AUGUSTA — On an 8-4 party-line vote, the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee on Thursday passed a supplemental budget for the Department of Health and Human Services that would close an estimated $83 million budget shortfall. Members of the Legislature’s Republican majority said the measure would make what they consider “structural changes” to the DHHS budget. It […]
Maine
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Republicans say they will honor restoration of general assistance funds for cities
AUGUSTA – Leaders of the Legislature’s Republican majority said Thursday a budget proposal meant to solve a $83 million budget gap in the Department of Health and Human Services will also honor a previous commitment to restore $5 million in state funding to cities. The money helps cities like Lewiston cover costs for their general […]
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Lewiston lawmaker says Republicans taking ‘marching orders’ from LePage on DHHS budget
LEWISTON — The upcoming special session of the Maine Legislature, set to settle a nearly $83 million budget shortfall in the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, is off to a tumultuous start. Leaders from both sides of the political aisle have launched opening salvos in the debate. Democratic leaders, including Rep. Peggy Rotundo […]
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Tribe issues more elver licenses: Decision has some worried about future of catch
ELLSWORTH — With the price of juvenile eels hitting unprecedented levels, the Passamaquoddy tribe in eastern Maine has issued 236 elver fishing licenses to its tribal members. The Department of Marine Resources issues 407 licenses each year allowing fishermen to catch baby American eels, known as elvers, as they make their way up Maine rivers […]
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Obama’s switch on marriage gets mixed reaction in Maine
PORTLAND — Just as President Barack Obama’s views on gay marriage have evolved, Maine residents have also changed their minds on the issue since voters repealed the state’s gay marriage law in 2009, gay marriage supporters said Wednesday. David Farmer, spokesman for Mainers United for Marriage, said gay couples are grateful for the president’s announcement […]
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Maine oil company bankruptcy hearing held
AUGUSTA — A lawyer for a Maine home heating company that declared bankruptcy told people who paid for fuel they never received they can expect restitution, but exactly how much is up in the air. At a bankruptcy hearing on Tuesday, David Pinkham of Pinkham’s Corner Fuel in South China laid out his assets, including […]
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York County radio jamming stops
LEBANON — The person responsible for jamming emergency radio transmissions in York County has apparently stopped, perhaps frightened by the possibility of a federal investigation. The assistant chief of Lebanon’s rescue department says the last interruption occurred April 22 when his transmissions were blocked as he responded to an emergency, delaying ambulance response. Jason Cole […]
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Osprey nest on Maine cruise ship pier
PORTLAND — Workers in Portland, Maine, have had to take action after a pair of ospreys chose a bad location for a nest. City workers on Tuesday removed the osprey nest from the end of the so-called megaberth pier for large cruise ships at Ocean Gateway. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife advised […]
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Trans-Siberian Orchestra opens Waterfront Concert season with flair
BANGOR — The sturm und drang of Beethoven matched the wet, gloomy weather that hung over the Bangor Waterfront on Wednesday night as the Trans-Siberian Orchestra brought its unique fusion of metal, prog rock and classical to the waterfront concert stage. It was the first concert of 2012 and it brought a technically advanced, dramatic […]
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Maine Republicans stick with tea party platform
AUGUSTA — If the state’s Republican Party platform looks familiar, it’s no accident. As backers of longshot presidential candidate Ron Paul took over last weekend’s GOP convention, the delegates abandoned the proposed 2012 statement of party principles and adopted the same one that catered to tea party tastes two years ago. Ron Morrell, a GOP […]