52+ min ago (592+ words) As the Trump administration works to dismantle renewable energy initiatives and boost oil, coal and natural gas, states such as Maine with aggressive climate initiatives will be largely on their own to maintain momentum. Or maybe shift gears. That's why the makeup of the Maine Legislature and the occupant of the governor's office after the 2026 election cycle will be so consequential. While the 132nd Legislature will reconvene in January and the who's who of 2027 is unknowable now, the key issues lawmakers will face were foreshadowed earlier this month during a panel discussion at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce's Energy Summit in Portland." One takeaway is that energy affordability " under mounting stress chiefly from"rising electricity prices" will be a litmus test for most any climate policy or spending decisions. That puts pressure on Democrats specifically. They have controlled both the…...

58+ min ago (264+ words) I had to put time aside to write to Victoria Hugo-Vidal to thank, commend and applaud her Nov. 16 column (Virtue signaling is out, vice signaling is in), which was a masterpiece. She nailed it! The influence of this foul administration! Over and over, I think to myself (I live alone) exactly what Hugo-Vidal concisely [] You are able to gift 5 more articles this month. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Learn more. With a Lewiston Sun Journal subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. - Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email I had to put time aside to write to Victoria Hugo-Vidal to thank, commend and applaud her Nov. 16 column (Virtue signaling…...

7+ hour, 31+ min ago (260+ words) Do we want the Chinese yuan or the American dollar to be the future international currency? In what condition should our children inherit this planet?" In the warming world of 2025, China is projected to be the largest investor in clean energy globally, investing significantly more than the U.S. and the European Union combined. Phenomenally, wind and solar are now cheaper than fossil fuel energy." Not only does China dominate wind, solar and storage batteries but it has become the world's largest electric vehicle producer and exporter. Many of those vehicles are considered to be of high quality and a very good value." The fastest growing market for China's clean energy technologies are low- and middle-income countries. The U.S. no longer holds loyalty from these nations because President Trump has essentially canceled our aid programs." As China leads the critical green energy transition,…...

14+ hour, 2+ min ago (376+ words) LOS ANGELES " Newport native Cooper Flagg had a season-high 35 points and Klay Thompson scored 17 of his 23 in the fourth quarter to rally the Dallas Mavericks to a 114-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. Thompson hit four 3-pointers in the final period, his final one putting Dallas ahead for good with 1:51 left. He shot 6 of 10 from long distance overall as the Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak. Flagg went 13 for 22 from the field in his 20th career game. The top pick in this year's NBA draft also grabbed eight rebounds. His previous high was 29 points in a 118-115 win over New Orleans on Nov. 21. Naji Marshall added 18 points and eight boards for Dallas. Brandon Williams had 14 points and seven assists. Kawhi Leonard led Los Angeles with 30 points and eight rebounds. James Harden added 29 points, 11 assists and eight boards for the…...

17+ hour, 55+ min ago (304+ words) Entering the classroom walks a 4-year-old female golden retriever, who snuggles next to a student in crisis. Cardi is a service dog, belonging to Sue Bornstein, a substitute teacher at Leeds Central School. Rare among area schools, the trained therapy dog has been a welcome addition to the school's students and staff. Principal Shannon Bartash has seen only one other school have a therapy dog during her long career in education. Now she wonders how she got through all those years without one. "I'm not planning on leaving anytime soon, but I would definitely have another therapy dog," Bartash said. The idea for the dog came from Bornstein, who was having her canine trained to help provide comfort. She completed her training earlier this fall and has been at the school ever since. "The kids love Cardi," Bartash said. "She…...

17+ hour, 55+ min ago (1137+ words) SKOWHEGAN " What comes next for the Skowhegan Indian, the large wooden sculpture that has looked over the town for nearly 60 years, remains unclear, months after the local chamber of commerce threatened to dismantle it if no interested buyer emerged. Leaders of the Skowhegan Regional Chamber of Commerce, so far, have not had much to say about the results of a request for proposals that closed in July. But a local business owner " who helped restore the Indian during the last major overhaul in 2014 " said he is interested. "It's just kind of rough to see something just fall apart when it doesn't need to," Joe Almand, owner of Joe's Flat Iron Cafe on Water Street, said. "I personally consider it one of those historic things in Skowhegan. " It's a large sculpture that's been here for a really long time. Somebody came…...

1+ day, 8+ hour ago (314+ words) LOS ANGELES " Austin Reaves scored 38 points, Luka Doncic added 35 points and 11 assists in his third meeting with his former team, and the Lakers spoiled Anthony Davis" return to Los Angeles with a 129-119 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Davis had 13 points and five rebounds while on a minutes restriction in'his first game in Los Angeles'since the Lakers traded him for Doncic 10 months ago. Rookie Cooper Flagg, of Newport, had 13 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds, but the Mavericks lost for the fifth time in six games despite a noticeable improvement on their recent play with Davis" return. Reaves scored 19 points and Doncic added 17 in an impressive second half, allowing the Lakers to hold on for their sixth consecutive victory. They also swept four games of NBA Cup group play, earning a home quarterfinal. LeBron James scored 13 points after managing…...

1+ day, 10+ hour ago (1743+ words) Megan Harrigan hurried around the Union Street Brick Church in Bangor in September, gathering clients and bringing them to the back corner of the church where there was a makeshift clinic of folding tables and metal chairs. Each client was homeless, and most had an opioid addiction. Harrigan knew them all by name. Between helping patients get referrals for opioid treatment medication, providing care for wounds that can come with opioid use, checking on clients she hadn't seen in a while, and joking with other staff of the street medicine team, Harrigan talked with a'Maine Monitor'reporter about a shift she has witnessed in recent years: more older adults are doing harder drugs.' Harrigan, a mental health and rehabilitation technician, first started helping people with addiction more than 20 years ago. At that time, her older patients primarily struggled with prescription opioids....

1+ day, 12+ hour ago (642+ words) Derek Wittner lives in Kennebunkport. There must have been some mistake. A wrecking crew showed up almost without notice, rumbling in the direction of the East Wing. I hope no one was inside when, unannounced, the crane stood astride the structure and embarked on its demolition directive. It must have come as a surprise, even to the White House staff, since President Trump had assured everyone that the East Wing would be spared in his plan for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom he envisioned. As with so many other assurances from him, Trump ignored his promise, and authorized the complete destruction of the east facade of the People's House. The garish, gold-platedmonument that will replace the east entryway often used by guests and access to the headquarters of our first ladies aligns perfectly with the tasteless, gold-festooned Oval Office, reminiscent of tsarist…...

1+ day, 12+ hour ago (1604+ words) AUBURN " As the first snowflakes fall and the temperatures drop, skiers are anxious to head to their favorite mountain. While many of the more experienced and out-of-state skiers head for the big resorts, thousands of Maine residents, looking for a more cozy, less crowded and less expensive experience, will head to one of the state's smaller ski areas. Some of those ski areas are thriving, while some are just getting by. Either way, they face an uphill struggle for survival as they work to stay affordable and relevant as a source of winter fun. In the 1960s, there were dozens upon dozens of smaller, community ski areas in Maine. Today there are 14, plus a few private ski hills associated with schools. Each year the financial hurdles get higher. Changing weather patterns; more expensive liability insurance, electricity and fuel; and the need…...