AUBURN — The City Council approved the first reading Monday of next year’s $86.7 million budget after two hours of discussion, but the work is far from over. The budget resolution, marking a 2.9 percent tax increase for 2018-19, passed 5-2, but the council voted down $8.49 million in bonds for next year’s Capital Improvement […]
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Any of Maine’s $250 million in unclaimed property belong to you?
The Office of the State Treasurer in Maine says it has received more than $11 million in unclaimed property in the past year alone – bringing the total value of unclaimed property held by the state to a whopping $249,909,550. The state collects unclaimed property from organizations such as former employers, banks and utility companies. […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston council approves erosion prevention
LEWISTON — The city council unanimously accepted an order Tuesday night to direct the city to stabilize erosion at 795 and 805 Lisbon St. The property at 795 Lisbon St. is owned by Franklin Property Trust, LLC, while 805 Lisbon St. is owned by Storage Realty Co. and leased to Sullivan Tire. Public Works Director […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Auburn Public Works Department receives state's first official accreditation
AUBURN — Auburn Public Works was awarded the first official accreditation in the state by the American Public Works Association at Monday night’s City Council meeting. Gary Losier, American Public Works Association’s Region I director, drove to Auburn from New Brunswick, Canada to present the award. Losier said he hopes the city can “recognize that […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine state workers fear looming government shutdown
AUGUSTA (AP) — State workers in Maine are bracing for a potential government shutdown. The Kennebec Journal reported (http://bit.ly/2rZciKY ) Maine’s Legislature voted for an extension to determine a state spending plan for the next two years Wednesday. Gov. Paul LePage explained the government was preparing for a possible shutdown the day before the vote. […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State
Bates graduate masterminded plan to gut House ethics panel
LEWISTON — The congressman who sought unsuccessfully to upend the Office of Congressional Ethics this week is a Bates College graduate who cut his teeth in politics as president of the Bates Republicans. U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Virginia, graduated from Bates in 1974 with a degree in government. Now he’s smack-dab in the middle of […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State
Mitchell plugs education to cope with economic turmoil
AUBURN — “More and better education” is the key for Americans to gain “the knowledge and skill that allow people to live better lives,” former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell said Friday. Speaking at the 11th Annual Awards Luncheon for the nonprofit College for ME-Androscoggin, Mitchell urged nearly 200 people to focus on securing a better […]
Posted inLocal & State
Warden Service defends undercover stings
AUGUSTA — The head of the Maine Warden Service on Wednesday endured a barrage of questions from legislators about how wardens handled an undercover investigation that resulted in convictions for poaching and felony possession of firearms. Col. Joel Wilkinson told the Legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, which has jurisdiction over the service, that his […]
Posted inLetters
J. Voisine: Talk to elected officials
At a coffee shop the other day, I listened to a group of patrons voicing their opinions on taxes and welfare abuse. No one had a logical solution. Why not have elected officials spend more time in their neighborhoods and less time in Augusta? That way, they would have a better grip on those who […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston Dems to meet Jan. 14
LEWISTON — The Lewiston City Democrat Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Lewiston Armory in the seniors’ room. People are invited to attend and start the new year as a participating Democrat, and to share in the effort of keeping civility and honesty and accountability in the governmental process. […]