Froma Harrop: The minimum wage can be tricky

There are studies – oh, there are studies – on how hiking the minimum wage affects employment. And good studies contradict other good studies. The problem is that the mechanics linking wages to jobs have a lot of moving parts. The details matter.

Rebecca Myers: Persistence of ‘indefensible lie’ is a ‘sad truth’

Anyone still needing proof that there was no “stolen election” need look no further than former President Trump’s impeachment “defense” team’s legal arguments. They are not even mentioning “The Steal,” despite it being the entire basis for the events of Jan. 6, because it was an indefensible lie from the start and it still is. […]

Cartoon for Saturday, Feb. 13

Rich Lowry: Biden is too timid on school reopening

Biden’s goal should be to exert every ounce of influence that he has to get kids back in the classroom – for their own good and that of the country’s parents.

Lenten imposition of ashes to be modified due to COVID-19

PORTLAND — To mark the beginning of the Lenten season, Bishop Robert Deeley will celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17. The Mass will also be available via livestream at portlanddiocese.org/online-mass. Listings of Ash Wednesday Masses scheduled for Catholic churches in Maine are available on […]

Bob Neal: The Countryman: Wanted: A coalition of the decent

It seems pretty clear that the moral high ground is too steep a climb for the Republican Party. So, instead, they will continue to follow a political loser — remember, Trump ran behind almost all other Republicans in almost every state — and do the wrong thing.

Ben Lounsbury: The ‘smoking is good for you’ message

Tobacco companies have never wanted people to know the truth. They use every trick in the book to hide the truth. Fortunately, social media did not exist during the late 20th century or the tobacco companies might still be fooling the public. Social media use powerful techniques to lure unsuspecting users down a train of […]

Andrew Tasker: Republicans don’t hold themselves accountable

The Republican Party has been working very hard to convince us that it is the party of reason and responsibility, that the citizens of this country and their reunification are its main, driving force. We have seen how nearly half the population is willing to ignore verifiable evidence and swallow daily platefuls of falsehoods thanks […]

Community briefs for Saturday, Feb. 13

Free Fishing License Week opens Feb. 13 AUGUSTA — Free Fishing License Week – Saturday, Feb. 13, to Sunday, Feb. 21 – was created to give everyone a chance to try ice fishing. On these days, any person (except those whose license has been suspended or revoked) who registers with the Maine Department of Inland […]

Cal Thomas: The Trump trial is bad drama

This is a show trial, designed to satisfy the left’s ravenous base that is out for blood and to teach anyone who thinks he (or she) can reform Washington to think again. The message? The Establishment will destroy you if anyone tries again to drain the swamp.