Posted inBusiness, Local & State, sj-web

WANTED: Help. With low unemployment, Maine companies struggle to find workers.

Last September, the state asked 3,400 business owners to identify their most difficult jobs to fill. Turned out, it was most of them. Employers couldn’t find people for at least three out of four open positions, across the board. “We found, really, an awful lot of different occupations and different industries were reporting difficulty,” said […]

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Posted inLocal & State, sj-web

Lawmakers may tackle ranked-choice voting, pot bills in special session

AUGUSTA (AP) — The Democratic House speaker hopes lawmakers will tackle ranked choice voting and marijuana legalization bills when they return for a special session this fall. Maine Gov. Paul LePage told lawmakers Wednesday he’s calling them back to Augusta over problems with a law taking effect Nov.1 allowing local regulation of food. Speaker Sara […]

Posted inLocal & State, sj-web

Paul LePage says Donald Trump lumber tariffs threatening jobs

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s Republican governor is asking President Donald Trump’s administration to ease up stiff softwood lumber tariffs he says are leading to “devastating” job losses. Gov. Paul LePage this month asked U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to exempt Canadian provinces such as New Brunswick and Quebec from the tariffs. Softwood lumber like […]

Posted inBusiness, sj-web

Ride-sharing service Lyft expands to 32 states including all of Maine

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — When management upheaval, allegations of corporate espionage, and revelations of sexual harassment sent Uber into a public relations sinkhole, its long overshadowed rival Lyft shifted into overdrive. The company seized the opportunity to recruit disillusioned drivers so it could be more responsive to passengers searching for a ride-hailing alternative to Uber. […]