Re: “When does tallying of absentee votes begin? Election Day” (Sept. 29, Page A1): I want to commend Staff Writer Scott Thistle for his thorough, well-organized explanation of absentee vote tallying. I’ve been voting for decades and never knew the details. I believe every newspaper should publish this kind of clear, step-by-step article for their […]

According to the National Center for Health Statistics and other agencies, the number of deaths in the United States, for 2019, were: • Murders: 16,425 • Auto crashes: 38,800 • Suicides: 48,344 • Overdoses: 70,980 Total: 174,549 This year, the COVID-19 virus has already claimed over 200,000 U.S. lives, and will continue to do so […]

Maine’s teachers are vulnerable to COVID-19 now that schools have begun, and now that they are partly or fully teaching in person at the schools. It would make good sense to provide them with N-95 masks like first responders and medical personnel have. It works well for medical staff, who are even more exposed, depending […]

I am stunned by Republican Sen. Susan Collins’ ads criticizing Democrat Sara Gideon for “looking the other way” while an “accused sexual predator” taught at a local high school. Susan Collins looked “the other way” and cast the key vote to place an “accused sexual predator,” Brett Kavanaugh, on the Supreme Court for life. And, […]

I love Portland. I love its diversity, its natural beauty and its small-town feeling. It is why I recently moved here from Asheville, North Carolina. When I consider buying a house and raising a family here, I worry that I won’t be able to. It seems impossible as a working-class resident. Regular folks are getting […]

For the first time in American history, we have a president who does not believe in democratic values. This is shocking. In my lifetime, we have gone from President Reagan, who, in the name of democracy, urged the Soviets to tear down the Berlin Wall, to President Trump, who threatens to reject the results of […]

Once again the issue of abortion is at the forefront of an election cycle. Pro-choice supporters will insist that women must have a right to choose. Women have had that right to choose for decades. It’s called “birth control.” It’s an intelligent choice if you are not ready to raise a child. But there is […]

I reject the Portland Press Herald’s publication of a slanted story about Sen. Susan Collins from Inside Climate News (Sept. 24). Congress must act on bold climate legislation to improve our environment and create American jobs. It will take strong, creative leadership from both political parties to achieve that goal. Collins is a bold, progressive […]