Steve Collins

Columnist

Steve Collins became an opinion columnist for the Maine Trust for Local News in April of 2025. A journalist since 1987, Steve has worked for daily newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Maine and served as the State House reporter for the Sun Journal since 2016. The Maine Press Association named him Maine's Journalist of the Year in 2022. Among his other awards are the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2016 Ethics in Journalism Award, the I.F. Stone Whistle-Blower Award in 2015 and the Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award from the New England Newspaper & Press Association. Steve is a founder and board president of Youth Journalism International, a charity that teaches students around the globe about news writing, media literacy and issues of the day. His wife, Jackie Majerus, serves as its executive director. Born in Massachusetts, he grew up in a military family that took him to Norway, Ohio and Virginia, where he earned a degree in history from the University of Virginia. He and Jackie live in Auburn. They have two adult children, two collies and not enough time.

Cops & Courts, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine

Multiple dead, wounded in Lewiston shootings; police give few details on overnight search for gunman

by Marla Hoffman, Mark Mogensen, Joe Charpentier, Judith Meyer, Steve Collins and Kendra Caruso October 25, 2023October 14, 2024

A massive manhunt is underway after Maine State Police identified Robert Card, 40, of Bowdoin as person of interest in the shootings. A shelter-in-place order remains in effect for all of Androscoggin County, with residents told to stay in their homes and keep doors locked.

Maine

FBI data shows Maine’s violent crime rate lower in 2022 than it’s been in more than four decades

by Steve Collins October 16, 2023October 17, 2023

Though the murder rate rose slightly in 2022 in Maine, decreases in rapes, robberies and assaults brought down the overall volume of crime.

Maine, Nation & World, News, Politics

Republican congressional hopefuls say they oppose ‘a blank check’ for Ukraine

by Steve Collins October 9, 2023October 9, 2023

Democrats like incumbent Rep. Jared Golden haven’t done enough to hold down the costs for American taxpayers, the GOP candidates say.

Maine, Politics

Biddeford independent eyes 2nd District congressional seat

by Steve Collins October 2, 2023October 2, 2023

Elias Bassile says Maine’s incumbents ‘just don’t get it done’ in Washington.

Maine, Politics

Susan Collins among backers of Senate measure that would restrict AI use in elections

by Steve Collins October 1, 2023September 30, 2023

“Deep fakes” that rely on computer-generated trickery may soon play such havoc with political campaigns that the prospect is raising serious concern among Maine’s senators and many of their colleagues.

Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, Nation & World

Rep. Jared Golden urges U.S. Justice Department to focus on violence in Mexico

by Steve Collins September 28, 2023September 29, 2023

Bipartisan congressional group tell attorney general “to intervene” to protect Americans

Maine, Nation & World, Politics

Jared Golden seeks bipartisan funding bill to avoid government shutdown

by Steve Collins September 25, 2023September 25, 2023

Two House Democrats and two House Republicans introduced the Keep America Open Act.

Elections, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, Politics

Former NASCAR driver seeks to unseat Jared Golden

by Steve Collins September 25, 2023September 25, 2023

Austin Theriault of Fort Kent enters 2nd Congressional District race, adding to the growing field of Republicans looking to challenge the three-term incumbent.