Earlier this week, in what has become an annual ritual, Maine political insiders began posting links to the initial lists of legislative bills -- by title only -- that have been introduced. A quick glance turned up more than a few bills worth paying attention to among those that deal with Maine’s fish, wildlife and wild places.

Americans elect members of Congress to do one basic job: make laws. On U.S. immigration, Congress has repeatedly, decade after decade, since at least 1986, failed to do their job of taking what is very wrong with current U.S. immigration law and making it right.

On Monday, Jan. 14 Mayo Regional Hospital is bringing on-line an integrated health record system that will combine multiple medical records into one record for each patient. The software behind the system, CERNER, is an integrated database of patient health records that provides a comprehensive set of capabilities to electronically store, capture and access patient health information in both the acute and ambulatory care setting.

I have a New Year’s resolution that will benefit everyone, “treat others as you want to be treated.” If we all did that, you will not have hate, jealousy, and understand that life is not all about me, myself, and I.

The Center Theatre recently announced that it will be offering a free showing of the classic movie "All the President's Men" at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13. The screening will be preceded by food and a discussion at 5:30 p.m. The program is part of a joint project between the Center Theatre, Foxcroft Academy, and the Thompson Free Library supported by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council's Democracy, Journalism, and the Informed Citizen grant program.

The Guilford Memorial Library has been selected by the Maine Humanities Council to offer “Let’s Talk About It,” a free reading and discussion group with copies of books available through the library. This program is provided by the Maine Humanities Council’s Maine Center for the Book in cooperation with the Maine State Library. The series “Mysteries by Maine Authors” begins at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at the Guilford Memorial Library, and continues for five sessions through Tuesday, May 28.

"I will work with the new Legislature to achieve the best education for our people, from preschool through college and beyond, beginning with full and fair funding for schools, including our career and technical centers." So said Gov. Janet Mills in her inaugural address, a week ago.

Having once been dubbed “an odd duck” in a loving way by the wife of one of my closest friends, I shouldn’t wonder that, for some perverse reason, it tickles me when my writing lights the fires of provocation – the hotter the better!

Earlier this week, the Legislature released a preliminary list of bills. There are the normal ones, looking to change the tax code in one way or another, several around energy – including a proposal for a Maine version of The Green New Deal – Republican proposals to undermine the state’s referenda process and a bill to codify the protections of the Affordable Care Act in Maine law.

Penquis Valley High School senior Cymeria Robshaw tied a high school facility record in the 55-meter dash at the University of Maine’s New Balance Field House.