To stop Iran’s threat to Gulf ships, send the Marines

In a timely return to their roots, U.S. Marines are training in the Middle East and preparing to embark on civilian merchant ships to protect them from Iran’s increasingly predatory behavior.

Scott Thistle: Water safety education saves lives. Auburn needs a pool

Swimming skills are fundamental to who we are as Mainers. This is a state built by people who work on the water, by the water and even in the water at times. Our ocean, lakes and rivers are such an important part of our culture, identity and economy. Maine is a state of water people. […]

George Fogg: Does the American taxpayer ever say enough?

The Yellow Corp. (Yellow Freight Lines) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This kills the jobs of 30,000 employees nationwide and is just another bad news story that bears remembering. It appears that this same company had been given a $700 million government bailout early in the COVID pandemic. I don’t question that such a […]

Bob Neal: The Countryman: Rot at the heart of college sports

Big money so dazzled the chairman of the University of Oregon Board of Trustees that he didn’t even interrupt his golf game while holding a Zoom meeting to OK the shift to the Big 10.

Editorial cartoon for Saturday, Aug. 12

Austin Bay: The Biden administration’s destruction of American soft power

To salvage U.S. soft power as well as the rule of law, Joe and Hunter Biden both need to go to prison.

Stan Tetenman: We must end the culture war on climate change

Unfortunately, there are many people, it seems primarily conservative Republicans, who do not believe the climate is affected by human activity and choices. They make the active choice not to do anything to cut greenhouse emissions partly because of their claim of the cost. Yet they seem not to care or have a problem with […]

Froma Harrop: The Kennedy story was never that hot

When Ted Kennedy was asked why he wanted to stop a clean-energy project in Nantucket Sound, he gave a Louis XIV answer: “Don’t you know that I sail in those waters?”

Editorial cartoon for Friday, Aug. 11

Dale Crafts: Congress should keep working on permitting reform

Our nation’s permitting process has become far too inefficient, leading to massive delays that threaten the viability of critical infrastructure projects in Maine and throughout the country. While Congress has made some progress to reform the permitting process this year, there is still more work to do.The delays created by the permitting process prevent shovel-ready projects from moving forward, while also increasing […]