writing checks on Mom’s account. Had she abided by the terms of a plea agreement, the […]
Posted inOur View, sj-web, Uncategorized
Stop and read this column. It’s important
Last week a 10-year-old girl from Mexico — the town of Mexico in the River Valley — had a few minutes at school to do what is called a “free write,” or time to write something original on any topic. Below is a letter she wrote to herself. Read the entire thing. And take it […]
Posted inOur View, sj-web
Clean water is good for business
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order relieving the Environmental Protection Agency from defending the Clean Water Rule of 2015, a rule created by executive order of former-President Barack Obama. The order further instructed a review of what is officially called the Waters of the United States rule to ensure it doesn’t hinder […]
Posted inOur View, sj-web
Our View: Fake news is false rap
On Thursday, we received a call from a longtime reader — and critic — accusing us of “fake news” in reporting Bishop Deeley’s position in support of refugees and immigrants. In our report, published Jan. 30, we wrote: “Maine Catholic Bishop Robert Deeley and other religious leaders in Maine condemned President Donald Trump’s ban on […]
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City Council: Let's hear the discussion
Last week, the Lewiston City Council was scheduled to discuss the appointment of Luke Jensen to represent Ward 5 on the School Committee, filling the seat of Richard White. Jensen’s name was put forth by School Committee Chairwoman Linda Scott, and forwarded to the City Council by Mayor Bob Macdonald. Then, Councilor Tim Lajoie asked […]
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This land is our land. Act like it.
Remember when Facebook was a platform for posting pictures of grandchildren? And messaging family updates? Sharing a favorite quote, tagging friends in photos and sharing your new favorite eatery? Facebook is now a battleground of hostility and accusations. Friends against friends. Family against family. Friends against friends’ friends. There is no insult too cutting to […]
Posted inOur View, sj-web
This land is our land. Act like it.
Remember when Facebook was a platform for posting pictures of grandchildren? And messaging family updates? Sharing a favorite quote, tagging friends in photos and sharing your new favorite eatery? Facebook is now a battleground of hostility and accusations. Friends against friends. Family against family. Friends against friends’ friends. There is no insult too cutting to […]