Maine Voices: On Nelson Mandela Day, reflect on the need for reform of our prison system

A 'best we can do' attitude is used justify mass incarceration in our country, a cycle of cruelty marked by poor results.

Commentary: There are many ways to live an American life

HIlary Koch: Social media app Threads leaves a lot hanging

The Maine Millennial: So I got my dog a puppy

Karma likes to chew shoes and pees every time you turn your back. But she’s so friendly and happy, she’s won over (almost) everyone.

Jim Fossel: Maine Republican leadership bungled budget negotiations

Although party leaders say they oppose certain policies, they’re rarely willing to put up a real fight.

Commentary: What can make a difference between life and death during a heat wave

Commentary: Farmers deserve to be able to control what they grow

Just four companies control two-thirds of seed and pesticide sales worldwide, but a new bill moving through Congress could help lower prices and increase competition.

Reporting Aside: Childhood tragedy becomes lifelong lesson about being safe on Maine’s waterways

The death of a boy years ago on the Kennebec River in Skowhegan remains a regular reminder of how water can be powerful and unforgiving, Amy Calder writes.

Commentary: Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling offers a less divisive way to deal with inequities

Commentary: Jailing people for sleeping in public is no solution to homelessness

The U.S. already has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Arresting people who have no options left is just adding another tier of disenfranchisement.