Uncertainty about the future of the health care reform grew deeper this week after a federal judge in Florida declared the entire health care law unconstitutional. Insurance executives and analysts were quick to provide assurance that the Florida decision ”“ for the moment ”“ changes nothing. They told the Associated Press that the existing and […]

A five-year update of U.S. dietary guidelines includes a number of sensible guidelines: Eat more whole grains, reduce calorie intake from saturated fats and consume less cholesterol. The new federal dietary guidelines also emphasize the importance of limiting salt consumption. No one should eat more than about a teaspoonful a day, they state, and those […]

State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin said last week that he is losing sleep over a problem that has been years in the making. Maine must eventually address a large funding gap in the state’s Public Employees Retirement System. It is an expensive problem that is tempting commentators to consider dire solutions. Some have argued that Maine […]

Cumberland and York counties have a great many transit systems getting commuters from Point A to Point B. The next challenge will be to see whether they can all collaborate. A preliminary study is now considering whether the ShuttleBus and ZOOM services serving Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach  can cooperate with the South Portland […]

Imagine the righteous indignation that would result if someone connected with the Maine Republican Party anonymously posted incendiary, defamatory “facts” about an individual running for statewide office on a website created for the sole purpose of discrediting the opposition candidate. Then picture the website’s authors artfully remaining anonymous, carefully parsing their words through handsomely compensated […]

According to Gov. Paul LePage, it’s time to start defending business interests, as he put it, “with the same vigor that we defend tree frogs and Canadian lynx.” In an otherwise even-handed tone, LePage outlined his partisan plan to repeal laws protecting the environment and public health. He ended his weekly radio address with the […]

They fall in myriad ways, from straight down to sideways to swept by the wind into drifts. Composed of anywhere from two to two hundred separate crystals, each encases a particle of dirt carried into the atmosphere. They assume different shapes, the simplest being a long needle-like spike, and most have six sides that range […]

Thumbs up to Kennebunk selectmen for approving $515,000 for improvements to Alfred Road. Discussions about investing in the road began last summer and residents have been waiting for the work to be done. Once it is, safety and traffic movement will be improved, which would improve the town, not only for year-round residents, but for […]

The odds of achieving an Arab-Israeli peace deal seem to have grown even longer, thanks to the publication of the so-called “Palestine papers.” When Al-Jazeera television released documents revealing details of the 2008 negotiations, they provided surprising insights into the bargaining positions of Palestinian and Israeli leaders. The Palestinians, for instance, spelled out in detail […]

The Maine Department of Education had good news to report this week when it received the latest results from the Nation’s Report Card. Out of 52 states and territories participating in 4th grade and 8th grade science assessments, Maine was in the top tier. “Maine tied for the fifth highest science score in grade 4 […]