PORTLAND (AP) — Low voter turnout Tuesday made it difficult to project the outcome of a $50 million bond that was the sole measure on the statewide ballot. The bond issue called for the Maine Technology Institute to distribute $45 million in grants for upgrades in aquaculture, marine technology, forestry and agriculture. The Small Enterprise […]
Maine
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Legislators turn to small group of lawmakers for budget deal
AUGUSTA (AP) — A small group of lawmakers has the task of coming up with a budget deal over the next few days and averting a government shutdown at the peak of the state’s tourism season. Lawmakers have arrived at a deadlock on education funding after months of deliberation, and negotiations over a final budget […]
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Several cars set on fire, vandalized in Skowhegan neighborhood
SKOWHEGAN (AP) — Officials are investigating a number of cars being set on fire and vandalized in one Maine neighborhood. Skowhegan police say they’ve alerted the state fire marshal’s office after receiving a series of calls about cars being set on fire early Monday morning. The suspected arsons were all within a few hundred yards […]
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Gov. LePage finance chief resigns as Maine budget fight rages
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine finance chief Richard Rosen resigned on Tuesday, surprising key legislators as they were making a final push to finalize a two-year budget with barely a week to go in the legislative session. Rosen, a former legislator from Bucksport, was named commissioner of the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services in 2015 after […]
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Maine youth prison lays off nearly half its teachers, hires Commissioner of Corrections’ daughter
PORTLAND, Maine — Layoffs at Maine’s juvenile prison have left the school that serves its young inmates without qualified teachers for a number of subjects, including math. Prison officials said budget uncertainty forced them to cut educators, who they acknowledge play a key role in improving the behavior of inmates, but they also recently hired […]
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Maine still working out lifeguard shortage
SACO (AP) — As summer approaches, officials in Maine are looking for a way to deal with a shortage of lifeguards. WGME-TV reported (http://bit.ly/2rmQXQ4) the state is short about 15 guards. The state says most of the openings are in Cumberland County at Crescent Beach and Sebago. The amusement park Splashtown plans to hire international […]
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Officer mistakenly shoots cop after police academy training
VASSALBORO (AP) — State police in Maine say they are investigating the accidental shooting of a corrections officer by a fellow officer while they were at police academy for a training program. Police say the shooting wounded 33-year-old Matthew Morrison, of Mars Hill. He’s being treated at a hospital for an injured leg. Police say […]
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Report: More kids going without health coverage in Maine
PORTLAND (AP) — A new report says the percentage of Maine children without health care coverage grew 50 percent in Maine during a five-year period that coincided with tightened Medicaid eligibility guidelines and the governor’s decision not to expand Medicaid. Neither of those actions by the LePage administration affected coverage for children, but child welfare […]
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Gov. Paul LePage vetoes ‘politically motivated power grab’
AUGUSTA — Frustrated that some executive branch officials have ignored requests by lawmakers to offer testimony and advice, the Legislature recently passed a measure that would compel commissioners to show up when called. Calling it “a politically motivated power grab,” Gov. Paul LePage vetoed the proposal Monday. “Too often, legislators use public hearings for the […]
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‘Ashamed’ to be part of government, LePage vows to veto budget over $7B
AUGUSTA (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage says he’ll veto any budget over $7 billion as lawmakers remain at odds over spending. LePage said on a radio show on Tuesday that he’s “ashamed” to be part of Maine government because of lawmakers’ laziness. Legislative leaders, meanwhile, are considering employing a rarely used tactic of appointing […]