Roy Varney, who recently graduated from Leavitt Area High School, “lived his life to the fullest,” the farm’s Facebook page posted Tuesday.
Steve Collins
Columnist
Steve Collins became an opinion columnist for the Maine Trust for Local News in April of 2025. A journalist since 1987, Steve has worked for daily newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Maine and served as the State House reporter for the Sun Journal since 2016. The Maine Press Association named him Maine's Journalist of the Year in 2022. Among his other awards are the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2016 Ethics in Journalism Award, the I.F. Stone Whistle-Blower Award in 2015 and the Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award from the New England Newspaper & Press Association. Steve is a founder and board president of Youth Journalism International, a charity that teaches students around the globe about news writing, media literacy and issues of the day. His wife, Jackie Majerus, serves as its executive director. Born in Massachusetts, he grew up in a military family that took him to Norway, Ohio and Virginia, where he earned a degree in history from the University of Virginia. He and Jackie live in Auburn. They have two adult children, two collies and not enough time.
Posted inLocal & State
Golden seeks $5 million to bolster VA’s mental health care
2nd District congressman wants inpatient beds in Maine for vets facing a crisis.
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State
Franklin Simmons: A forgotten giant of American sculpture got his start in Lewiston
Some of Franklin Simmons’ early work remains on display in the Twin Cities while other pieces of his art may still exist in private hands.
Posted inElections, Lewiston-Auburn, Local & State, Politics
Retired general eyes Maine’s U.S. Senate race
Disappointed in Susan Collins, Oxford’s Jonathan Treacy plans to join the Democratic primary field for the chance to take her on next year.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
State gets to work on new economic development plan
Despite troubling demographics and other potential pitfalls, Maine aims to create a 10-year road map to a better economic future.
Posted inBusiness, Lewiston-Auburn, Local & State, News
‘Wasn’t a bad session’ in Augusta for business, says state chamber
Gov. Janet Mills and the Democratic-controlled Legislature proved willing to both listen and compromise on potentially tough issues for Maine’s business community, chamber executives said.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Sports
When boxer John L. Sullivan came to Lewiston, he proved a ‘gigantic fizzle’
When the world’s first heavyweight boxing champion visited Lewiston in 1885 for an exhibition match, it didn’t go well.
Posted inLocal & State
Susan Collins taps her leadership PAC to shore up support
Maine’s senior senator uses her Dirigo PAC to support GOP politicians, from Mitch McConnell to candidates for the Maine Legislature.
Posted inUncategorized
Lots of ‘cool science’ at Bates spurred by federal program
The $104 million that taxpayers have allocated to encourage biomedical research in Maine has contributed to the growth of student-focused scientific training at Bates and other Maine colleges.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Schools and Education
Lots of ‘cool science’ at Bates spurred by federal program
The $104 million that taxpayers have allocated to encourage biomedical research in Maine contributes to the growth of student-focused scientific training.