This summer, the first of four dams on the West’s Klamath River was destroyed, unleashing a torrent of cold water that had been held back for a century. By the end of 2024, three more dams near the California-Oregon border will come down, restoring the massive runs of salmon and steelhead along some 400 miles […]
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 inEditorials, Opinion
Our View: Brokenhearted for Lewiston, we will have to heal together
Gone forever is the idea that Maine is an unusually safe place to be.
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Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Ben Bragdon: For their sake, we’ve got to let kids be kids
You have to watch out for nostalgia. No matter what people say, hindsight isn’t always 20-20. Sometimes, it’s a lot hazier. That’s why so many people today look back with fondness at an American past that never really existed, while others feel hopeless against today’s biggest challenges, and unable to acknowledge how much better life […]
Posted inEditorials, Opinion
View from Away: Why are governments still subsidizing fossil fuels?
The fight against climate change commands the support of governments across much of the world. Targets for carbon abatement have gotten more ambitious and policies to address the challenge are proliferating. Yet one measure of progress shows how badly these efforts still fall short. Last year, global fossil-fuel subsidies expanded to a new record — […]
Posted inEditorials, Opinion
Our View: Yes on Question 4 to preserve Maine’s right to repair our vehicles
Residents across the state rely on Maine’s 700 or so independent auto repair shops to keep their cars on the road, year after year, without busting their wallets or opening themselves to risk. However, rapid changes in the automotive world are putting that most important relationship – the one between a Mainer and their mechanic […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: Through the generations
A lot of folks have deeply held opinions about Gen Z. Some say they lack initiative — how else could they spend that much time on TikTok? Some question their maturity—it’s not possible to be independent while still being on your parents’ phone plan, right? A lot like judges at the Westminster Dog Show, these […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Andreas Kluth: Israel and Ukraine are linked, and the US must stand with both
Almost without exception, lawmakers from both parties in Congress are eager to give Israel whatever it asks, from missiles to dollars. And that is as it should be, for Israel just became the victim of unspeakable barbarity and now needs stalwart support. But in the very next breath, some of those same U.S. legislators, mainly […]
Posted inEditorials, Opinion
View from Away: Don’t believe the naysayers. We can electrify the economy without leaving workers behind
The U.S. economy is in the early stages of an once-in-a-lifetime shift from an economy powered by fossil fuels. To prevent catastrophic climate change we have to switch quickly to electric vehicles and appliances fueled by renewable energy. But it shouldn’t come at the expense of good-paying jobs — and it doesn’t have to. Now […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Rabbi Rachel Isaacs: Our Jewish community is in mourning
Pray for justice and peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike, writes a local faith leader.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Sen. Marianne Moore: For our coastal counties, Maine’s working waterfront is crucial to our economic prosperity
Rockweed can be sustainably harvested and provide a solid income in parts of the state where economic opportunity is much needed, the Calais Republican writes.