Recent presidential candidates have been trying to outdo each other on how tough they are going to be on China, with many claiming they will ban the purchase of real estate for either government or private citizens from China. Since the “spy balloon” traveled across Canada and the U.S., it has been very trendy to […]
Ben Bragdon
Staff Writer
Ben Bragdon is managing editor of the Sun Journal. Prior to that, he was deputy managing editor for news at the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. Ben was previously editorial page editor for those newspapers and Central Maine Sunday for more than 10 years. Before that, he was managing editor for weekly newspapers at Current Publishing in Westbrook. He began his career as a reporter at the Piscataquis Observer in Dover-Foxcroft and editor at the Moosehead Messenger in Greenville. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from Boston University.
Posted inLetters to the Editor, Opinion
With flooding gone, now focus on real problems
Now that the birds have not returned to City Hall, indicating the flood waters have receded and there is dry land in Hallowell, it’s time for the City Council and mayor to proceed with more important business of providing LGBTQ+ sensitivity training for the city manager and Hallowell Fire Department. Bob Scheirer Randolph
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Posted inLetters to the Editor, Opinion
Newspaper shouldn’t publicize dangerous behavior
The photo of the woman kayaking on Wilson Pond to retrieve her son’s toy plane should not have been included in the paper (Dec. 27, B3). This boater was a tragedy waiting to happen. Kayaking without a life jacket, in very cold water, while toting a roof rake equals totally unsafe. Had she gone into […]
Posted inEditorials, Opinion
Our View: In 2024, Maine has to act on the painful lessons of 2023
Gun violence, homelessness and the climate crisis have taken their toll on our state. With the right efforts, the new year can be different.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Hilary Koch: How to truly restore our power
The Dec. 18 storm, despite warnings from forecasters, caught us flat-footed.
Posted inLetters to the Editor, Opinion
Chaos in Waterville getting to be too much
Since moving to Waterville a year ago I’ve experienced: 1.) Almost ongoing construction on Main Street, resulting in a nearly un-drivable road. There is not enough room on that street for two lanes of parking and two lanes of traffic. It is a mess. If there were traffic engineers who devised that plan they were […]
Posted inEditorials, Opinion
View from Away: Biden’s marijuana pardons are welcome, but federal drug laws must catch up with reality
President Joe Biden recently demonstrated the proper use of presidential clemency power when he pardoned thousands of people who had been convicted of various nonviolent marijuana violations on federal land. The reasons he cited included addressing racial disparities in drug prosecution and sentencing, and that’s an important point. Criminal laws in theory cover all Americans […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Carl P. Leubsdorf: Here’s what 2024 might look like …
2024 looms as a very volatile year. Here is what might happen – or maybe not: JANUARY – Alabama defeats Washington for college football national championship. Supreme Court overturns Colorado’s ouster of Donald Trump from GOP primary ballot but rejects Trump’s argument that he has immunity from criminal prosecution. Former president easily wins Iowa caucuses, […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Sen. David LaFountain: Where to find help with storm recovery
Our state recently experienced flooding and storm damage like we haven’t seen in decades. With more outages reported than the 1998 Ice Storm and flooding worse in some areas than the 1987 spring floods, first responders and line crews have been working around the clock to ensure residents and roads are safe and power comes […]