PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine is the coldest state in the Northeast, known for snowy nor’easters, lakes that remain ice-covered until May and an occasional chill on the Fourth of July. It reached a bone-numbing minus-50 degrees in 2009. For the past year, however, Maine residents have enjoyed record warmth. October marked a milestone of […]
Maine
Posted inOur View
Governor’s race shows downside of voting too early
A last-minute attempt by the Cutler campaign to have early voters change their votes probably made little difference in this gubernatorial race, other than to point out one big risk of voting early. About 130,000 Mainers cast early ballots this year in what has become a growing trend across the country. Cutler Campaign Manager Ted […]
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Posted inRiver Valley
Rumford police log
The following are to be arraigned on Jan. 4 in Rumford District Court: * Michael Litalien, 21, Mexico, operating without a license, 10:14 p.m. Oct. 23 on Main Street. He was released on $400 cash bail. * Matthew Dyke, 33, Peru, operating under the influence, 2 a.m. Oct. 23 on Penobscot Street. He was released […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Light early election turnout seen in Maine cities
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Officials in Maine’s largest cities reported light to moderate turnouts in early morning voting Tuesday as Mainers went to the polls to settle a bruising five-way race for governor, heated races for the U.S. House and a contentious casino proposal. City officials in Portland and Bangor said the turnout as of […]
Posted inOur View
South Dakota sobriety program could work here
It’s been said that the 50 states are the laboratories of good government. One state, South Dakota, has invented a successful program to curb repeat drunk drivers that should be replicated in Maine. The 24/7 Sobriety Project is so straightforward that it is surprising it took this long to emerge. Here’s how it works. Repeat […]
Posted inLocal & State
Cutler Files taken down to avoid disclosure
The anonymous owners of the controversial “Cutler Files” website issued a short statement via a third-party political blogger Monday saying their site was taken down under the threat of “imminent legal action.” The statement, issued via the pro-Democratic blog Dirigo Blue by Michael Blessing, a pen name for one of the people behind the Cutler […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Greene voting hours are set
GREENE — Voter registration and absentee ballots will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Julia Adams Morse Library, 105 Main St. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, at the town office. Candidates night with Sen. John Nutting and Rep. Stacy Dostie […]
Posted inOur View
Two recent cases show that speech isn’t always free
The limits of tolerance and free speech were tested last week in both Washington, D.C., and Hermon, Maine. In Washington, NPR fired long-time commentator Juan Williams for remarks he made on “The O’Reilly Factor,” a conservative TV talk show. In Hermon, a 17-year-old student was expelled for an expletive-laced rap song about his high school. […]
Posted inOxford Hills, River Valley, The Franklin Journal
Rumford selectmen OK hiring two cops to fill vacancies
RUMFORD — Faced with two vacancies in the Police Department this week and a looming third, selectmen Thursday night authorized Chief Stacy Carter to hire two trained officers from area departments. They are Joseph Sage and Bradley Gallant. Sage is a former Rumford reserve officer working for the Livermore Falls Police Department, and Gallant is […]