It is hard to argue that this government shutdown didn't yield positive results. The last budget approved by Maine lawmakers over the governor's veto in 2015, contained $6.7 billion in spending, which, if you recall, was a bloated "compromise" budget that spent hundreds of millions of dollars more than its predecessor.

Walking is always nice, relaxing, a way to think thoughts that are not about cold or mud. But walking in fresh summer is the best walking. The grass is green, greener than you recall. Flowers and wild plants are taking over, grabbing your attention, making you appreciate them all over again.

As Maine's legislative leaders bring us to the brink of a government shutdown, it is worth diverting our attention to some other places in the country that are shutting things down. One such place is Evergreen State College, in Olympia, Washington, where an increasingly aggressive group of student "protesters" have been on a mission to destroy the First Amendment.

The Common Core State Standards, since their adoption in 2011, have been an expensive and harmful experiment that threatens Maine’s educational competitiveness. Unfunded mandates for local schools districts, excessive testing requirements, developmentally inappropriate material, and dubious data collection practices underscore how Common Core has caused, and will continue to cause, problems for Maine’s schools, teachers, and students.

After dismissing Gov. Paul LePage's budget out of hand, and failing to arrive -- after six months -- at anything resembling a real budget framework to replace it, leaders in the Maine Legislature have decided to forego the typical process and rely on an appointed "supercommittee" of members from both houses, who will hammer out a final budget.

For the past decade, we have been hearing about the supposed "rebirth" and "revitalization" of Bangor. Yet, at the end of the day, it is all an illusion. For all the "Bangor is back!" talk of some kind of Queen City renaissance, it isn't reflected in the numbers. Bangor has lost 1,000 people in the past decade. Yes, Bangor's population is shrinking.

Speaking to a group of Little Leaguers on Saturday, Washington Nationals phenom Bryce Harper had a simple message. “As much as they might tell you, ‘It’s OK you guys lost today,’ no, Johnny," he began. "No participation trophies, OK? First place only, alright?”

We’ve recently seen several letters to the editor complaining that the proposed new town charter removes our sacred right to a secret ballot. It does not.

Well, I hate to say I told you so. But, I told you so. I tried. I tried to warn you all that ranked-choice voting was unconstitutional.

Mainers who have overcome drug addiction have powerful stories and when they share their struggle it is hard to ignore.

When it comes to President Donald Trump, the only thing you can really count on is that people are going to completely lose their mind and any sense of rationality when they talk about him.

What is privacy on the internet? Well, a smart person would probably tell you that it doesn't exist, and you should probably assume as much as you spend time online.

Moderate is a word that is thrown around a lot, usually by self-interested politicians who want to appear rational, reasonable and independently minded. Usually, you are defined as a moderate if you step outside your political party's orthodoxy with relative frequency, and assert some opinions that are closer to those on "the other side" than those on your own.

Good teachers are critical to Maine’s future, so let’s pay them adequately. Our children are our most valuable asset, and as a parent, I have been fortunate to raise my family in Maine.

Science has produced another marvel. It has created an artificial womb that can be used to provide a more suitable environment for preemie babies who cannot stay in the mother's natural womb. It's just one more way we as a race have advanced to better protect life.

In 1998, an ice storm swept through Maine, quietly burying roads and towns. Some communities became completely inaccessible. Without general aviation, many towns and island communities would have been cut off from resources for an unknown period of time. It was general aviation pilots who stepped up to the plate, providing a vital link to ensure transportation of emergency personnel, emergency equipment, and individuals requiring emergency care.

Currently, there are 1,845 Maine children in foster care. Children must be placed in suitable foster homes in appropriate locations, to ensure a child’s life is disrupted as little as possible.

Since the passage of Question 2 on last November's ballot, the debate over it has centered around the question of taxes. Does Maine want to have, depending on how you count it, the highest or second-highest income tax rate in the country? Is that what Maine people voted for, or were they just trying to vote for some vague concept of "better schools"? Just how bad will the flight of wealth from Maine to other states be? How many people will decide to never move here because of the new tax rate? What will be the impact on jobs?