The weight of that wine bottle doesn’t indicate quality, and it’s hurting the planet

Let's be clear: The weight of the bottle does not indicate the quality of wine inside. What it does, though, is add to the price you pay at the register and the price the planet pays unnecessarily in carbon emissions.

Cal Thomas: Youngkin’s victory goes beyond Virginia

Glen Youngkin's impressive victory over Democrat retread Terry McAuliffe in the race for Virginia governor ought to be a reminder that kindness wins over name-calling and that issues are more important than personality.

Jason Levesque: We’re almost there, Auburn

We’ve seen (the affordable housing crisis) coming for four years. What might come as a surprise to many, is that unlike other municipal and state governments, we’ve focused on this issue, and we have made noticeable progress. The results are now being felt like an avalanche throughout our city.

Alex Cornell du Houx: Maine can’t wait for climate action

Today, on a daily basis, millions of people around the globe, including those right here in Maine, face the dangers of the climate crisis. From rising temperatures to extreme weather events linked to human-made climate change, this crisis imperils our security, both abroad and at home.

Froma Harrop: Virginia race delivers a lesson to Democrats — and Republicans

Republicans ... should observe that they can win in fairly liberal places when they amputate Donald Trump from their message. If Democrats dethroned the left radicals and Republicans rejected the right-wing crazies, what a nicer, more functional country this could be.

Being multilingual helped Samu Tona — and Lewiston

Bob Neal: The Countryman: Urban decay, rural decay, American decline

The decay has been going on a long time, and no one does anything about it. I recall Dr. Mark Lapping of the University of Southern Maine, who studied rural life for a lifetime, describing the elites' attitude toward rural America: “We’re basically saying, ‘You’re going to die, and there’s nothing you can do about it. And frankly we’re not that interested.’”

Leonard Pitts Jr.: Good riddance to 34 cops

It was reported last week that 34 New York City police officers took unpaid leave rather than comply with that city’s vaccine mandate. For this, New Yorkers should thank them. And then, find a way to fire them.

Rich Lowry: Trump’s bad night

Glenn Youngkin's path to victory was one that Donald Trump himself or any of his epigones would have been incapable of.

Austin Bay: Part 2: Consequences of America losing a war to China

We can deter China — if we don't project weakness. The Navy's 2021 fleet battle problem and the Army's long-range fires concept are examples of creative military operational concepts that can defeat China. What we could use are several score small, cheap ships armed with weapons to suppress Chinese shore-based firepower so the carriers can deliver a coup de grace.