Jason Bishop: Disparity in drug sentences show how justice system is broken

I am responding to the Nov. 7 article about the mother who was responsible for her 14-month-old son dying from a fentanyl overdose. I am outraged that this woman only has to serve four years. I was arrested with 1.7 grams of cocaine base and had to serve five years in Maine State Prison. This […]

Steven Westra: Action, not excuses, needed on assault gun control

In response to a recent letter to the editor I submitted (“Pro-gun politicians should spend time with crisis dogs,” Nov. 12), someone reached out to inform me the problem is the shooter, not the “tool.” I agree. Whether you define the shooter as mentally ill, having no heart or evil, an assault weapon must have […]

Ira Bittues: Vote Sheline in Dec. 12 runoff

On Election Day I was relieved to see that we, the voters in Lewiston, had elected city councilors to replace the four who were having backroom meetings. We don’t need deals being made that are not open to the public and the entire council. Mayor Carl Sheline had a good showing on Election Day, but […]

Rich Lowry: Trump’s immigration policy is a necessary corrective

Donald Trump is formulating his plans at a time when we’re experiencing a crisis at the border and witnessing an unprecedented surge of illegal immigrants into the country because the Biden administration refuses to enforce the law.

Editorial cartoon for Friday, Nov. 17

Paul Poliquin: Vote early to reelect Sheline

Now is the time to vote, to reelect Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline. Mayor Sheline has been an ambassador for the city. Poor weather conditions could have an impact the Dec. 12 mayor’s runoff election. I hope residents join me and vote absentee ballot, or vote now in person. They shouldn’t wait. Paul Poliquin, Lewiston, former […]

Kathleen Szostek: ‘Banning books’ narrative in schools is ‘dead wrong’

The “banning books” narrative nationwide in regard to explicit sexual content in schools is dead wrong. What is the purpose of public schools? Why do parents send their children? There are many answers: to learn basic skills (reading, writing, arithmetic), to learn to think critically, for success in work and life, to enhance good citizenship. […]

Connie Hitchcock: Sheline offers ‘constructive actions instead of rhetoric’

Lewiston must reelect Mayor Carl Sheline to effectively continue the work begun when he formed the Mayoral Ad Hoc Shelter Committee and the Mayoral Ad Hoc Committee on Substance Use and Recovery. The implementation of the recommendations made by these committees would go a long way in resolving these two issues that are so important […]

Editorial cartoon for Thursday, Nov. 16

Froma Harrop: Republicans can’t do anything about the abortion issue

What Republicans have proved is that they can’t be trusted on this issue. Their leadership is beholden to radicals whose views on reproductive rights in no way match those of even most of their conservative electorates. And so you had voter uprisings in places like Ohio, Kansas, Montana and Kentucky over Republican efforts to take away all or almost all rights to end a pregnancy.