A who’s who of Maine business, education and political leaders gathered at the Ocean Gateway terminal in Portland Jan. 27 for the announcement that Lewiston native and hi tech entrepreneur David Roux and his wife Barbara are donating $100 million to create the Roux Institute at Northeastern University, a graduate and research program in Portland […]
American Journal Opinion
Here’s Something: Drone surveillance law needed in Maine
Our government should do something about drones. While Maine’s federal representatives drone on (pun intended) about impeachment and our state government spends us into oblivion, they should instead do something useful by outlawing drone surveillance. Currently, there is no law regulating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance in Maine. Someone could fly a drone over your […]
Letter: Is Edgar off the beam on NECEC?
Why do we support the New England Clean Energy Connect project? Because today’s climate crisis is the greatest threat to the health of the planet. If we do not take sensible and sometimes controversial action, it will soon be too late to avoid catastrophic impacts to the natural world that we have spent our careers protecting. […]
The Universal Notebook: Living among the dead
When my high school buddies Roland and Earl and I go out to lunch each week, we keep a photograph of our late, great friend Christopher clipped to the passenger side visor. Chris may be gone, but he is with us always. We even pretend that he didn’t die, feigning indignation that he hasn’t been […]
Here’s Something: Journalists should follow Lehrer’s ‘Nine Rules’
If there’s one thing liberals and conservatives can agree on, it’s the need for unbiased, independent and fact-based journalism. We may feel more comfortable consuming news, analysis and opinion that fits our political worldview, but that’s not what we need. To know the truth, we require both sides of the story. Unfortunately, as we all […]
Letter: Beem back on Trump, not thinking of wounded soldiers
So much for no longer writing about the president, Mr. Beem. First of all, “Washington Post fact-checker” is an oxymoron if there ever was one. Second, anyone who is afraid to take action against an enemy and believes that paying them off and making deals with them (the Obama administration) will work is a “darn […]
The Universal Notebook: CMP project supported by old guard ‘environmentalists’
Ten “Maine environmental leaders” signed on to a full-page ad last week endorsing the New England Clean Energy Connect project, Central Maine Power’s bid to transfer Hydro-Quebec electricity from Canada through Maine to Boston. Like everyone who opposes NECEC, I was deeply saddened to see these former leaders attach their names to such a problematic […]
Here’s Something: Boos and Bravos
Welcome to another edition of Boos and Bravos, the catchall column of Here’s Something. Bravo to Sen. Susan Collins for demonstrating true stateswoman-like demeanor in the impeachment trial of President Trump. Collins, who’s represented Maine for 24 years in the Senate, recently said she’ll likely support a motion to call witnesses only after each side has […]
The Universal Notebook: Foreign policy follies
The media is saturated these days with know-nothing talking heads pontificating about the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. So let’s start by stipulating that most of us know little or nothing about foreign policy … and that includes Donald J. Trump. As private citizens, we want to believe that those in […]
Here’s Something: CMP line poses a dilemma for environmentalists
One thing is clear when it comes to Central Maine Power’s proposed electrical transmission line linking Quebec and Massachusetts via western and southern Maine: It’s a dilemma of epic, and perhaps existential, proportions for Maine environmentalists. For decades we’ve watched as environmentally minded groups and individuals have opposed all sorts of development projects, citing impacts […]