From anglers to hunters, snowmobile riders to cross-country skiers, a lot of people spend a lot of time outdoors in Maine. So with 94 percent of Maine land in private hands, efforts to ensure public access are critical to the enjoyment of our state’s natural features.

After Sept. 11, 2001, Americans saluted the heroism of the first responders who died running up the twin towers’ staircases as office workers sought to escape. On Monday, the country once again had to mix admiration with grief as it mourned the deaths of 19 firefighters near Yarnell, Ariz., the greatest single loss to any fire department since 9/11.

Congress left Washington without keeping the interest rate on student loans from doubling today, soaring from 3.2 percent to 6.4 percent.

For a stark picture of Maine’s economic future, take a look at the Department of Labor’s 10-year projections for the Maine workforce.

It didn’t take long for the Supreme Court’s historic decision affirming same-sex marriage to be dismissed as “legalistic argle-bargle.” It’s right there on Page 22 of Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissent, which shows that the debate is far from over.

How we treat the most vulnerable members of our society says a lot about the kind of society we are.

When Edward Snowden leaked classified information about U.S. intelligence programs this month, he became both a criminal and, many would say, a conscientious citizen. His quest to evade American authorities now risks making him a distraction.

“The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat,” Rep. Stephen Fincher, R-Tenn., said in quoting the Bible last month of the 48 million hungry Americans, mostly working families and senior citizens, who require federal help to put food on the table.

All eyes will be on Republican legislators this week when they return to Augusta to deal with Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of the state budget.