When it comes to managing wildlife, one of the biggest challenges is to determine population numbers. Counting bears is one of these challenges. What we know is that Maine has one of the largest black bear populations in the lower 48. In 1999, it was estimated that Maine had 23,000 bears. Our state wildlife managers […]
Maine
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine political consultant says online attack is protected free speech
PORLTLAND, Maine (AP) — Lawyers for a political consultant who created a website targeting independent Eliot Cutler in the 2010 race for governor says the online attack was constitutionally protected political speech. Dennis Bailey’s lawyers submitted the written arguments in U.S. District Court in Portland as part of their effort to overturn a $200 fine […]
advertisement
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine chief justice outlines action: Domestic violence issues a priority for LePage administration
AUGUSTA — Maine’s court system is acting swiftly to prevent domestic violence by tightening up bail rules for alleged abusers, Chief Justice Leigh Ingalls Saufley told the Legislature on Thursday. In her annual State of the Judiciary address to a joint House-Senate session, Saufley drew applause when she announced that effective immediately, bail commissioners must […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Man pleads guilty in worker’s compensation fraud case
AUGUSTA — A Medway man has been sentenced to two months in jail after pleading guilty to lying to investigators in order to get $6,000 in worker’s compensation benefits to which he was not entitled. David Powers admitted to a perjury charge this week. Prosecutors say the 50-year-old Powers in a workers’ compensation hearing in […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Weaker land-use agency opposed
AUGUSTA — A Maine environmental advocacy group is urging legislators to not weaken the powers of a regulatory agency that oversees the state’s vast Unorganized Territory. Environment Maine on Thursday delivered 17,000 letters, postcards, petitions and emails from Maine residents to the State House in opposition to proposed legislation it says would weaken the scope […]
Posted inLocal & State
Documents show Scarcelli was in early on ‘Cutler Files’
PORTLAND — Newly released documents, including e-mail messages, indicate a one-time Democratic candidate for Maine governor may have known far more about an anonymous website aimed at destroying one of her opponents than she acknowledged. The documents, part of a federal court case, show Rosa Scarcelli played an involved and active role in the creation of […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Former director Violette pleads guilty in turnpike corruption case
PORTLAND — The former executive director of the Maine Turnpike pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing turnpike funds over a period of years to pay for upscale hotels in Maine, Canada, the Caribbean and Europe, meals at fancy restaurants and personal spa treatments. Paul Violette, 56, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft for unauthorized use […]
Posted inOur View
An impassioned, diverse dialogue on wind power
Our online readers responded with vigor to Sunday’s editorial regarding major investments — infrastructure, jobs, consulting services, etc., — the wind industry has made in Maine in the past decade. Most of the response — but not all — was critical of the industry — and equally critical of any acknowledgement of wind investment. ? […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Tax cuts will worsen, not fix budget
If Democrats had proposed spending last year that cost $170 million – say, to meet the 55 percent education funding law, or to keep revenue sharing flowing to towns and cities and boost property tax relief – they’d have been greeted with derision, not only from Republicans, but from their own party. It was obvious, […]