The Midcoast Youth Activists By Karen Levine Egee I was standing outdoors in the ice and snow not long ago, in early February, in a crowd of (mostly) Boomers like me. There we were, hundreds of us, strung along the Bath bridge. Protesting ICE. Again. It was cold, and the wind was fierce. And I’d say we were — or at least I was — feeling a little discouraged about humankind and life under Trump. Then suddenly, young people — high schoolers of some kind — began streaming by, mingling among us...

Karen Levine Egee Oak Tree Meet Mary Oakes, Our New Intern!   Mary is a high school senior. She has been interested in politics for a long time — and aims to study political science or similar, in college in 2026. Our conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.   How did you get interested in politics, Mary?   I’ve always naturally been a really passionate person. When I hear about an issue, I want to get educated on it and make sure that I know everything about it and try and to come...

By Sheldon Bird Of the 50 U.S. states, it is the 12th-smallest by area, the 9th-least populous, the 13th-least densely populated, and the most rural. Population 1.4 million. As of 2022 the organized municipalities of Maine consist of 23 cities, 430 towns, and 30 plantations. Collectively these 483 organized municipalities cover less than half of the state's territory. Each municipality has a government. Services. Schools. Roads. Remarkably inefficient. But when you suggest to small town folks...