I take issue with Douglas Rooks’ oversimplification of Maine’s National Assessment of Education (NAEP) reading scores as a “progressive education” vs. “back to basics” debate (“Maine Department of Education must lead, not make excuses,” March 20). Today’s reality is more complex. A more accurate discussion must include the changing demographics of our school populations and […]

Antarctica and Maine have things in common. Both have major and productive water bodies warming at a rate unparalleled in much of the world. The University of Maine has a longstanding array of Antarctic scientists who provide understanding of the climate, the glacial past and present, as well as the biology of Antarctic organisms. Citizens […]

I don’t see why President Trump doesn’t just fire all the public officials who were on the infamous Signal chat. There are certainly plenty more candidates to be scraped off the bottom of the same barrel where these came from. If they just reach in and grab anyone by the ears, it seems unlikely that […]

Every Tuesday, from my home, I travel to the Statehouse in Augusta with AARP Maine as an advocate and volunteer for the 50-plus community. A favorite part of the day is at the Hall of Flags, where different groups set up tables and tell us about the programs they work on for the people of […]

One of the hallmarks of today’s hyperpartisan era is the tendency of those on the ideological extremes to direct their ire toward centrists. It is through this lens that I read, with dismay, the March 15 op-ed “Susan Collins’ betrayal of Maine demands accountability.” It turns out the “betrayal” is not against Maine but rather […]

I’m no longer interested in hearing Sen. Angus King pontificate about defending democracy and the Constitution, because in the most important fight he will face this year — the budget — he turned tail and ran. He and Sen. Chuck Schumer voted to hand over their congressional spending authority to the aspiring dictator President Donald […]

As society strives to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable, it is important to address a troubling phenomenon: the filing of false charges and false police reports against domestic partners. When someone falsely claims to be a victim of domestic violence, they weaponize the legal system against their partner, leading to unjust consequences such as […]

Several recent actions by the Trump administration directly affect Maine people, and not in a good way. The DOGE people are trying to close down the federal Department of Education, which funds and mandates services for at-risk children (Title I) and children with learning challenges and disabilities (special education). Everyone knows families that would immediately […]