AUGUSTA — More than 17 years ago the Legislature resoundingly rejected a bill that would have forced the state to compensate landowners or waive regulations that diminished more than half the market value of their property. It took several months, but after several extensive public hearings in front of a legislative-commissioned study group, the so-called […]

AUGUSTA — A lawsuit filed this week seeking to overturn public pension reforms passed by the Legislature last year could benefit from two recent court rulings favoring similar complaints.   The Maine Association of Retirees, an organization representing retired Maine state workers and teachers, filed its lawsuit Monday in Federal District Court in Bangor. The […]

AUGUSTA — Every year since 1984, a surveyor from the Nature Conservancy walks the 10-acre coastal property off Ledgemere Road in Georgetown to make sure the landowner isn’t cutting down too many trees.   The annual survey and the tree-cutting provision is enshrined in a deed restriction, part of a 1984 land deal between the […]

GEORGETOWN — The Board of Selectmen indicated Thursday that it would likely evaluate all of the town properties enrolled in a 40-year-old tax law, not just the one owned by State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin. The board took no official action. Chairman Geoff Birdsall said the board would “probably” take steps to make sure landowners were […]

AUGUSTA — The State House was buzzing Wednesday following a significant upset in the state Senate District 20 race.  Democrats have not held the District 20 seat since 2002. That changed Tuesday night when Chris Johnson, who lost decisively in a three-way race in 2010, upset Republican favorite Dana Dow. District 20 covers Boothbay and […]

AUGUSTA — Senate President Kevin Raye, R-Perry, said Monday it’s unlikely Republican leaders will step into a constitutional matter with State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin. Attorney General William Schneider last week issued an advisory opinion saying Poliquin should take steps to disassociate himself from his real estate and financial holdings. Schneider also laid out a series […]

AUGUSTA — Maine will adhere to the provisions in the No Child Left Behind law for at least another year. State Department of Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen announced Monday that the state will work within the guidelines of the frequently criticized law while crafting a new school accountability system.  The announcement, which Maine made jointly with […]

AUGUSTA — Former gubernatorial candidate Kevin Scott of Andover has taken out papers to run for the District 14 state Senate seat, according to documents at the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. Scott, who ran as an independent candidate for governor in 2010, will run as an independent in District 14, which represents […]