A former U.S. Army Green Beret leading the effort says the memorial to those who served following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks is ‘an amazing opportunity for us as a nation to step forward and honor them.’
Steve Collins
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.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Liz Caruso forces Bruce Poliquin into a Republican primary for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat
Rank-and-file Republicans will choose their standard bearer on June 14 to face Jared Golden in the fall.
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Posted inLocal & State
Sen. Angus King hails Arctic Council decision to pause cooperation with Russia
Seven nations touching on the Arctic are boycotting sessions with Russia and pausing their work on the council because of the Ukraine invasion.
Posted inLocal & State
Ten state boards may get the ax for doing too little
Lawmakers weighing the fate of panels watching over everything from combat sports to seaweed.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Alpo Martinez was killed over a minor traffic incident, police say
A New York City tabloid said authorities blame the death of the former Lewiston man on a road rage grudge.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State, Maine Crime
New York police make arrest in murder of former Lewiston resident Alpo Martinez
A New York City man, 27, already in custody, was charged late Sunday with the Halloween slaying of the convicted murderer and drug dealer, who moved to Lewiston and lived quietly under a federal witness protection program for five years.
Posted inLocal & State
William Ladd of Minot was once hailed as America’s ‘Apostle of Peace’
The former 19th century sea captain’s writing and lectures helped spur the creation of the American Peace Society and, ultimately, the United Nations.
Posted inLocal & State
Belfast-native watches ‘chaos and panic’ from his window in Ukraine’s capital
Explosions, sirens and military vehicles turn once-peaceful Kyiv into ‘a real problem,’ says Ryan Weaver, who has lived there since 2020.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Congressional candidate tried to save injured snowmobilers in Maine woods
Bangor’s Garret Swazey, who hit the trails to gather signatures for his election paperwork, wound up at a ‘horrible’ scene where one man died and another was badly hurt
Posted inLocal & State, Nation & World
Maine native who wore Waterville Senior High School Panther headgear while rioting at U.S. Capitol, faces new charges
Mitch Simon allegedly threw something at embattled police and tussled with officers Jan. 6, 2021, at a barricade.