I was struck by two things while watching the various Black Lives Matter protests and the reaction of police. First, it was clear that the police officers have not been adequately trained in how to get people to move without using force to do so. There are techniques that are often taught to people who […]

In a decisive victory for LGBT advocates, the Supreme Court recently ruled that gay, lesbian and transgender Americans can’t be fired based simply on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The landmark ruling was authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch and supported by Chief Justice John Roberts, who joined the four liberal justices including Elena Kagan […]

Per the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, as of June 14, Black Mainers’ rate of COVID-19 infection is an astonishing 22 times the rate of white Mainers. Per 100,000 population, 2,943 black Mainers get COVID-19, versus 133 whites. No other state approaches this level of discrepancy. Where is the outrage? Blacks who […]

There’s at least one article I always look forward to when I pick up your newspaper. It’s “On this date,” written by retired newspaper editor Joseph Owen. Unlike most bicentennial events and activities that were planned to celebrate Maine’s 200th anniversary, it’s one that hasn’t been put off until next year. I especially enjoyed his […]

Tony Marple’s recent column (Maine Voices, June 1) included numerous false statements about the proposed transmission line that Central Maine Power has been promoting through its multimillion-dollar campaign to sell Mainers a project they don’t want. First, CMP wants Mainers to think that an MIT study justifies its project when, in fact, it does the […]

For more than 20 years I have celebrated artists in this state – for their rich contributions to our culture, their originality, creativity, diversity, attention to materials like color. Starting with black-and-white photography and moving on to all the other shades, hues, nuances, excitements. So, when I read the commentary by Rachel Talbot Ross and […]

Ten thousand peaceful protesters and 10 rowdy criminals, looting and rioting, and the press only concentrates on the criminals. No wonder that people are turned off by the national media! We peaceful people learned a lot during the Vietnam War. Ron Coles Alfred