Steve Collins – Page 26 – Centralmaine.com

Columnist

Steve Collins became an opinion columnist for the Maine Trust for Local News in April of 2025. A journalist since 1987, Steve has worked for daily newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Maine and served as the State House reporter for the Sun Journal since 2016. The Maine Press Association named him Maine's Journalist of the Year in 2022. Among his other awards are the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2016 Ethics in Journalism Award, the I.F. Stone Whistle-Blower Award in 2015 and the Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award from the New England Newspaper & Press Association. Steve is a founder and board president of Youth Journalism International, a charity that teaches students around the globe about news writing, media literacy and issues of the day. His wife, Jackie Majerus, serves as its executive director. Born in Massachusetts, he grew up in a military family that took him to Norway, Ohio and Virginia, where he earned a degree in history from the University of Virginia. He and Jackie live in Auburn. They have two adult children, two collies and not enough time.

Lewiston-Auburn, Local & State

Bates College names its first Black president

by Steve Collins March 1, 2023March 2, 2023

Law school dean Garry Jenkins from Minnesota tapped to succeed Clayton Spencer in Bates’ top job.

Jared Golden pushes for Ukraine to get F-16s soon

by Steve Collins February 28, 2023February 28, 2023

Maine’s 2nd District Democrat is leading a bipartisan effort to convince President Biden to deliver modern fighters to counter Russia.

Local & State

Legislature considers big hike in fines for distracted driving

by Steve Collins February 24, 2023February 26, 2023

A proposal would hike penalty for drivers using mobile phones from $50 to $500 for a first offense.

Local & State

Taking nothing for granite, lawmakers consider endorsing a state rock

by Steve Collins February 23, 2023February 26, 2023

Legislature weighs bill to honor Maine’s crystal-laden granitic pegmatite.

Schools and Education

University of Maine at Farmington may slash most of its part-time faculty

by Steve Collins February 14, 2023February 16, 2023

After laying off nine members of its full-time faculty last spring, the university is eyeing a plan to eliminate ‘most adjunct faculty at the undergraduate level.’

Lewiston-Auburn, Local & State

‘Reprehensible comment’ to Black tenant lands Auburn Housing Authority in hot water

by Steve Collins February 13, 2023February 13, 2023

Maine Human Rights Commission rules that the authority and one of its workers discriminated against a Black tenant amid a dispute over her water-damaged, mold-filled apartment last summer.