Author: Libby Palanza

Portland voters are being asked to weigh in on a $179.3 million school budget at the ballot box this June. As proposed, the school budget would carry a 5.68 percent school-side property tax increase, equating to a roughly $200 annual hike on a median-priced $566,600 home. Due to declining enrollment, the state subsidy received by the school district is set to go down next year, amplifying the budget’s 2.6 percent spending increase. Estimates project that state funding will drop by $4.1 million. That said, the Legislature approved some changes to the state’s school funding formula this year that the City…

Last week, the United States Department of Justice threatened legal action against the State of Maine over a policy that allegedly blocks federal law enforcement agencies from obtaining undercover license plates if those vehicles are to be used for civil immigration enforcement operations. Maine’s Attorney General now appears to have rejected this request in a letter responding to the DOJ in which he pushes back on the arguments made by the federal government against the state’s policy. In a sharply worded letter addressed to Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, federal officials argued the policy is both “deeply dangerous” and “blatantly…

President Donald Trump spoke to the press from the Oval Office Thursday ahead of an expected ruling from the United States Supreme Court concerning the Administration’s proposed changes to birthright citizenship. “It would be a disgrace if the Supreme Court of the United States allows that to happen,” the president said in the Oval Office Thursday, referring to the possibility of the Court allowing the nation’s current birthright citizenship policy to stand. “Remember what I said, 20 to 25% of the people coming into our country will come in through birthright citizenship,” said President Trump. “They’ll become citizens through birthright…

On June 3, 2026, the Maine Data Center Advisory Council, established via executive order by Gov. Janet Mills (D) earlier this year, will hold its first meeting. The council will continue to meet throughout the year before delivering a report to the governor and legislature at the end of January 2027. In April, Gov. Mills created the Data Center Advisory Council in the wake of backlash from fellow Democrats over her decision to veto a controversial moratorium on data center construction. “It is necessary, important and urgent that the State plan for potential impacts of large-scale data centers on our…

A Maine church has filed a lawsuit against the federal government over alleged interference with members’ use of a hallucinogenic substance during its services. Pachamama Sanctuary argues in its lawsuit against the federal government that it uses ayahuasca tea during certain ceremonies. A South American ceremonial tea, ayahuasca contains DMT, a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Named in the lawsuit as defendants are the U.S. Attorney General, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as reported by the Bangor Daily News. Although ayahuasca tea is…

Tulsi Gabbard has announced that she is preparing to step down as the nation’s Director of National Intelligence at the end of next month, citing her husband’s severe cancer diagnosis. As first reported by Fox News, Director Gabbard explained that her husband has “an extremely rare form of bone cancer” so she will be stepping away from her position in the cabinet. Gabbard notified President Trump of her intent to step away from the position during an Oval Office meeting Friday. Her resignation is set to be effective as of June 30, 2026. “At this time, I must step away…

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts moved Thursday to approve President Donald Trump’s plan to construct a 250-foot commemorative arch in Washington, D.C. across from the Lincoln Memorial. The president announced his intention to pursue building “Independence Arch” during an October gathering at the White House for those who provided financial support to the $400 million ballroom project. “We really need it,” President Trump said of the arch. “The United States is the greatest and most powerful nation on earth, and American presidents need to be able to host events at the White House that reflect the demands of the…

The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case during their next term concerning whether all school employees can bring sex discrimination lawsuits under a law governing educational institutions receiving federal funding. A judge for the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the statutory language does not provide a “private right of action to employees of educational institutions.” The employees bringing this consolidated case, however, disagreed with this interpretation and hope to see the decision reversed by the nation’s highest court. The 11th Circuit’s ruling represents a departure from the viewpoint that has been adopted by eight…

Both of Maine’s delegates in the United States Senate, Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Sen. Angus King (I), have joined forces with a primarily Democratic group of lawmakers to advocate for the release of nearly $360 million in federal funding for weatherization assistance through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The coalition is also calling for the federal government to send out roughly $66 million worth of funding for the State Energy Program (SEP). Although weatherization funding has traditionally been insulated from the effects of appropriations delays, the federal government is currently very far behind schedule for the 2026 funding process.…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) released a statement Monday reacting to the confirmation of Andrew B. Benson as the United States Attorney for the District of Maine and David St. Pierre as the U.S. Marshal for the District of Maine. These nominees were approved “en bloc” alongside 47 others, meaning that senators did not consider each candidate individually but rather voted to approve or reject the slate of nominees as a whole. Despite bipartisan support for both of Maine’s nominees, Sen. Angus King (I) voted alongside Democratic lawmakers in voting against the entire group’s confirmation. U.S. Attorney Benson was nominated by…

The United States Supreme Court has rejected a request from Virginia officials to review a decision issued by the state’s supreme court blocking use of a new congressional map strongly favoring Democrats. The justices’ decision came in a brief, unsigned order Friday evening, just fifteen minutes after reply briefs were shared publicly. As is often the case, the Court did not provide any insight into their reasoning behind rejecting the appeal. Source: CBS News Earlier this month, the Virginia Supreme Court blocked the state from using a map drawn up by the state’s Democrat-controlled legislature after finding that it did…

The United States Senate confirmed Andrew B. Benson as the United States Attorney for the District of Maine and David St. Pierre as the U.S. Marshal for the District of Maine in a party-line vote Monday evening. These nominees were approved “en bloc” alongside 47 others, meaning that senators did not consider each candidate individually but rather voted to approve or reject the slate of nominees as a whole. Despite bipartisan support for both of Maine’s nominees, Sen. Angus King (I) voted alongside Democratic lawmakers in voting against the entire group’s confirmation. U.S. Attorney Benson was nominated by then-Attorney General…

The United States Senate unanimously approved a resolution Thursday agreeing to withhold their own pay during future government shutdowns. Under the new policy, whenever one or more government agencies are affected by a shutdown, pay would be withheld for members of the Senate until the government reopens. This change will take effect the day after the November 3, 2026 general election and will not impact members of the House of Representatives. “Shutting down government should not be our default solution to our refusal to work out our issues and our differences,” said bill sponsor Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) in a…

The United States Supreme Court has moved to continue allowing women access to mifepristone, a drug used in medication-induced abortions, by mail while a challenge to the FDA’s policies winds its way through the lower courts. This comes after the Supreme Court issued two temporary stays earlier this month while they reviewed briefs submitted by parties on both sides. The Court’s order halted a 5th Circuit ruling temporarily banning mifepristone from being distributed by mail nationwide, regardless of how individual states have chosen to regulate access to abortions and abortion medication. Thursday’s order does not provide any additional insight into…

The Maine Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission against Eversource Energy Service Company, or Eversource, for allegedly “mischaracterizing” a major transmission line project. The X-178 transmission project involves reconstructing 49 miles worth of transmission facilities and roughly 580 poles in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire and is expected to cost New England ratepayers $360 million. In a statement announcing the complaint, OPA explained that Eversource’s own analysis showed that only 41 of the poles needed to be replaced. The $360 million price tag will be borne by ratepayers…

Vice President J.D. Vance took questions from Maine Wire reporters Jon Fetherston and Seamus Othot Thursday afternoon at his appearance in Bangor. Cheers erupted in the venue at Fetherston’s introduction at the start of the question-and-answer period, prompting the Vice President to remark that “we like this guy.” Fetherston asked Vance to give advice to the people of Maine for holding their elected leaders accountable when it comes to fraud in the state. Vance responded by first emphasizing the role of the federal government in addressing fraud, saying that they need to “show up and arrest [someone committing fraud] and…

The United States Supreme Court has paved the way for Alabama’s new congressional map, drawn up in 2023, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the majority, resulting in a 6-3 decision. In light of the Court’s ruling last week in a redistricting case out of Louisiana, the majority vacated a lower court’s ruling concerning the Alabama map and sent it back down for further proceedings. In deciding the Louisiana case, the majority of the Court ruled that compliance with §2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which “prohibits racial…

Voters in Cumberland and North Yarmouth have sent a combined $56.7 million school budget to the ballot for validation in June. The budget was originally proposed in March with a price tag of $57.9 million, but the school district’s Board of Directors trimmed it down by 2.1 percent after receiving input from residents. Cut expenses included new classroom furniture, bus monitors, funding for a joint enrollment study, and special education equipment. The final proposal being put before voters represents a 5.46 percent increase over the current year’s budget. The seventeen proposed school budget articles were approved at a district budget…

Maine’s first Safe Haven Baby Box was opened Tuesday at the Rumford Fire Department. These boxes “legally permits a mother in crisis to safely, securely, and anonymously surrender if they are unable to care for their newborn.” Parents may use the boxes to anonymously give up a child who is younger than 31 days old. As soon as a baby is placed inside of the temperature-controlled box, an alarm will sound within to alert the firemen so that they can tend to the baby immediately. The child would be taken to the hospital for evaluation before being handed over to…

The United States Supreme Court has issued a short extension of last week’s temporary stay allowing for women to continue accessing mifepristone, a drug used in medication-induced abortions, by mail. Originally set to expire at 5pm on Monday, May 11, 2026, Justice Samuel Alito signed a brief order pushing the expiration date ahead to Thursday, May 14. This comes after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the requirement that mifepristone be dispensed only in person in response to a case brought by the State of Louisiana. This issue was brought to the Supreme Court by two drug companies that…

President Donald Trump has announced that he is looking to suspend the nation’s gas tax in the face of rising prices at the pump. In a phone interview with CBS News, the President of the United States explained that he hopes to pause collection of the gas tax “for a period of time.” “I think it’s a great idea,” said President Trump. “Yup, we’re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we’ll let it phase back in.” With the Strait of Hormuz blocked by Iran, gas prices has increased substantially,…

Early voting for the upcoming June 9 primary election is set to begin on Monday, May 11, 2026. On the ballot this cycle are several critical races, including for the governorship, as well as for one of Maine’s seats in the United States Congress and both of the state’s seats in the United States House of Representatives. Both Democrats and Republicans will be asked to weigh in on primary races for the gubernatorial election and the senatorial election, but only Republicans will be faced a choice at the ballot box for the House seat. Maine citizens who are not yet…

The Virginia Supreme Court has struck down a redistricting proposal that would have allowed the state’s Democrat-controlled legislature to redraw its congressional maps off-cycle. Source: CBS News As proposed, the new maps would have reduced the number of Republican-dominated districts from five to one, out of a total of eleven. Unlike many of the recent cases concerning redistricting, the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling did not hinge on an evaluation of the redrawn map itself. Instead, the justices declared the new map void on procedural grounds. The court ruled 4-3 that the legislature did not follow proper procedure when placing the…

On behalf of the United States Supreme Court, Justice Elena Kagan declined to put a pause on a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling holding Apple in contempt of court in a lawsuit challenging App Store fees. Epic Games, maker of the popular video game Fortnite, filed an antitrust lawsuit challenging the rules Apple has set for its App Store. A federal judge went on to rule that Apple could not block developers from encouraging customers to buy their products from alternative marketplaces, requiring that the company allow for links ‌directing users ⁠to non-Apple payment methods. Apple complied but was…

Unemployment in Maine has remained relatively consistent in recent months, holding steady at 3.2 percent in March. This is down from 3.8 percent at this same time last year. Compared to the rest of the country, Maine is faring about a percentage point better, with nationwide unemployment coming in at 4.3 last month. Similarly, unemployment in New England averaged at 4.4 percent in March. Compared to a year ago, unemployment is down in all Maine counties by a figure of anywhere from 0.1 percent to 1 percent. Labor force participation rates continued to trend downward in Maine, falling to 59.5…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) has teamed up with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) to encourage Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary to reconsider the agency’s recently issued draft guidance document concerning flavored vapes. The senators express concern in their letter that the change in policy could result in an increase in the number of flavored e-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems authorized by the FDA, which they suggest would “jeopardiz[e] recent progress in reducing youth e-cigarette use.” In a press release shared by Sen. Collins’ office Tuesday, she cites a report from the Wall Street Journal that President Donald…

The Maine Secretary of State’s Office released the question wording for a potential People’s Veto of the recently signed supplemental budget. Dov Sacks, the Durham attorney who filed the application, however, has said that he is no longer pursuing the effort. Maine Public reported Wednesday afternoon that the People’s Veto will officially not be moving forward, as the Secretary of State’s Office had been officially notified that Sacks would not be actively seeking signatures. In Maine, a People’s Veto allows voters to “repeal a piece of legislation passed by the legislature” by using “the initiative and referendum process.” To earn…

The United States Supreme Court issued an order Monday allowing for women to continue accessing mifepristone, a drug used in medication-induced abortions, by mail. This comes after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the requirement that mifepristone be dispensed only in person in response to a case brought by the State of Louisiana. In a brief order signed by Justice Samuel Alito, the Court temporarily stayed the ruling through 5pm on Monday, May 11, 2026. This issue was brought to the Supreme Court by two drug companies that produce mifepristone, Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro, calling the 5th Circuit’s order…

The White House has expressed support for making the moratorium on new regulations pertaining to North Atlantic Right Whale valid through 2035. Friday afternoon, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a State of Administration Policy backing a bill Rep. Jared Golden’s (D) bill extending the current regulatory moratorium by seven years. The original moratorium, set to expire in 2028, was secured in 2022 while former President Joe Biden was in office, due in part to the urging of Maine’s congressional delegation alongside Gov. Janet Mills (D). In its notice, the OMB explained that the effort to extend this…

As of May 1, most employees in Maine are eligible to take up to twelve weeks of paid leave to care for a sick family member, as well as to bond with a newborn baby or newly adopted child. Also eligible for leave under the program are those who are experiencing a serious health condition and are rendered unable to work for an extended period, and anyone serving as a caregiver for someone who meets the other conditions. Mainers began paying into the program on January 1, 2025, more than a year in advance of the program becoming available. Enacted…

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case concerning the federal government’s efforts to end temporary protected status (TPS) designation for thousands of people living in the United States from Syria and Haiti. Under the TPS program, individuals from certain countries are temporarily given legal status to live and work in the United States if they are unable to return to their home countries due to natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary circumstances. Relief is limited to 18 months, but the Secretary of Homeland Security can extend the duration of these protections if it is…

The United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that a group of faith-based pregnancy centers is able to bring a First Amendment challenge against the New Jersey state government. First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, the coalition at the heart of this case, describes itself as a “faith-based nonprofit” that provides “material support and medical services like ultrasounds and pregnancy tests under the direction of a licensed medical director.” The group has attempted to bring a challenge against the New Jersey state government in federal court over its 2022 attempt to demand information regarding its fundraising practices in federal court. The…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed a bill into law Friday requiring businesses with more than ten employees to include a prospective range of pay when posting a job listing. Under this law, businesses will also be required to disclose, at an employee’s request, the range of pay for their position. A record of each employee’s position and pay history must be maintained for the duration of employment plus three years. Just over $81,000 was appropriated from the state’s General Fund for the 2026-27 fiscal year to cover the costs associated with enforcing this new measure. Lawmakers on the Labor Committee…

The United States Supreme Court has struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana as an “unconstitutional racial gerrymander.” The Court was divided 6-3 over this case, with Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting. “The Constitution almost never permits a State to discriminate on the basis of race, and such discrimination triggers strict scrutiny,” the majority said. There are only two instances in which such discrimination is permissible: “avoiding imminent and serious risks to human safety in prisons” and “remediating specific, identified instances of past discrimination that violated the Constitution or a statute.” At question in…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has continued to tout provisions of the $500 million supplemental budget in the weeks since she signed it into law. On Monday, the governor attended an event with Senate Majority Leader Teresa Pierce to celebrate the inclusion of a measure raising Maine’s minimum teacher salary over the course of the next three years. Under Part SSS of the supplemental budget, the minimum salary for teachers statewide will be increased from $40,000 to $50,000 by the fall of 2029. This will be done incrementally over the course of the next few years, going up to $45,000 in…

InterMed has announced that it will no longer be accepting Martin’s Point Medicare Advantage plans starting in January of 2027. In a written statement shared Friday, InterMed President Phyllidia Ku-Ruth explained that “this decision was not made suddenly or lightly.” “Over the last several years, we have consistently raised concerns that the structure of our agreement was making it increasingly difficult to deliver the high-quality care our patients need and deserve while maintaining a sustainable practice environment for our teams,” Ku-Ruth said. “We are purposely providing this notice more than eight months in advance, so that our patients have time…

The United States Supreme Court has greenlit the use of Texas’ newly redrawn congressional map by overturning a lower court’s ruling Monday. Last year, the Court allowed the map to be used on a temporary basis, but Monday’s ruling made this decision permanent, solidifying its use in the upcoming midterm elections and beyond. In December of 2025, the Justices granted Texas’ request for a stay, finding that the state was likely to succeed on the merits of its case. Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the majority at the time, arguing that the temporary ruling…

Maine’s Congressional delegation has reached out to the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding a payment issue with a contractor serving several of the state’s island communities. Sen. Susan Collins (R), Sen. Angus King (I), Rep. Jared Golden (D), and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) joined forces to send a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner seeking clarification on the situation. Reports have been made that the USPS failed to pay the Rockland-based Penobscot Island Air (PIA) more than $349,000 for its mail-delivery services. Due to this outstanding balance, PIA announced on April 21 that it would be suspending operations in…

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a Texas law requiring public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments. Those challenging the law have alleged in their complaint that the measures represent violations of the First Amendment’s Establishment and Free Exercise clauses. The state government, however, has argued that the requirements are permissible, citing Supreme Court precedent and the Ten Commandments’ historical relevance. It has been the expectation for some time now that regardless of which party prevailed, the ruling would ultimately be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. Dr. Patrick Flavin, Baylor University’s Political Science Chair, indicated…

As part of the supplemental budget signed into law earlier this month created a new grant program designed to expand free meals to students at off-site public preschool programs. This provision was based on a bill introduced by Senate President Mattie Daughtry last year. Included under Part BB of the supplemental budget, the Early Childhood Nutrition Grant Program will allow eligible off-site public preschool programs to receive a grant equal to or less than the total annual per-student reimbursement rate for the National School Lunch Program. Funds from this program cannot be distributed until the 2027-28 school year. For the…

Housing in Maine is among the most expensive in the country, according to a new report shared by personal finance website WalletHub. Mainers were found to pay the third largest share of their income in rent each month — a whopping 52.72 percent of income — surpassed only by New York and Hawaii. Homeowners in Maine fared comparatively better, although the state still ranked in the bottom half, coming in 15th-worst, with an average monthly housing cost of 26.60 percent of income. To calculate these rankings, mortgage and rent payments were taken into consideration alongside home energy costs. Click Here…

Sen. Angus King (I) has joined a group of Democratic senators in pushing back against President Donald Trump’s election integrity executive order. This order, issued in March, has also been the subject of several lawsuits alleging that it is a violation of both the Constitution and the law. Under this executive order, the United States Postal Service (USPS) would be required to establish new standards for mail-in and absentee ballot handling, as well as provide each state with a Mail-In and Absentee Participation List. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) would be required to…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a partisan bill into law extending Maine’s Affordable Housing Income Tax Credit through 2036. LD 2116, sponsored by Rep. Ambureen Rana (D-Bangor), was originally intended to make the credit permanent, but the Democratic majority on the Taxation Committee voted to recommend a pared-back proposal. The Maine Affordable Housing Income Tax Credit was first approved by lawmakers in 2020 with bipartisan support and was modeled after the state’s rehabilitation tax credit. Under this program, developers who invest in the preservation or construction of affordable housing are eligible to receive state income tax credits. According to…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) has announced that Maine will be receiving an additional $4.3 million in home heating assistance funding from the federal government. This comes shortly after Sen. Collins and a group of bipartisan colleagues sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) urging the release of the remaining $400 million in funding appropriated by Congress in FY26 for heating assistance. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, more commonly referred to as LIHEAP, is a federally funded program that helps low-income households cover utility bills, respond to energy emergencies, and reduce long-term costs through home weatherization…

As lawmakers wrap up their work for the session, two bills aiming to reform the state’s child welfare system have been left without a clear resolution. While one measure would have created a new Department of Child and Family Services, the other would have given the Legislature more oversight of the state’s existing operations. Theoretically, these bills could still be taken up by lawmakers when they return later this month for what is colloquially known as “Veto Day,” but this time is not generally used to advance new measures. Additionally, it is not clear if the governor would allow any…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a unanimously approved bill into law replacing the Child Welfare Services Ombudsman program with the new Office of the Child Advocate. Sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, the new office created by LD 1893 will be responsible for providing “independent oversight,” promoting “the best interests of children,” and ensuring that “children receive timely, safe and effective services in accordance with state and federal law.” For administrative purposes, the Office of the Child Advocate will be established within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS). The Child Advocate will be appointed for a…

Central Maine Power (CMP) has asked the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to approve a new rate change. This move comes several months after the Maine PUC unanimously rejected the utility’s most recent request to increase costs, arguing that the proposal “misse[d] the mark,” noting that Mainers are facing mounting affordability challenges. Earlier this year, CMP signaled its intention to file for a rate increase this spring, costing the average household around $7 each month. Because this rate change would coincide with the end date for other charges implemented to help pay for the utility’s response to recent years’ extreme…

The Maine Supreme Court is set to consider a case challenging the state’s rules prohibiting most forms of fishing in certain bodies of water, arguing that the prohibitions allegedly violate the state’s constitutional provision protecting the right to food. Earlier this month, Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy dismissed the lawsuit, but the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal this week. This is the second time in recent years that Maine’s Right to Food Amendment has been the subject of a lawsuit where it has been pitted against the state’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s mandate to “preserve, protect, and…

The Maine State Legislature has approved a first-of-its-kind temporary ban on large data centers. Whether or not it will receive a signature from Gov. Janet Mills (D), however, remains to be seen. At an event in Bangor last week, the governor reportedly told members of the press that an exemption for the $550 million project at the former Androscoggin paper mill in Jay was necessary to earn her support. “The people of Jay need those jobs, with appropriate guardrails on preserving water resources, electricity resources, local generation, and all those things,” said Gov. Mills. Such an exception, however, was not…

A bill establishing a new Office of the Child Advocate has now been sent to Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) desk for a signature after receiving unanimous approval in both the House and the Senate. Sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, LD 1893 replaces the Child Welfare Services Ombudsman program with the new Office of the Child Advocate. As described in the bill, the mission of this office would be “to provide independent oversight of state agencies and promote the best interests of children and ensure that children receive timely, safe and effective services in accordance with state and federal…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) has joined forces with Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in leading a bipartisan group of senators, including Sen. Angus King (I), in urging the federal government to “revise and reissue those applications” for a federal education grant program. According to the coalition, U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Secretary Linda McMahon made significant changes to the guiding principles of the Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) grant competitions. Generally speaking, TRIO Programs are “Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.” Under this umbrella are eight separate programs…

The City of South Portland has moved to close James O. Kaler Elementary and reconfigure students by grade level, but residents may be given the opportunity to weigh in before plans are finalized. A petition is being circulated that would put the closure of Kaler School before voters as a referendum question should it be signed by at least 10 percent of the number of voters who cast a ballot in the last gubernatorial election. Resident Wheeler Boyd-Boffa was issued the petition by the city clerk Wednesday, according to the Portland Press Herald, more than a week after the school…

Last month, Maine homes sold for a median price of $375,000, unchanged from March of 2025. Home sale volume also remained consistent over this period. Nationally, home sales dropped 0.3 percent in a year-over-year comparison, while prices rose 1.3 percent to $412,400. In the northeast, sales dropped by 12.2 percent as the median sale price increased 5.7 percent to $494,500. “As families time their transitions around the school year and Maine’s snow-free months, we expect to see more homes coming onto the market in April and May,” the Maine Association of Realtors said in a statement. “On average, 39 families…

Under the supplemental budget signed into law last week by Gov. Janet Mills (D), all Maine public school districts will be required to adopt a bell-to-bell cell phone ban by August of this year. Accompanying this mandate is a $350,000 appropriation from the state’s General Fund. This represents a departure from the policy adopted by lawmakers this past summer directing school boards to develop their own approach to regulating student cell phone use during the school day. Although that measure originated as a statewide cell phone ban, it was later amended to preserve local control. All members of the Education…

As part of the recently signed supplemental budget, Maine has now made free community college a permanent fixture in the state. In recent years, a pandemic-era program has allowed several classes of graduating high school seniors to attend Maine’s community colleges both tuition- and fee-free. During the first wave of the program, approximately 6,400 students took advantage of these benefits. Last year, lawmakers considered a bill that would have solidified this program in state law, but the measure was unanimously rejected in committee before ever making it to the chamber floor. [RELATED: Free Community College Will Not Become a Permanent…

Maine’s $500 million supplemental budget was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills (D) Friday after narrowly passing the House and Senate the day before. While lawmakers in the House were divided along strict partisan lines, one Democrat in the Senate, Sen. Nicole Grohoski (D-Hancock), broke ranks to join the Republicans in opposition to the measure. Among the provisions included in the final version of the budget are a new tax on Mainers earning over $1 million, free community college, funding for “reproductive health care” providers, as well as a plan to send $300 checks to many Maine residents, among…

Included in the supplemental budget advanced by the Democratic majority in Augusta was a “millionaire tax” that would charge residents an additional 2 percent on all income earned over $1 million. Maine’s current highest tax bracket caps out at 7.15 percent, the most wealthy Mainers may soon be subject to a total of 9.15 percent income tax on a portion of their earnings. The threshold at which this surcharge applies would be $1.5 million for heads of household and those filing jointly. According to WGME, this new tax can be expected to impact roughly 2,400 households. A similar idea had…

Maine Senators Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (I) have called for continued engagement with seafood industry stakeholders regarding concerns over ropeless gear, also known as “on-demand” gear. In a letter to Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Eugenio Piñero Soler, the senators urged consideration of alternatives such as Dynamic Area Management. Sens. Collins and King explain in their letter that while Maine has made “meaningful progress” toward the eventual adoption of innovative fishing technologies, there are still “substantial issues” that must be resolved before it is “suitable for broad implementation in Maine’s fisheries.” “Cost…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) announced Monday that Maine will be receiving a combined $65 million for two rural infrastructure projects through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP). This represents an outsized portion, roughly equal to 16 percent, of the $408 million being awarded in total through the program. Nearly $39 million of this will be going towards the replacement of 11 state-owned bridges across rural central Maine, while the remaining $26 million will be used to replace the bridge decks on four state-owned bridges along Interstate 95 (I-95) in Penobscot County. “Growing up in Caribou,” said…

The amended supplemental budget under consideration by the Maine State Legislature contains a provision that would establish millions of dollars in ongoing funding for “reproductive health care and family planning” providers. Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced her intention to support such a measure in January, explaining that she wanted to “offset the impacts of Federal funding cuts implemented by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans.” The language included in Part Z of the amended supplemental budget would substitute state funding for Title X grant recipients in the event that federal money should be restricted or rescinded, as well as if…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a bill into law prohibiting medical debt collectors from placing a lien on a person’s home or garnishing their wages. This comes less than a year after state lawmakers passed a law preventing medical debt from being factored into Mainers’ credit scores. [RELATED: Medical Debt Will No Longer Play a Role in Calculating Mainers’ Credit Scores] After this latest measure, LD 2129, received unanimous approval from members of the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services (HCIFS) Committee, both the House and the Senate advanced the bill by voice vote. “Just like with consumer credit…

The Maine Supreme Court is in unanimous agreement that expanding the use of ranked-choice voting to include all state elections would represent a violation of the Maine State Constitution. Maine has used ranked-choice voting for federal offices since 2018, but the Maine Supreme Court explained in a 2017 advisory opinion that requiring candidates for state offices to earn majority support would violate the Maine Constitution, which states that the candidate winning the most votes, or a plurality, prevails and does not stipulate that a majority — or more than 50 percent — is needed to win. Although LD 1666 sought…

Maine is among the 23 states suing the Trump Administration over the president’s executive order outlining new federal actions intended to strengthen election integrity, enhance citizenship verification, and establish uniform standards for mail-in and absentee ballots. Led by California and filed in a Massachusetts court, the challenge alleges that the directives represent an unconstitutional attempt to interfere with the states’ administration of elections. According to the lawsuit, neither the Constitution nor any federal law gives the president the authority to mandate changes to election procedures. In his executive order, President Donald Trump cited the Help America Vote Act of 2002…

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey and Gov. Janet Mills (D) celebrated Thursday after a federal appeals court rejected the Trump Administration’s request to allow the federal government to impose new rules for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care program. A coalition of twenty states, including Maine, has argued that these rules would sharply limit how much of the grants can go toward permanent housing and renewals. The complaint also alleges HUD has imposed unlawful conditions on funding eligibility, such as requiring providers to recognize only two genders, mandating that residents accept services as a…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed into law a bill requiring the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to consider affordability when carrying out its prescribed duties. Members of the Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT) Committee were divided over the proposal earlier this year, exhibiting partisan divisions that were ultimately reflected in roll call votes taken by the House and Senate in March. The final version of the bill directs the Maine PUC to develop an “affordability metric” to be used in assessing the impact of electricity bills on “the overall energy burden for residential customers of an investor-owned transmission and…

The cost of heating fuel in Maine has remained above $5 per gallon, according to the Maine Department of Energy Resources (DOER). Heating oil’s per gallon price tag of $5.37 per gallon represents a 41 percent increase since February. As of March 30, kerosene prices averaged at $6.25 per gallon. Estimations based on a standard 275-gallon oil tank indicates that Mainers are now paying an additional $475 for a fill-up compared to February. Heating fuel prices are updated weekly by the DOER and available to view here. Click Here to Read the DOER’s Full Statement The DOER went on to…

House lawmakers have advanced along nearly partisan lines a bill supporting the conversion of vacant school buildings into residential housing. Sponsored by Rep. Traci Gere (D-Kennebunkport), LD 2164 posits allocating $5 million in the 2026-27 fiscal year to the proposed Maine School Conversion Fund, portions of which would be used for a variety of expenses associated with transforming empty school buildings into usable housing. Termed the Vacant School Housing Conversion Program, the proposed initiative would be established within the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority and be authorized to provide “technical and financial assistance” to municipalities that choose to undertake such…

The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear a Maine mom’s case against a Damariscotta school in which she alleges they withheld information from her about her child’s gender transition. In December of 2022, mother Amber Lavigne discovered that a then-26-year-old social worker by the name of Samuel Roy had given her 13-year-old child two breast binders — garments designed to conceal the appearance of a female’s breasts — and provided instructions on their use. Lavigne also said that she was not told when Roy and other school officials began to use an alternative name and pronoun set for…

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday morning in a case challenging President Donald Trump’s (R) stance on birthright citizenship. This past fall, the Trump Administration asked the Supreme Court to uphold his Executive Order issued on Inauguration Day redefining birthright citizenship. Although the Court considered a case earlier this year stemming from challenges to the Administration’s new policy, the Justices were not tasked at the time with weighing in on the merits of the discussion. Instead, they were asked at the time to define the bounds of authority for federal judges, determining whether or not they have…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a bill clarifying what constitutes a “billing statement” under state law. Last year, Maine prohibited banks from charging customers a fee for opting to receive paper statements, but concerns were raised in the interim that the language was too broad. Credit unions brought up to lawmakers that this change not only eliminated fees for regular monthly statements, but also prevented them from charging to fulfill labor-intensive requests, such as those that encompass years’ worth of records. Under the new law, “billing statement” would be defined as a monthly account statement, allowing Mainers to receive…

The United States Supreme Court ruled 8-1 Tuesday that Colorado’s ban on LGBTQ conversion therapy for children is unconstitutional under the First Amendment. According to the majority, the ban “regulates speech based on viewpoint,” meaning that the lower courts erred in “failing to apply sufficiently rigorous First Amendment scrutiny.” A concurring opinion authored by Justice Elena Kagan joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, arguing that “had instead enacted a content-based but viewpoint-neutral law, it would raise a different and more difficult question.” Dissenting from the Court’s ruling was Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on the grounds that the move “opens a dangerous…

Mainers bear the fifth highest overall tax burden nationwide, according to a recent study published by personal finance website WalletHub. This ranking takes into account property taxes and individual income taxes, as well as excise and sales taxes. Instead of looking at the rates themselves, this study considered these taxes as a share of personal income. The data used for this report was collected from the Tax Policy Center on March 3, 2026. Source: WalletHub Report, 03.31.26 Maine’s high placement on the list was primarily driven by the state’s property tax burden, which was found to be the fifth highest…

Applications for Maine’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program opened Monday, allowing Mainers to take up to twelve weeks of paid leave to care for a sick family member, as well as to bond with a newborn baby or newly adopted child. Also eligible for leave under the program are those who are experiencing a serious health condition and are rendered unable to work for an extended period, and anyone serving as a caregiver for someone who meets the other conditions. Mainers began paying into the program on January 1, 2025, more than a year in advance of…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) announced Friday that she was able to preserve $190 million in federal funding for Maine’s rural hospitals after the state missed key milestones and failed to provide adequate information to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the award’s implementation. In reaching out to CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Sen. Collins underscored how critical the funding is for Maine’s rural hospitals and health care providers and urged CMS to help bring the state into compliance, which has since occurred. “Maine’s rural hospitals are under serious strain, with maternity wards and emergency departments continuing to…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced Friday that Maine is now slated to receive $43 million in federal funding to support the installation of high-efficiency heat pump water heaters. This money comes through the New England Heat Pump Accelerator, described by the governor as “a collaborative multi-state initiative supported by a Federal grant to rapidly increase the adoption of heat pump technology across the region.” Heat pump water heater purchased at participating Maine distributors and retailers will be eligible for an instant discount of up to $1,100 through Efficiency Maine rebates for eligible households. According to Gov. Mills, use of these…

Early Friday morning, the United States Senate agreed by voice vote to partially fund the Department of Homeland Security, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as some parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This represents a major step towards ending the now 42-day long shutdown impacting a number of critical government agencies, including TSA, FEMA, The Coast Guard, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Under the package approved by the Senate, these agencies would be funded as lawmakers continue to battle over ICE and CBP. This comes immediately after President Donald Trump announced that he…

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in a case challenging the legality of counting late-arriving absentee ballots. Originating in Mississippi, the case asks the Justices to decide whether mail-in ballots can be counted after election day if they are postmarked on time. More than a dozen other states have similar laws on the books allowing for these ballots to be counted, so the Court’s ruling later this year can be expected to have a widespread impact. The law at the center of this case was first passed in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A…

The Trump Administration announced last week that Maine is going to be one of 13 states investigated over their abortion laws. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Office for Civil Rights, the federal government is looking into whether the states in question are violating the 2005 Weldon Amendment, which prohibits discrimination against health care entities that do not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions. “OCR launches these investigations to address certain states’ alleged disregard of, or confusion about, compliance with the Weldon Amendment,” said Paula M. Stannard, Director of the HHS…

New polling from Emerson College shows Graham Platner holding a significant lead over Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic primary in the race for one of Maine’s seats in the United States Senate. Among likely Democratic voters, 55 percent have expressed support for Platner, while just 28 percent have said they plan to vote for Gov. Mills. 13 percent remain undecided. Source: Emerson College Poll, 03.23.26 When pitted head-to-head against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R), both Platner and Mills perform equally well, with results suggesting that either candidate would be able to earn a plurality of the votes. In both…

State lawmakers have advanced a bill giving Mainers the “right to repair” their electronic devices, but the House and Senate are in disagreement over which version of the bill to support. LD 1908, a bipartisan bill presented by Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot), looks to create an electronic “right to repair” law in the state, requiring that original equipment manufacturers make it possible for individuals and unauthorized repair shops to fix their products. Earlier this year, Sen. Tipping explained to members of the Housing and Economic Development (HED) Committee that the language he proposed aimed to build upon the work done…

Maine Senator Angus King (I) has joined a group of his Independent and Democratic Senate colleagues in calling upon Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to bring what they describe as a “key federal oversight group” out of dormancy. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) – self-described as a “scientifically independent, volunteer panel” responsible for “making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services” – has been inactive for a year. Signing onto this letter alongside Sen. King are U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT),…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed an emergency bill carving out an exception to the state’s new law prohibiting stores containing pharmacies from selling tobacco products. Because of this, small grocery stores could still potentially be eligible for a tobacco license, assuming that several other key conditions are met. Although many retail pharmacies, including CVS in 2014 and Hannaford in 2020, have already independently decided to stop offering tobacco products in stores, most businesses will not have a choice beginning in April of this year. Under these new regulations, it is considered a civil violation punishable by a fine of…

A group of preservation and architectural organizations are suing the Trump Administration in an attempt to block any further physical changes from being made to the Kennedy Center. President Donald Trump (R) has indicated that he believes it is necessary to shut down the performing arts center for two years in order to make a series of renovations. According to reports from the Associated Press, the lawsuit does not challenge the need for routine maintenance, but rather it takes aim at the more substantial alterations alluded to by the Trump Administration. The plaintiffs argue that any such updates would be…

A coalition of states and cities, including Maine, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration over its February reversal of a 2009 declaration that has served as the basis for the government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Known as the Endangerment Finding, this 2009 declaration states that the “current and projected concentrations” of greenhouse gases “threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.” This stemmed from a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that greenhouse gases are a category of air pollutant covered by the Clean Air Act, opening the door for the EPA to determine under…

The price of heating fuel in Maine has continued to climb, now up 30 percent since February 23. The DOER pointed out in a Thursday press release that this spike occurred following the start of the conflict in Iran. The statewide average price per gallon of heating oil increased from $3.82 on February 23 to $4.97 per gallon on March 16, according to the results of a survey conducted by the DOER. Kerosene prices rose to $5.87 per gallon. Heating fuel prices are updated weekly by the DOER and available to view here. [RELATED: Maine Heating Fuel Prices Climb] “As…

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed a measure into law that provides funding to the state’s Public Defenders Service (PDS). This comes just days after the agency announced it had run out of money to pay its attorneys. According to a PDS press release, final payments for FY26 were set to be made on March 23. Beyond that, lawyers would not have been paid until mid-July, when the new fiscal year begins. This emergency piece of legislation allocates a total of $22 million from the state’s General Fund to keep these services running, including $13 million for FY26 and $9…

Maine’s median home sale price rose to $395,000 in February this year with a total of 691 single-family residences exchanging hands. Home sale volume was down 8.84 percent compared to this time last year, while median sale prices were up 3.34 percent. According to the Maine Association of Realtors, February is typically a low point in the year for home sales. During this same period, home sales nationally decreased by 1.1 percent while prices rose 0.2 percent to $401,800. The median home sale price in the Northeast for February came in at $479,800, a 3.3 percent hike over last year,…

The State of Maine has awarded a total of $12 million for the construction of affordable apartments in Bangor, Portland, and South Portland. This funding stems from the Home for Good program, also known as the Housing First program, which was established by the Legislature in 2023 to support the provision of “permanent housing to address chronic homelessness in the State.” State law requires that “services facilitated under the program must be available on site, 24 hours per day and be designed to build independent living skills and connect individuals with community-based services.” As a result of these $12 million…

The Maine Department of Energy Resources (DOER) announced last week that heating fuel prices are on the rise. In just one week, the cost of a gallon of heating oil was said to have gone up 89 cents. The DOER pointed out in a Thursday press release that this spike occurred following the start of the conflict in Iran. The statewide average price per gallon of heating oil increased from $3.94 on March 2 to $4.83 on March 9, according to the results of a survey conducted by the DOER. Kerosene prices rose to $5.80 per gallon, up from $4.96…

Thirteen attorneys general have joined together in a lawsuit against OneMain Financial for allegedly adding unwanted products and hidden costs to borrowers’ loans, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in hidden charges. According to the lawsuit filed Monday in New York, the plaintiffs allege that OneMain Financial employed the practice of guiding customers toward purchasing credit insurance and other loan-related products while making misleading claims about what was actually required, as well as what the cancellation process was. The attorneys general argued in their complaint doing so violated state consumer protection laws and impacted tens of thousands of borrowers.…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Sen. Angus King (I) have joined a bipartisan but primarily Democratic group of lawmakers in calling upon the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release the remaining $400 million in heating assistance funds for FY26. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income households pay utility bills, address energy crises, and lower costs by improving home energy efficiency through weatherization. Last year, nearly six million households nationwide received assistance through LIHEAP. Eligibility for LIHEAP aid is based on income, family size, and the availability of…

Both the Maine State House and Senate have unanimously approved an emergency bill expanding the state’s sales tax exemption for the sale and delivery of residential electricity. Originating as a proposal to establish a refundable tax credit worth as much as $600, LD 2078 was later amended to a more straightforward expansion of the existing structure. Under current state law, the first 750 kilowatt hours of electricity are exempt from sales tax, as well as “off-peak residential electricity used for space heating or water heating.” Any electricity consumed by customers enrolled in low-income assistance programs is also exempted from sales…

Lawmakers in the Maine State Senate have followed suit with their House colleagues in advancing a measure that would require political communications using images or videos that have been manipulated or altered to include a disclaimer. Coming down along strictly partisan lines, all Democrats voted in support of the bill, while all Republicans voted in opposition. The bill now faces a final vote in the Senate before likely being sent to Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) desk for a signature. Titled An Act Regarding Synthetic Material in Campaign Advertising, LD 517 looks to levy a fine of up to 500 percent…

Members of Maine’s congressional delegation have called upon the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to reopen the recently closed Tax Assistance Centers (TACs) in Bangor and Augusta. TACs are physical offices offering support to those who lack stable internet access, need help navigating technology, or otherwise require in-person assistance with their taxes. Should these closures remain permanent, the only remaining TAC in Maine would be located in South Portland. The lawmakers pointed out in their Thursday press release that for someone living in Fort Kent, getting to this TAC would require a ten-hour, 600-mile drive. Joining the push to reopen the…

The Falmouth School Department and Superintendent Steve Nolan are facing a lawsuit for allegedly not providing students the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. A high school student and his father filed suit on March 3, 2026, alleging that the school violated a 2011 state statute requiring that students be offered the chance to recite the Pledge at some point during the school day. As reported by the Portland Press Herald, plaintiff Christopher Hickey, on behalf of his son Clayton Hickey, claimed that during his two years in attendance at the school, recitation of the Pledge has not been…

South Portland voters will be asked this November to weigh in on an $87 million bond to construct new fire and police stations. This comes after the City Council rejected a $194 million bond to renovate the former Mahoney Middle School property into a comprehensive City Center complex, including a renovated theater, gym and community space. Under that proposal, a new police station would have been built on the former Mahoney athletic field. A new fire station was slated for construction on the department’s existing Broadway location. Due to the high cost, however, the City has since moved in a…

The Maine State Housing Authority announced Thursday that the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) will continue accepting applications through May 29, 2026. This federally funded program is designed to help eligible low- and moderate-income households pay a portion of their home heating costs. MaineHousing officials have explained that funding is still currently available for the program but warned that demand may increase as winter continues amidst rising prices. “MaineHousing and our community action agency partners across Maine stand ready to help as we head through the final weeks of winter and energy prices continue to climb,” MaineHousing Director Dan Brennan…

Maine lawmakers have advanced a bill that would require political communications using images or videos that have been manipulated or altered to include a disclaimer. House lawmakers approved the bill in a largely partisan roll call vote of 73-65, so it will now be sent to the Senate for further consideration. No House Democrats voted against the measure, meanwhile only one Republican voted in favor of it. This reflects the split that emerged earlier this month among members of the Judiciary Committee. Titled An Act Regarding Synthetic Material in Campaign Advertising, LD 517 looks to levy a fine of up…

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a tentative settlement in the antitrust lawsuit filed against Live Nation and Ticketmaster two years ago for allegedly monopolizing the live entertainment industry. This comes less than a week after proceedings began in New York federal court. Although a number of states joined the federal government in its 2024 challenge, Maine was not among this group. As part of the tentative agreement, Ticketmaster would be required to allow venues to sell a portion of their tickets through other companies. Half of all tickets at amphitheaters owned, operated, or controlled by Live…

Lawmakers have asked the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to consider weighing in on the constitutionality of expanding the use of ranked-choice voting to all state elections. The request for the court’s opinion came almost immediately after the House advanced the bill in early February. LD 1666 has remained as unfinished business before the Senate in the weeks since it was sent to the chamber for final approval. Maine has used ranked-choice voting for federal offices since 2018, but the Maine Supreme Court explained in a 2017 advisory opinion that requiring candidates for state offices to earn majority support would violate…