AUGUSTA — A legislative committee divided along partisan lines Thursday over a Republican proposal that would scale back future minimum-wage increases in Maine while creating a lower wage for younger workers. In November 2016, Maine voters approved a ballot initiative that increased the state’s minimum wage from $7.50 to $9 an hour, with additional $1-an-hour […]
Maine
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
After blowback, Lewiston City Council confirms sidewalk plow purchase
LEWISTON — The city will spend roughly $160,000 for a new sidewalk plow, following public concern over unsafe sidewalks after the last major winter storm. Much of the emphasis was put on sidewalk maintenance, after Public Works Director Dave Jones said that his department only has three working sidewalk plows – two that are dependable. […]
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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Pot advocates help finance gubernatorial bid of leading marijuana opponent
The leaders of Legalize Maine are backing the gubernatorial candidate who has led the political effort to keep the state’s recreational marijuana market closed. Every member of Legalize Maine’s five-person board of directors has donated to House Minority Leader Ken Fredette’s gubernatorial campaign, accounting for almost one out of every five dollars the Newport Republican […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
Look for a lobster emoji to surface this year
The panel that decides such things has officially unveiled a new digital image of a little red lobster in response to a Maine-based petition drive. Maine’s signature sea creature will soon be one of the “emoji” pictograms available for electronic messaging. The Unicode Consortium, the nonprofit governing body responsible for determining which emojis get added […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Moose hunting applications online only for 2018 season
AUGUSTA (AP) — The state of Maine is taking online applications for the upcoming moose hunting season. The state is only accepting online applications this year. Tens of thousands of people typically apply for a spot in Maine’s moose hunt, which takes place every fall. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife announced Tuesday […]
Posted insj-web, SJVarsity
Edward Little's Hartley headed to UMaine football as preferred walk-on
Edward Little’s Grant Hartley takes off from Lewiston’s Garrett Poussard during Friday night’s Battle of the Bridge football game at Garcelon Field at Bates College. Grant Hartley had several other options, but the opportunity to play football at the University of Maine was too good to pass up. On social media Sunday night during the […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Long Creek’s new leader concedes juvenile facility’s at a crossroads
SOUTH PORTLAND — Three months into her new job as superintendent of Long Creek Youth Development Center, Caroline Raymond attended a basketball game between the center’s team and Old Orchard Beach High School. It was supposed to be a mismatch – Old Orchard plays in a more competitive class – so after Long Creek won […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Maine firewood suppliers, citing weather, can't meet demand
FARMINGDALE (AP) — Firewood suppliers across Maine say they can’t keep up with the demand for dry wood that people use to heat their homes. Andy Allen of A.W. Allen Firewood of Farmingdale says the average wait time for delivery of his kiln-dried wood in the winter is about two weeks. This year it’s seven […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Animal Tales: Volunteers hop to it for rescue bunnies
Sarah Levine watches her daughter’s bunny, Hobbs, as Sammy, one of her many cats, wanders through their living room in Auburn recently. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal) AUBURN — Sarah Levine used to be all-in on rats. Then rabbits caught her eye, again. It was a couple of years ago and she was running the Mainely Rat […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
No injuries in Lewiston overnight electrical fire
LEWISTON — An overnight electrical fire early Sunday left about a dozen people without housing, according to the Fire Department. The fire at a multifamily apartment building at 242 Park St. was reported at 12:07 a.m. Sunday, according to firefighters. The fire started in the first-floor, front apartment in an electrical wall outlet, according to […]