A new study finds that midlife mortality in the state is up nearly 21% since 2010, the result of suicides and drug, alcohol and health problems.
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 inElections, Maine, Politics
Experts: Maine’s 2nd District races are the most competitive, and potentially crucial, in the 2020 election
In the far northeast of the country, Maine’s 2nd Congressional District is a place with long stretches of empty highway, trees beyond measure and lots of rocky coastline with unbeatable scenery. It is also a political hot spot unparalleled in America. No other congressional district has such close races in 2020 for the House and […]
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Posted inMaine
There may yet be a Tucker Carlson studio in Bryant Pond
Woodstock voters have approved selling the Fox News host the old garage and some land beside it.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Bruce Poliquin fighting to stop spread of ranked-choice voting
The two-term former Republican lawmaker from Maine’s 2nd District lost his seat in nation’s first federal ranked race.
Posted inMaine, Nation & World, Politics
Congressional hopeful Eric Brakey says U.S. intelligence meddled more than Russia in 2016 race
The Republican from Auburn says agencies have been trying to thwart President Trump since his election.
Posted inMaine, News
How much is a life worth? Maine raised that number to $750,000
Lawmakers raised the cap on wrongful death claims this year by 50%, but some wonder if that’s enough to compensate for negligence and tragedy.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Conservative group takes aim at Jared Golden for backing impeachment inquiry
The Club for Growth wants to see a Republican defeat the first-term 2nd District Democratic congressman next year.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Maine’s congressional delegation backs effort to spur passage of Equal Rights Amendment
When the ERA failed to gain enough support by one old 1982 deadline, it seemed dead, but it suddenly has life again and may win approval within months.
Posted inMaine
Sen. Collins seeks to ‘fix’ federal tax marriage penalty
Maine’s senior senator pushes to double the deduction for state and local taxes for married filers, a change that would help many in high-tax states like Maine.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Former Gov. Baldacci comes to aid of scammed Auburn woman
John Baldacci is organizing a fundraising dinner to raise money for 95-year-old Barbara Hinckley, who lost all her savings to a con man last summer.