It’s time to prepare for flu season, and the experts are saying that those who hope to escape infection will have to approach this goal with patience and determination. Vaccine may be in short supply through much of October. And those who usually find themselves directed to the front of the line for seasonal flu […]

Does the U.S. Constitution’s protection of a citizen’s right to bear arms override state and local limits on gun ownership? The Supreme Court will consider the issue this term. A long-standing ban on ownership of handguns has been challenged and the court last week agreed to hear the case. A majority has already strongly affirmed […]

Thumbs up to the Biddeford Police Department for reinstating its Citizens Police Academy course, which will make the public more aware of the behind-the-scenes operations of the police. It may also help with the department’s public relations, which seem strained at times due to strong enforcement of speed limits. Thumbs up to the marching bands […]

“I hope you will report this in a way that depositors don’t get scared,” the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation told reporters Tuesday. The potentially frightening news is that the FDIC’s insurance fund ”“ used to pay off depositors when banks fail ”“ is running out of money and must raise $45 billion […]

The success of a fitness program for seniors is good news that is worth sharing. As Priscilla Farrell of Saco describes it, an exercise program at the Saco Fitness Center has helped her lose weight, discontinue some medications, and breathe easily without bottled oxygen. Good health is priceless, and Farrell, featured in an article in […]

The future of Afghanistan is clouded today, with no certainty that freedom and democracy will thrive, or even that the Taliban can be pushed back into the wilderness. The future role of U.S. troops is unclear as well. The Pentagon is weighing a request from Gen. Stanley McChrystal  for more U.S. and NATO troops to […]

Thumbs up to the Saco City Council for choosing not to support a moratorium on development downtown. A proposal for a CVS shopping complex would eliminate seven downtown buildings ”“ some of which have historic character ”“ so it’s easy to recoil in shock to the proposal. The fact is, however, that old buildings are […]

Although we are not yet commenting on the merits of individual referendum proposals coming up for a vote in November, it’s worth noting that this year five of the seven questions are citizen initiatives. These five are proposals which have not passed muster during legislative review. Three of them, dealing with taxes and school district […]

With several provisions of the USA Patriot Act due to expire at the end of this year, Congress is in a position to limit its overly broad scope. Many believe the law endangers civil liberties, but the Obama administration appears reluctant to relax federal vigilance. This time, at least, there appears to be recognition that […]

City and town officials gathered last week to discuss a countywide problem, but the topic wasn’t the financial trouble facing county government. Instead, they took a rueful look at this region’s lack of influence in Augusta. The problem has been apparent for years, and seemed particularly pertinent when the Maine Department of Transportation doled out […]