In my last column I wrote about the importance journals can play in genealogical research. But how do you find an article in an obscure journal, perhaps one you never knew existed?

Driving two-lane back roads along miles of woods, bordered and interwoven with old stone walls, I was exploring new areas of rural Maine. Up and down a rise in the road, around a curve, I see a red-winged blackbird perched on a lone cattail stalk rising from a small roadside wetland. Across the street a small cemetery catches my eye. I stop and visit.

Having recently finished a book, I was looking for something to read. I have a rather eclectic taste that varies from historical biographies to science fiction and fantasy. And of course, there is my insatiable appetite for political books.

“We have failed these kids.” Those were the words of state Sen. Roger Katz, a Republican from Augusta, during a hearing on an investigation of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services about the death of two children.

Genealogical journals and newsletters can be extremely valuable and often contain information that can’t be found elsewhere.

Once again the people of this Republic have been challenged by a great crisis in our midst and, once again, politicians are doing everything in their power to do everything but address the crisis with a solution. For politicians, in keeping with the teachings of Rahm Emmanuel, a crisis, however great or small, is an opportunity for advancement of agenda not solutions. For leaders of this ilk, our society of today is rife with opportunity for advancement of leftists ideals.

Knowing Maine Senate Republicans had a U.S. District Court date May 23 concerning Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), I had grand hopes the Senate GOP would ask for a court decision on the constitutionality of RCV, and the federal court would decide in time for this week’s column.

I have proudly served in the Maine House of Representatives for the last four years. Every day I have known that I am there as your representative. As an independent, I understand that most people don’t care whether the ideas come from Democrats or Republicans as long as those ideas can make lives better for people without breaking their wallets.

I've authored more than my share of columns on the issue of gun violence, usually written in the aftermath of a horrific tragedy perpetrated by a deranged individual who inflicted massive harm on a large group of people.

Here’s a tale of two states, the pope and a Virginia student who just wanted to use the bathroom. The battle for equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people is an ongoing struggle. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is.

Yes, there were frustrations, but on balance, I really enjoyed my 10 years (1989-2000) working as “communications guy” with Republican legislators in the Maine House and Senate. What a great way to learn about the making of state law and how government works. Hired solely on my communication credentials, I came into the State House a clean slate. Never having worked in government or politics, I arrived without prejudice or expectations.

Shawn Moody's sudden conversion to conservatism has Maine people scratching their heads. Moody was anything but conservative when running for governor as an independent. As a political appointee of the Governor, he managed to keep a low profile within the LePage political machine.

On Monday, I had an opportunity to spend two hours with the Democratic candidates for governor, co-hosting a radio forum on Portland's Newsradio, WGAN.

Current Maine Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Janet Mills started her first television commercial of the campaign with an image of Gov. Paul LePage.

Since this year is an Election Year, I must warn the Maine people that politicians have no legal obligation to be honest in their promises, campaign ads or remarks. Some of them will say or do anything to get elected.

Like an intermittent buzz or rattle inside my car while driving, stories and memories of irresponsible news reporting are appearing this week at odd times. These memories and stories are troubling for the future of news reporting. Especially, not exclusively, political news reporting. Irresponsible news reporting has been around a long time, and it drives out responsible reporting, and that’s bad for the profession, the nation, for people duped by it.

After months of controversy, residents of Scarborough voted Tuesday -- by a wide margin -- to recall three members of its school board. Ejected were members Donna Beely, Cari Lyford and Jodi Shea

It’s impossible for me to think about food stamps and not think about my Uncle Buddy – my mom’s brother. He was a gun-owning, motorcycle-riding, construction-working, leave-me-the-hell alone Republican. He worked on my grandmother’s farm high up in the Appalachian mountains of southwest Virginia – raising green peppers, tobacco, beef cattle and horses – and during the season he worked in construction, when there was work to be had.