AUGUSTA— Maine Gov. Paul LePage had an interesting interaction with a blogger outside his office Thursday. And there’s video. A 20-second clip posted on Facebook by WMTW-TV reporter Jim Keithley shows LePage speaking to a group of media members. In the front is Carol McCracken, of Portland, who writes a blog called Munjoy Hill News. […]
Maine politics
Posted inLocal & State
Trump once again wants to cut energy assistance to the poor
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Trump administration is once again calling for the complete elimination of a heating assistance program that helps to keep the homes of low-income families warm. And once again, program supporters are vowing to fight it. The administration is using the same arguments from a year ago when it tried to […]
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Medical marijuana sales, caregivers and patient numbers decline
Even though it has yet to record its first retail sale, Maine’s adult-use marijuana market appears to be taking a bite out of the state’s medical marijuana industry. In 2017, the first year that Mainers could legally grow their own recreational pot, the number of medical marijuana patient certifications, dispensary sales and registered caregivers all […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
Sen. Susan Collins tells Jackman residents they did the ‘right thing’ in firing town manager
The senator also said that she would no longer endorse state Rep. Larry Lockman, R-Amherst, in future elections when he termed legislation on immigrants as part of the “war on whites.’ JACKMAN — Sen. Susan Collins saluted the town of Jackman and its board of selectmen on Thursday, praising the community for the way it […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
Federal tax reform could increase Mainers’ state tax bills
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine lawmakers are figuring out how to ensure Mainers aren’t hit with a higher state tax bill due to the Republican tax overhaul that President Donald Trump recently signed into law. Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration said Thursday he’ll submit legislation aimed at preventing a state tax hike. The federal policy […]
Posted inLocal & State, New England, News
Buy a shirt, get pot ‘gift’: Companies exploit law loophole in Maine, other states
BOSTON (AP) — That ordinary bottle of juice delivered to your doorstep will set you back at least $55. But the bag of marijuana that comes with it? On the house. Retail marijuana stores are months away from opening in Massachusetts, but some companies have been quietly operating for more than a year, selling and […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
Joe Biden discusses Obama, alt-right movement and his hopes in Portland appearance
The former vice president appeared at Merrill Auditorium with former Sen. George Mitchell. Former Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Maine to promote his new book Wednesday night, but said nothing about whether he might run for president. Biden appeared at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium with former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, who asked about Biden’s new […]
Posted inNation / World, News
Train carrying GOP lawmakers, including Bruce Poliquin, hits truck; one on truck dead
.@RepPoliquin‘s tweet: He was on board, only has a few minor bruises. #mepolitics https://t.co/S6nrONSSxp — Larry Gilbert Jr (@LarryGilbertSJ) January 31, 2018 CROZET, Va. (AP) — A train carrying dozens of Republican members of Congress to a policy retreat in the countryside slammed into a garbage truck in rural Virginia on Wednesday, killing one person […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine’s Republican director failed to file income tax returns
Jason Savage, who has been linked to the anonymous right-wing website Maine Examiner, says ‘it’s been an unfortunate personal situation with many factors beyond my control.’ Have you heard the one about the high-ranking Republican official who got into hot water for failing to file his state income-tax returns? Sorry, but this is no joke. […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
Ogunquit bakery fined nearly $95,000 over hiring foreign workers
Bread and Roses Bakery is paying back wages and penalties for advertising low pay rates and then paying foreign workers more. An Ogunquit bakery shop has agreed to pay nearly $95,000 for violations related to hiring foreign workers. Bread and Roses Bakery Inc. reached the agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to pay $73,115 […]