One of the most successful dirty tricks in American political history wiped away the presidential hopes of Rumford’s favorite son in 1972.
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 inHealth
Newborns in Maine may soon be screened for dangerous – and common – virus
Lawmakers are poised to endorse a bill that would establish rules for checking babies for CMV, a virus that can lead to hearing loss and cerebral palsy.
advertisement
Posted inLocal & State
Maine lawmakers look to take on voracious browntail moths
New bill would fund more experts and programs to combat the invasive bug that strips trees and causes people to itch all over.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Poliquin and Golden in close fundraising race in 2nd Congressional District
The two frontrunners each had nearly $1.5 million in their campaign treasuries at the end of 2021, far more than other congressional hopefuls in the district
Posted inLocal & State
Stop invasive species from infesting Maine lakes, advocates urge lawmakers
A legislative committee is weighing how best to beef up the battle against plants and animals that don’t belong in Maine.
Posted inLocal & State
Legislature eyes a simplified, expanded student loan credit to help Mainers pay student debt
About 25,000 more would likely benefit from the proposed annual tax credit change to offer up to $2,500 to most Mainers who have student debt
Posted inPolitics
Republican challengers say Bruce Poliquin should pay attention to Maine instead of the Texas border
Liz Caruso and Garret Swazey said politicians need to focus more on needs of everyday Mainers, less on ‘grandstanding.’
Posted inLocal & State
Minot native inside Capitol during Jan. 6 riot: ‘Free men don’t ask for permission!’
Mitch Simon admits he confronted police in bid to show Congress ‘who the f***ing boss really is.’
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Republican congressional candidate drops out to ‘throw popcorn and tomatoes from the sidelines’
The departure of a long-shot contender from Newburgh leaves three Republican candidates for the 2nd Congressional District primary on June 14.
Posted inElections, Local & State, Politics
Liz Caruso calls for Republican congressional candidates to pledge opposition to hydropower corridor
It is not clear whether any of the three other Maine 2nd District hopefuls will follow her lead to support blockage of the New England Clean Energy Connect project.