A disturbing move to keep Maine people in the dark about the political process has been proposed in LD 1805, a bill that would put several state documents off limits from Freedom of Access Act requests. Per the bill, the following broadly defined documents would be unavailable via a FOA request: Proposed legislation, reports and […]

The Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine launched a new attack on children’s products containing bisphenol-A last week. The group, along with Mainely Moms and Dads, announced plans to petition the Maine Board of Environmental Protection to ban BPA in containers of infant formula and baby or toddler food, according to a report in […]

Business confidence is the only thing missing in this slow economic recovery. As long as business leaders remain unsure of government’s next moves, the economy will not stabilize completely. Yet, there are signs that indicate things may be improving in our overall economy. Sure, many issues confront our nation. Huge deficits and growing debt concerns […]

Motorcycles will begin to sport new stickers in the coming year, now that proof of inspections is required by law to be displayed. The change was hard fought and is generally seen as a step in the right direction toward helping to cut down on obnoxiously loud illegal motorcycle exhaust systems. We’re glad to see […]

The media has unleashed the hounds on Rick Santorum. He was last seen a step ahead of the braying pack, trying to explain that he hadn’t accused President Barack Obama of being a crypto-Muslim. The former Pennsylvania senator criticized the president’s environmentalism as representative of a “phony theology.” The press snipped the remark out of […]

Requiring open space is an important part of any town or city’s future development plans, and it can come in many forms. The importance comes in the planning, which allows a community to mold where development would be most advantageous and least detrimental to the environment. Requiring developers to maintain open space for recreational use, […]

During the past few years, the seriousness of concussions has become better known. Doctors and trainers across the United States have noted the long-term effects of concussions if a player returns to the playing field too quickly or a team ignores the symptoms completely. While we often think of concussions affecting professional athletes, we forget […]

Thumbs up to the Sanford Springvale Mousam Way Land Trust for stepping up and looking to plant a tree species that has all but vanished from the American landscape. They’ll be planting new, blight-resistant American chestnut seedlings on the Town Farm land on Hanson’s Ridge Road come spring. The trees used to pepper the landscape […]

It was 30 years ago that Maine instituted its “Protection From Abuse” law ”“ one of the first states in the country to do so. Public intolerance of domestic violence and the laws to protect victims have progressed through the years, and it seems that Maine is now on the verge of another major step […]

Breaking news: Republicans have found their long-sought alternative to Mitt Romney. Surprisingly, it’s Mitt Romney. Remember the old Mitt Romney? That white-shoe Republican who was all for health care mandates? Who favored reproductive choice and who was no enemy to gay rights ”“ that Mitt Romney? He’s dead, a casualty of the political wars in […]