Out on the deck one day last week, I functioned as a one-woman audience to yet another drama unfolding in the world of birds. Five woodpeckers were vying for a spot on the single suet cake left hanging on the railing, and at first, it appeared that the spoils would go to whichever among them […]

This year, I was appointed to serve on the Legislature’s Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Workforce and Economic Future. We knew the committee had a lot of work to do when we began in January, and we’ve spent the past several months meeting workforce experts, business leaders, employers, educators and members of the public. We […]

Thumbs up to all the local graduating seniors ”“ many of whom closed the chapter on their high school careers over this past weekend. A high school diploma is essential today, and doing the work to earn one is an impressive achievement. Reading through the accomplishments of the top 10 and top 10 percent of […]

From the desk of publisher Jim Freeland: Let me say thank you to every reader and advertiser for supporting the Journal Tribune over the years ”“ nearly 130 years as a matter of fact. As you already know, your Monday through Friday newspaper is the Journal Tribune and your Saturday newspaper is known as the […]

Many voters think that splitting control of the government between the two major political parties is a good idea. It seems obvious that the two sides will have to compromise to produce results, and extreme policies can be avoided. Right now, there is split control in both Washington and Augusta, but the view about divided […]

Two devastating fires tore through Lewiston within a week of each other in late April and early May, devastating residents of the apartment buildings that were burned. Nearly 200 people were displaced by the fires. What’s even more shocking, a few days later, four people were charged with arson in connection to the fires, including […]

Is it time for Eric Holder to step down? He has been the attorney general of the United States since President Obama appointed him, early in his first term. Holder has been both a respected and a controversial figure since he first took office. In some ways, he has been a flash point for those […]

With all the wrangling going on at the Statehouse, we’re glad to see that Gov. Paul LePage and our legislators could at least agree to approve the new Maine Organ and Tissue Donation Fund, an initiative that is going to help save lives. The bill to set up this new fund was sponsored by Rep. […]

Sometimes sports can be a reflection of our culture, good or bad, and unfortunately during the weekend, that reflection was rather ugly in two separate events. During the Boston Bruins vs. Pittsburgh Penguins National Hockey League Eastern Conference Semifinal game on Saturday, referees penalized the Penguins’ Matt Cooke after a vicious hit on a Bruins’ […]

A few years ago, my wife Charlene fell down a flight of stairs and was significantly injured. She wasn’t able to work, and eventually she was let go from her job. As the health care bills piled up, our financial situation became increasingly perilous, and it became impossible to keep up. At one point, it […]