Author: Libby Palanza

Democrat lawmakers in Augusta have introduced a bill that would impose a three percent sales tax on hotel rentals in order to increase the amount of state funding available for public schools. If approved, an additional three percent sales tax would levied on the cost of renting a room in a hotel or other lodging place beginning on January 1, 2026. Under current law, hotel rentals are already subject to a nine percent sales tax, also known as a lodging tax. The supporters of the proposal intend for the additional funds to be “credited directly” to the Maine Department of…

An effort is underway to give Maine citizens the right to elect their constitutional officers, including the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Treasurer. Currently, lawmakers in the House and Senate are responsible for selecting individuals to fill these critical roles, with votes held every two years during the Legislature’s First Regular Session. Nationwide, Maine is one of only a handful of states to this, making it the exception rather than the rule. A group of Republican lawmakers, however, have now proposed a series of amendments to the state constitution that would allow Mainers to popularly elect who serves in…

Officials announced Thursday morning that there not believed to be any survivors from the crash that occurred late Wednesday night in the Washington D.C. area as a passenger was on final approach to the Reagan National Airport. An American Airlines flight out of Wichita, Kansas collided midair around 9pm Wednesday with a military Blackhawk helicopter over the Potomac River. There were 60 passengers and 4 crew members aboard the flight involved in the crash, and the helicopter carried three U.S. soldiers. Information is slowly becoming available about the victims of this tragedy. Six of those on the plane had ties…

Maine elementary and middle school students are continuing to struggle academically, according to the 2024 Nation’s Report Card. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — commonly known as the Nation’s Report Card — has been used to gauge students’ level of academic achievement since 1969. NAEP describes itself as “the largest nationally representative, continuing evaluation of the condition of education in the United States.” Maine’s fourth graders are having an especially hard time in both reading and math, performing worse in comparison to both prior years’ scores and their counterparts nationwide. Eighth graders in Maine also had a poor…

An American Airlines flight out of Wichita, Kansas crashed in the Washington D.C. area Wednesday night near the Reagan National Airport after colliding midair with a military Blackhawk helicopter. American Airlines has said that 60 passengers and 4 crew members were aboard the flight involved in the crash. As of 11:30pm Wednesday night, officials have not publicly confirmed any injuries or fatalities in connection with the crash. Washington D.C. police launched a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River in conjunction with other emergency response agencies. Footage of the scene shows a massive response to the incident with what…

The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) released two guides Monday for employers looking to opt out of the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Program in favor of using their own private plan, though concerns about an overlap in payments and a challenge to the constitutionality of the new benefit persist. MDOL’s guides come just a couple weeks after the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Bath Iron Works sued the agency, alleging that the rules it adopted late last year to govern the program are inconsistent with the law establishing the program. While the law guarantees that businesses…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) delivered her 2025 State of the Budget Address to a joint session of the Maine Legislature Tuesday night. In order to reach the chamber, though, the governor had to skirt a crowd of Mainers who had gathered to protest her proposed budget just outside its doors. Demonstrators told the Maine Wire that they had expected to be able to silently protest from the chamber’s upper gallery, but found out they would not be able to do so when they arrived. Unlike in prior years, on Tuesday night the gallery was closed to the public during Tuesday’s…

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt of New Hampshire held the Trump Administration’s first official press briefing Tuesday afternoon. At just 27 years old, Leavitt is now the youngest White House Press Secretary in United States history. Leavitt studied communications and political science at Saint Anselm College, a Catholic institution in her home state of New Hampshire, where she was regularly involved with the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. While a student, Leavitt interned at Fox News during the 2016 election cycle. After graduating, she began working for President Donald Trump (R) under former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. After leaving…

The United States Supreme Court is set to consider the constitutionality of the nation’s first religious charter school. Originating in Oklahoma, this case focuses on St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School and its application for public funding through the state’s charter school program. Although charter schools operate independently from the public school system, they are funded with taxpayers’ dollars and are free for any student to attend. Oklahoma’s top court stuck down the school’s application to participate in the charter program this past June, arguing that charter schools must be non-sectarian — or non-religious — due to their relationship…

Republican lawmakers have proposed creating a minimum “student wage” in Maine, allowing employers to pay some high school students a lower rate than is currently mandated by state law. Under this legislation, students could be paid at a rate half that of the current state minimum wage — or $7.33 an hour — for at least two years while they are in high school. Once students graduate from high school — regardless of how long they have been employed — they must be paid Maine’s standard minimum wage of $14.65 an hour. LD 112 — An Act to Promote Opportunities…

Maine lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that would incrementally increase the state’s property tax homestead exemption over the next several years. By lowering the tax-assessed value of Mainers’ homes, the homestead exemption helps to reduce the total property tax bill for which homeowners are responsible. Currently, the homestead exemption allows Mainers to take $25,000 off the total tax-assessed value of their homes. Under the proposed legislation, this would increase by $10,000 annually beginning in 2026 until it reaches a total of $95,000 in 2033. At this point, the homestead exemption would continue to increase annually in accordance with the…

The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation’s Secretary of Defense in a vote held late Friday night. With three Republicans opposing Hegseth’s nomination — including Sens. Susan Collins (R), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — Vice President J.D. Vance stepped in to break the tie. This is only the second time in this nation’s history that the vice president has had to cast a tie breaking vote for a cabinet nominee, the first being when then Vice President Mike Pence voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of Education in 2017. #BREAKING: U.S. Senate CONFIRMS Pete…

Some Maine students are granted the ability to attend a public school outside of their home district through what is known as a Superintendent Agreement. Although current state law requires these contracts to be reviewed annually, a bipartisan bill introduced earlier this month would allow these agreements to automatically be renewed each year. While these agreement could still be terminated under certain circumstances — for example, if a student is not regularly attending class or is consistently disruptive — making renewal automatic would ease the process for many Maine families making use of this program. LD 218 — An Act…

A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s (R) Executive Order redefining birthright citizenship. This comes just days after several lawsuits were filed against the president for allegedly violating the Fourteenth Amendment and federal law by declaring that the children of those who are in the country illegally or temporarily are not guaranteed United States citizenship. Whether or not the children of illegal aliens, visa-holders, and those with pending asylum claims will automatically become U.S. citizens will depend on how courts — potentially including the U.S. Supreme Court — ultimately interpret the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Senior U.S.…

A group of Democratic lawmakers have put forward a plan to restructure Maine’s income tax brackets, a proposal that will result in higher taxes on the state’s individuals who earn more than $144,500 per year. LD 229 — An Act to Bring Fairness in Income Taxes to Maine Families by Adjusting the Tax Brackets and Tax Rates — was sponsored by Rep. Ann Higgins Matlack (D-St. George). The progressive tax scheme is also cosponsored by Rep. Anne P. Graham (D-North Yarmouth), Rep. Lori K. Gramlich (D-Old Orchard Beach), Rep. Julia A.G. McCabe (D-Lewiston), Rep. Amy J. Roeder (D-Bangor), and Rep.…

Lawmakers in Augusta will be considering a proposal to establish “hope accounts” for Maine students who either are home-schooled or attend a private school. These hope accounts would allow parents who do not send their children to public school to use a portion of funds that would otherwise have gone to their local school districts for alternative education-related expenses, such as home-schooling materials or private school tuition. The Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Program — proposed by a group of Maine Republican lawmakers — is similar to other education savings account (ESA) programs that have already been implemented in seventeen states…

A group of Maine Republicans have introduced legislation that would withdraw the state from the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an agreement among the states that could bring about sweeping changes to how the President of the United States is elected. If enough states were to join the Compact, it would effectively override the electoral college by guaranteeing that the winner of the national popular vote would always be elected president, regardless of who earned the most electoral votes. In April of last year, Gov. Janet Mills (D) allowed the Compact to become law without her signature, officially making Maine…

The State of Maine, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine (ACLU Maine), have filed lawsuits against the Trump Administration over an Executive Order signed Monday redefining birthright citizenship. “That’s a big one,” President Donald Trump (R) said as an aide handed him the Executive Order. “We’re the only country in the world that does this,” said President Trump. “It’s ridiculous.” Donald Trump just signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants.This is one of the most important issues he can pick a fight on. It will be challenged immediately, and we need to stand…

A group of Republican lawmakers in Maine are hoping to repeal Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) this legislative session. LD 234 — An Act to Eliminate Ranked-Choice Voting — was sponsored by Rep. Richard H. Campbell (R-Orrington) and cosponsored by Rep. Amy Bradstreet Arata (R-New Gloucester), Rep. Irene A. Gifford (R-Lincoln), Rep. Randall Adam Greenwood (R-Wales), Rep. Abigail W. Griffin (R-Levant), Rep. Shelley Rudnicki (R-Fairfield), Rep. Michael Soboleski (R-Phillips), and Rep. Tiffany Strout (R-Harrington). In the wake of the November 5 election — during which a number of critical state, local, and federal races were on the ballot — ranked choice voting…

A federal judge has denied a Belfast church’s request to halt the sale of a former University of Maine (UMaine) property after the school reneged on their initial decision to sell to the church. Calvary Chapel Belfast’s legal team has subsequently signaled that they intend to continue fighting the school’s ability to sell the former Hutchinson Center to another buyer while their case is pending before the courts. Federal Judge Stacey Neumann ruled against the church Friday morning, denying their request for a temporary restraining order that would halt the sale of the property to another buyer while the church’s…

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Bath Iron Works (BIW) have sued the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) over their rules implementing the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Program. In the lawsuit, the Chamber of Commerce, which represents large businesses in Maine, and BIW, a subsidiary of defense contractor General Dynamics, allege that portions of MDOL’s recently announced rules contradict the law that established the new program. Separately, BIW argues that the new program represents a violation of Maine businesses’ constitutional rights. The emerging legal battle stems from a program that was the brainchild of Senate President…

The Biden Administration has awarded Maine a $22 million grant for the state’s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub. In October of 2023, the organization was designed as one of thirty-one Federal “Tech Hubs,” opening the door for additional funding opportunities going forward. According to Gov. Janet Mills (D), the Tech Hub was designed to “accelerate development of new materials and products derived from wood that can bolster critical industries like housing, eliminate the use of toxic materials, and replace imported plastics and other materials derived from fossil fuels.” This latest round of funding builds upon around $1 million worth…

Maine lawmakers have proposed doing away with the cost-of-living adjustment for the state’s minimum wage this legislative session. Under the proposed Republican-led legislation, the state minimum wage would be set at $14.65 per hour and all references to cost-of-living increases would be removed. LD 206 was sponsored by Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin) and cosponsored by Rep. Joshua Morris (R-Turner), Sen. Jim Libby (R-Cumberland), Sen. Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook), Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor), and Rep. Sheila A. Lyman (R-Livermore Falls). Under current State Law, the hourly minimum wage must be increased in accordance with the cost of living as of…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has again proposed implementing a tax on streaming service subscriptions in Maine that would raise the cost of most popular entertainment streaming by 5.5 percent. Although lawmakers ultimately rejected the governor’s efforts to include a streaming service tax in the supplemental budget signed into law in 2024, Gov. Mills has again include such a provision in her latest proposed biennial budget. [RELATED: Streaming Service Subscriptions May Soon Be Taxed in Maine] If approved, Mainers would be required to pay a 5.5 percent tax on the cost of their streaming service subscriptions. Among other updates to the…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) released her proposed biennial budget Friday, accompanied by a 129-page piece of enacting legislation. Among these pages are a number of tax increases and higher fees, as well as a new tax on subscription-based streaming services and new fees assessed against health care providers. Below, the Maine Wire breaks down some of changes that Gov. Mills has suggested making to the taxes and fees assessed by the Maine State Government in her latest proposed biennial budget. Proposed Tax Increases Under Part E of Mills’ proposed budget legislation, the tax rate for cigarettes would be increased from…

Maine will be sending two firefighting crews to California to help battle the devastating fires that continue to ravage the state. The two crews will consist of eight Forest Rangers and twelve volunteer firefighters. These first responders will spend two weeks in California assisting in the “response and recovery efforts.” These Mainers are expected to arrive in California by Tuesday evening to begin offering support. “In times of emergency and crisis, states step up to help one another and that is what we are proud to be doing here,” Gov. Janet Mills (D) said in a statement Monday. “Our highly…

Maine leaders have decided that the state will not be increasing the minimum legal catch size for lobsters this July as was originally expected. Following a meeting in Augusta this past Thursday where dozens of lobstermen voiced strong opposition to the rule change, Maine Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) Commissioner Patrick Keliher issued a statement announcing the decision. “Last night, after hearing loud and clear from Maine lobster industry members that they are unified in their opposition to a proposed rule change that would increase the minimum gauge size starting in July of this year, with approval from Governor Mills…

A federal court in Kentucky has blocked the Biden Administration’s effort to redefine the term “sex” in Title IX to include expressions of “gender identity.” Chief Judge Danny Reeves argues in his ruling that the updated Title IX regulations exceed the Department of Education’s authority, violate the Constitution, are the result of “arbitrary and capricious” agency action. First enacted in the 1970s, Title IX represents a landmark piece of civil rights legislation designed to prohibit sex-based discrimination in any school or educational program receiving federal funding. Title IX states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of…

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments Friday morning in the case concerning a potential ban of the popular, Chinese-owned social media app TikTok. Justices are expected to rule quickly in this case, as the app is set to be banned in U.S. app stores in just a matter of days. The deadline for TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to comply with the law’s divestiture requirement is January 19, just nine days after the Justices heard the case. During roughly two-and-a-half hours worth of oral arguments, the Justices appeared somewhat skeptical of the arguments made by TikTok and on behalf…

Sen. Craig Hickman (D-Kennebec) has sponsored a bipartisan bill that would grant the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee (GOC) the right to receive otherwise confidential records in order to carry out their responsibilities. This legislation has been cosponsored by a number of both Democrats and Republicans, including: Rep. Amy Bradstreet Arata (R-New Gloucester), Sen. Donna Bailey (D-York), Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford), Sen. Jill Duson (D-Cumberland), Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin), Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot), Rep. Mark John Blier (R-Buxton), Rep. Adam R. Lee (D-Auburn), and Rep. Holly B. Stover (D-Boothbay). In late December, the Maine Supreme Court blocked the GOC from obtaining…

A bipartisan bill imposing an “impact fee” on megayachts has been introduced by Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) and co-sponsored by Rep. Grayson B. Lookner (D-Portland). The fees collected under this law would go toward supporting harbor infrastructure and public transit. Under the proposed legislation, “megayachts” are defined as “privately owned pleasure vessel[s]” that are over 150 feet in length. Exempted from this definition are a large range of vessels, including those used to fishing, research, construction, or military purposes. More specifically, commercial fishing vessels, commercial cruise vessels with over 20 passengers, commercial scientific research vessels, marine salvage or construction equipment…

The first bill of Maine’s 132nd Legislature is a governor’s bill aimed at implementing the recommendations from the Maine Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience Commissions established in response to this past winter’s devastating storms. The proposed legislation has been cosponsored by both the Republican and Democratic members of the State Legislature’s leadership. If approved, this bill would establish a new grant program for homeowners, as well as a fund to improve disaster communications and provide matching funds for federal disaster programs. This legislation would also create the State Resilience Office to support efforts to reduce damage from severe storms and floods.…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has proposed elevating the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) to a cabinet-level department as part of her upcoming biennial budget proposal. In a press release published Thursday, Gov. Mills suggested that establishing a Maine Department of Energy Resources “would allow for a more integrated, comprehensive, and consistent approach to the planning and management of Maine’s energy system, helping Maine more effectively prioritize affordable and reliable energy for all Maine people and businesses.” According to her statement, making this move would be a “budget neutral initiative.” Mills goes on to explain that Maine is one of only a…

Oral arguments were heard Tuesday in the cases filed by two Maine Christian schools — St. Dominic Academy in Auburn and Crosspoint Church, which runs Bangor Christian School — against the state for allegedly violating their freedom of religion. The controversy at the center of this case surrounds a 2021 amendment to the Maine Human Rights Act that did away with certain exemptions for religious schools that receive funding through the state’s longstanding Town Tuitioning program. Town Tuitioning, first launched in 1873, allows students residing in districts without a public school to attend the public or private school of their…

After a year in which many Mainers were burdened with skyrocketing property tax bills, state lawmakers are poised to consider a bill giving senior citizens an additional measure of relief. Introduced by Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford), LD 7 — An Act to Increase the Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Residents 65 Years of Age or Older — would increase the value of the homestead exemption to $75,000 for Mainers 65 and up. Currently, the max value of the homestead exemption is set at $25,000. Under the proposed law, seniors would qualify for the increased exemption if they have resided in…

Maine lawmakers have officially begun submitting bills for the new legislative session scheduled to begin Wednesday, and among these are a number of proposed laws concerning the state’s education system. These proposed pieces of legislation cover a wide range of subjects, including cursive writing, a new higher education grant program, teachers’ salaries, and public school enrollment for military-connected students. The Maine Wire breaks down some of the first education bills set to come before lawmakers in the new legislative session. LD 21 — An Act to Update the Provision of Law Concerning Student Codes of Conduct in Order to Reflect…

President Joe Biden (D) signed the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) — authored by Sens. Susan Collins (R) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) — into law Sunday. The SSFA will repeal two provisions currently in place — Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) — that reduce the amount of Social Security benefits for which public employees and their spouses are eligible. Lawmakers in the House of Representatives approved this bill by a margin of 327-75, while Senate lawmakers passed it 76-20. These changes will be applicable for benefits paid after December 2023. Source: Social Security AdministrationPIA –…

Going into the first session of the 132nd Legislature, lawmakers have already submitted two bills aimed at rolling back restrictions on the bags available to Mainers at the grocery store. While one proposed bill aims to do away with the five cent fee on paper grocery bags, another seeks to repeal the law regulating grocery bag usage in its entirety. LD 56 — An Act to Remove the 5 Cent Fee for Bags in Retail Stores — was sponsored by Rep. Michael H. Lemelin (R-Chelsea) and amends Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1611 sub-§3 to remove the provision requiring retail establishments…

Over the past few years, Maine’s child welfare system has come under fire for its failure to protect the state’s most vulnerable children. The Child Welfare Ombudsman’s 2024 Annual Report describes these continued shortcomings and offers recommendations for improvement. Contracted with the Governor’s Office and overseen by the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, the Child Welfare Ombudsman is responsible for assisting Mainers in resolving “concerns and complaints” with Maine’s Child Protective Services Department of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Ombudsman also publishes an annual report that details the findings of their investigations, as well as…

Commissioner of Maine’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Heather Johnson will be stepping down from her position on March 1 of this year. Johnson was first appointed by Gov. Janet Mills (D) in 2019 and since then has been described as a “driving force” behind the governor’s “efforts to strengthen, grow, and diversify Maine’s economy.” “It has been an honor to serve Governor Mills and Maine people as Commissioner of Economic and Community Development,” Johnson said in a statement Monday. “Together, despite historic challenges, we have a built stronger, more inclusive Maine economy. I know there is always…

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has officially been reelected as Speaker of the House, allowing lawmakers to move forward with their other critical responsibilities. Several lawmakers delayed casting their votes for Speaker until the end of the first round Friday, leaving Johnson’s fate uncertain throughout the initial rundown of representatives. Those initially remaining silent on their votes were: Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX), Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX). All six ultimately supported Johnson. Three Republicans initially voted against Johnson, including: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Rep. Ralph…

Maine lawmakers are set to receive a 61 percent higher salary than their predecessors when they reconvene next week. This comes as a result of legislation included in the most recent budget signed into law raising lawmakers’ compensation from $28,000 for a two-year term to $45,000. Legislators will receive $25,000 for the first session and $20,000 for the second session. Beginning in 2026, after Gov. Janet Mills (D) is termed out of office, the governor’s salary will also rise, increasing from $70,000 annually to $125,000 annually. The governor’s expense account will also quadruple from $10,000 to $40,000. These changes represent…

The FBI issued an update Thursday on the terrorist attack that took place in the early hours of the day on January 1 in New Orleans on Burboun Street. Officials have indicated that there is “no definitive link” at this time between this attack and the Tesla Cybertruck loaded with fireworks and camping fuel driven by 37-year-old Matthew Alan Livelsberger that was involved in an explosion outside of Trump Tower in Las Vegas on the same day. Although initial reports were unclear as to whether or not there were multiple people involved in the New Orleans attack, it is now…

Beginning Monday, Maine childcare facilities are no longer permitted to use baby gates under most circumstances. Under the new guidance from the Maine Fire Marshall’s Office, baby gates can only be used to protect children from hazards, such as fireplaces or stoves. An October 18 communication from the Fire Marshall explained that “means of egress” must be “continuously maintained free of all obstructions or impediments” in case of fire or another emergency, and “any type of barrier including, but not limited to gates, is an impediment to free movement in the means of egress.” According to this memo, it was…

Beginning on Wednesday, January 1, Maine’s minimum wage will go up to $14.65 per hour — a fifty cent increase over 2023 — in order to keep pace with the cost of living. Under current State Law, the hourly minimum wage must be increased in accordance with the cost of living as of August the previous year, rounded to the nearest five cents. In addition to this, the new tip wage has been set at $7.33 per hour, up from $7.08, such that it remains at fifty percent of the minimum wage. The amount of tips earned per month in…

President-elect Donald Trump (R) has endorsed Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) to again serve as Speaker of the House for the upcoming Congress. Lawmakers are set to reconvene later this week, and electing a Speaker will be their first priority. Without a Speaker in place, the House cannot move forward with critical business, including election certification. The move has caused considerable consternation among conservative commentators, including some of the president-elects most ardent supporters, who viewed Speaker Johnson’s handling of the pre-Christmas spending package as a massive betrayal of Trump’s priorities. In a statement posted to Truth Social Monday morning, president-elect Trump…

Many of Maine’s elected officials have issued statements following the death of former President Jimmy Carter at the age of 100, with Gov. Janet Mills ordering Maine flags to remain at half-staff in honor of the 39th American president. “President Carter led a remarkable life centered around service to others,” said Gov. Janet Mills (D). “As a peanut farmer, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant, Governor of Georgia, President of the United States, respected statesman and humanitarian, and a humble Sunday School teacher, President Carter spent his life working to make our world a better place.” “He was the moral conscience of…

A Maine legislative committee has been blocked by the state’s highest court from requiring a state agency to turn over confidential records concerning the deaths of four children in 2021. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled Thursday that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) cannot be compelled to give certain child protective files to the Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee (GOC). DHHS declined to turn over these records citing confidentiality, prompting the GOC to ask the Superior Court to enforce compliance with a subpoena. After this request was denied, the GOC appealed to the state’s Supreme Judicial Court.…

Some Maine voters will again be asked to go to the ballot box in February to fill a now-vacant seat in the Maine House of Representatives. The Maine Secretary of State’s Office announced this past Friday that a special election will be held in House District 24 on February 25, 2025 for the seat previously held by Rep. Joseph C. Perry (D-Bangor). Rep. Perry — who won reelection in November to serve in the state’s 132nd Legislation — resigned his seat earlier this month after being elected as the next State Treasurer. The State Treasurer’s Office became vacant when Henry…

Maine’s unemployment rate has increased slightly since October, rising to 3.1 percent. Despite this, unemployment in Maine still came in below national and regional averages. Labor force participation rates for the state also remained well below national trends, as well as those of demographically similar states. According to a press release from the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL), preliminary seasonally adjusted numbers for 2024 mirror the trends exhibited during the previous two years, with unemployment trending lower through the spring, stabilizing at “annual lows” in the summer, and rising thereafter. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that is regularly employed…

A federal judge ruled earlier this week that the trial for Ryan Routh — the man accused of attempting to assassinate former and president-elect Donald Trump (R) in Florida — will be held in September of 2025. In October, federal prosecutors asked Florida District Judge Aileen Cannon to designate this case as “complex,” allowing the timeline to stretch beyond what is typically lawful, requesting that the case be heard no earlier than December 2025. Although Routh’s trial was previously set to begin in February of next year, Judge Cannon explained in an order released this week that pushing the proceedings…

Maine’s housing market is looking promising for buyers in the final month of 2024 despite prices increasing substantially in comparison to this same time last year. The median price, however, has dropped about $10,000 since October. Maine’s median home sale price for November of $385,000 represents an 8.45 percent increase over November of 2023. Nonetheless, this is coupled with a 6.81 percent increase in the number of homes sold during this same period. “Prospective buyers are in a better situation than they were a year ago across many markets in Maine,” said Paul McKee, President of the Maine Association of…

Two months after launch and one month after moving to waiting list procedures due to high demand, the Maine State Housing Authority’s newly launched Eviction Pilot Program has made nearly $1 million in payments and is already committed for roughly $1.5 million more. These figures, however, represent just a fraction of the total amount of funding that has been allotted for the program, totaling around $18 million, 12 percent of which is set aside for administrative costs. The Eviction Pilot Program was designed to “help tenants who may be facing eviction and the loss of their housing” by paying tenants’…

The Cape Elizabeth Town Council voted unanimously Monday in favor of covering both the employer and employee contributions to the state’s new paid leave program for Town employees through the end of the fiscal year. Town Manager Patrick Fox explained in a December 10 memo to the Town Council that covering these costs through June 30, 2025, would allow more time to educate employees on the new law and its impacts. Click Here to Read the Full Memo to the Town Council Under the new program — signed into law over the summer as part of the budget legislation —…

The Town of Cape Elizabeth is revisiting the possibility of constructing a new middle school after voters narrowly rejected $94.7 million proposal for the project in November. The “Middle Ground School Project Design” bond was rejected by just 166 votes, representing only 2.47 percent of those who turned out to the polls. The $89.9 million “Middle Ground School Project Design” had been developed after two years of deliberation by the School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC), and was accompanied on the ballot by a $4.8 million addition proposed by then-Chairman Tim Reiniger that would preserve part of the existing middle school.…

The United States Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on January 10 in TikTok’s challenge to a federal law that has the potential to ban the popular social media app nationwide by the end of next month unless certain conditions are met. Although TikTok and it’s Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance asked the Court for an injunction preventing the law from taking effect, the Justices instead opted to treat their application as a petition for a writ of certiorari, which they granted. The companies’ case was consolidated with that of a group of TikTok content creators — both of…

United States Congressional leaders released another short-term funding agreement Tuesday night that, if passed, would keep the government open through March 14 of next year. Absent this legislation, the government would be facing a shutdown Friday when the stop-gap funds approved in September are set to expire. Among the hundreds of pages worth of legislation released Tuesday are not only billions of dollars worth of spending for causes such as storm relief and agriculture, but also a several-thousand-dollar pay raise for lawmakers and the ability to opt out of ObamaCare health insurance. [RELATED: Congress Kicks Fiscal Can Past Election with…

TikTok and it’s Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance have asked the United States Supreme Court to block a law that could potentially result in a nationwide ban on the app late next month. They have asked the Court to act on their request by January 6. If the Justices ultimately do decide to issue an injunction temporarily preventing the law from being enforced, it would set the stage for the Court to eventually weigh in on the constitutionality of the underlying law. Absent an injunction, the law requiring ByteDance’s complete divestment in order to avoid a ban would go into effect…

The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) released a report this week exploring the state’s projected job outlook through 2032, outlining trends such as expected job growth, demographic shifts, and industry changes. Based on the agency’s analysis, job availability is not expected to rise as quickly as the population, but they say this differential will likely be mitigated by “productivity gains.” The MDOL also projects that several occupations in the health care, professional, and legal fields will grow over the next few years while office administrative positions and repetitive production jobs will decline due to the spread of automation. Source: MDOL…

Over 60 percent of Americans are supportive of expanding educational freedom for students nationwide, according to a new poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of yes. every kid. foundation. All three of the school choice policies included in the poll received support from at least 60 percent respondents, being backed by as many three-out-of-four K-12 parents. This survey also found that 57 percent of voters rated education as having an importance between eight and ten, with Black adults (72 percent), dads (71 percent), and Democrats (67 percent) doing so most frequently. K-12 parents (66 percent) and moms (63 percent) closely…

The United States House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday limiting the Department of Energy’s (DOE) authority to enforce energy conservation mandates for washing machines. Under HR 7673 — also known as the Liberty in Laundry Act — the DOE would be prevented from enforcing such regulation unless they are (1) are “technologically feasible and economically justified,” (2) do not increase consumers’ net costs, and (3) would result in “significant conservation of energy.” All Republicans who participated in the vote supported the bill, alongside six Democrats: Reps. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Donald G. Davis (D-NC), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX),…

Rep. Josh Morris (R-Turner) has formally submitted a bill that, if passed, would repeal the state’s new payroll tax—set to take effect on January 1—that is designed to fund the recently established Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Titled “An Act To Stop Government Overreach and Repeal Payroll Taxes,” the proposed legislation was filed as an emergency so that all relevant payroll taxes collected for the program would be returned to Mainers immediately. Under the new program — signed into law over the summer as part of the budget legislation — Maine workers will be eligible to take up to…

Two Maine-based political action committees (PACs) and their founder have sued members of the state’s ethics commission and Attorney General Aaron Frey over the new limits on PAC contributions approved by voters in November. Brought by the Dinner Table — a Maine PAC focused on “faith, family, and freedom” and dedicated to supporting “conservative candidates” — and its founder, Alex Titcomb, this lawsuit challenges the newly-enacted $5,000 annual limit on contributions to “independent-expenditure only” PACs, more commonly known as Super PACs. Part of this lawsuit as well is the For Our Future PAC, also founded by Titcomb and described in…

Recent reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveal that inflation continued to climb in November. As a result of this, the BLS explained separately that real average hourly earnings for all employees remained unchanged from October to November. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) — widely recognized as a critical indicator of inflation — rose .3 percent in November, contributing to a 2.7 percent increase over this same time last year. This represents an increase over the .2 percent by which the CPI has risen in each of the past four months. Although current inflation rates are still…

Many who are self-employed can expect to receive a new tax form next year following a recent rule change by the IRS. This update, however, will not impact what income must be reported to the government or how much tax is owed on it. The new regulations require online platforms — such as Etsy, Airbnb, and Uber — and payment apps — including PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App — to issue a 1099-K to those whose annual gross payments exceed $5,000 in 2024, $2,500 in 2025, and $600 in 2026. These income thresholds apply regardless of how many transactions are…

Social media platform TikTok and its Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance have asked an appeals court to temporarily block a law requiring divestment by January 19 in order to avoid a ban in the United States pending review of their case by the U.S. Supreme Court. The emergency motion filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia argues that, absent an injunction, the law will “shut down TikTok — one of the nation’s most popular speech platforms — for its more than 170 million domestic monthly users on the eve of a presidential inauguration.” [RELATED: TikTok…

Electricity Maine is set to begin sending out payments to eligible customers as part of a settlement reached with the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) over unfair billing practices. It has been estimated that, in total, about 20,000 Mainers will be paid in connection with this settlement. Approved by the Maine PUC in October, the settlement ended a lengthy investigation into the company after it switched customers to variable rate contracts without their consent. When these rate changes were made, customers saw notable price increases, going up for some by hundreds of dollars, according to the Bangor Daily News. During…

The United States Supreme Court announced Monday that they will not be hearing a case out of Wisconsin challenging a school district’s gender identity policies. Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas dissented. As a result of this decision, the lower court’s ruling that the parents lacked standing to bring this case — which did not consider the merits of the case — will be upheld. Filed against the Eau Claire Area School District, the lawsuit alleges that the district “facilitate[s] gender identity transitions at school and [keeps] this hidden from parents who would disagree that it is in…

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday morning in a case out of Tennessee concerning bans on the provision of certain medications to minors for the purpose of so-called “gender-affirming care.” United States v. Skrmetti focuses specifically on restricting the prescription of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone therapies to minors. The case has the potential to have broad implications for the legality of other laws governing issues associated with gender identity, such as the participation of biological men in women’s sports and the use of bathrooms that do not align with one’s biological sex. During oral arguments Wednesday,…

Following the swearing in of the 132nd Maine State Legislature on Wednesday, Sen. Rick Bennett (R-Oxford) was set to introduce an order directing the Joint Rules Committee to consider and report on a number of recommendations made by lawmakers at the close of the previous session, including serious reforms to the use of “concept draft” bills. The order also asks the Committee to think about adjusting cloture dates, limiting sponsorship and co-sponsorship, reworking the issuance of notices for public hearings, making sponsor amendments more readily available, and improving the consistency of such processes across all committees. In addition to this,…

The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) released Wednesday the final rules for the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program set to launch, in part, in just four weeks. These rules include several updates from the second draft released for public comment in September, most notably with respect to employers’ ability to assert that an employee’s request for leave would constitute an “undue hardship” on their business. Over the summer, Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed a budget into law that included, among other things, legislation establishing the program with a starting appropriation of $25 million for the MDOL.…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced Tuesday that applications are now open for a second round of funding from the Business Recovery and Resilience Fund (BRRF). Grants through this program are available to small businesses impacted by the storms that swept through Maine last winter. About $2 million remains in the fund and will be allocated to businesses and non-profits in up to $100,000 portions, covering up to half of the total project costs. The BRRF was established under the most recent supplemental budget approved by lawmakers as part of a larger $60 million spending package designed in response to this…

The University of Maine (UMaine) has denied Calvary Chapel Belfast’s appeal of the institution’s decision to sell the former Hutchinson Center to a non-profit organization after originally accepting the church’s bid. On November 20, the church filed a formal appeal of the university’s decision to renege on their offer. UMaine’s response Monday argued that that there was “insufficient evidence” to “warrant overturning” their offer to sell to a non-profit organization. Calvary Chapel Belfast filed a lawsuit against the school in late November after UMaine went back on their offer to sell the property to the church, alleging that the decision…

Ranked choice voting has recently taken center stage following the November 5 election, during which a number of critical state, local, and federal races were on the ballot. In the days that have followed, complications have arisen and caused significant delays in the tabulation process for the race between incumbent Rep. Jared Golden (D) and Maine State Rep. Austin Theriault (R-Fort Kent). Because neither of these candidates were found to have over fifty percent of votes cast — due in large part to a significant number of “blank” first-choice selections and the presence of a declared write-in candidate — the…

The Maine State Housing Authority announced this past Wednesday that the agency had awarded $12.8 million worth of state and federal affordable housing tax credits across seven projects in four counties representing a total of 319 units. Taken together, it is estimated that these tax credits will generate $73.4 million in equity from private investors, $8.4 million in subsidy, and $34.5 million in loans from the Maine State Housing Authority. The 319 units represent a combination of those which need to undergo preservation efforts and those which are yet to be built. Projects set to receive these tax credits are…

The South Portland City Council unanimously approved the creation of a new Tax Increment Financing District (TIF District) and thirty year credit enhancement agreement (CEA) — or property tax reimbursement plan — for a mixed-use housing project slated to be built in the heart of Mill Creek. Set to be located at 170 Ocean Street, this nearly $79 million development will have 17,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor and 124 to 146 studio and one-bedroom units on the upper floors. City officials explained at a recent Council meeting that the development would not require any zoning…

Editor’s Note: The endorsement covered below reflects the opinion of the Maine Republican Party and not the Senate Republican or House Republican caucuses. The Maine Republican Party announced Tuesday that they intend to nominate Robert B. Charles for the position of Maine Attorney General. In Maine, Constitutional Officers — including the Attorney General, Secretary of State, the State Auditor, and State Treasurer — are selected biennially as the start of the first session of the Legislature. Charles is a Maine attorney who grew up in Wayne, graduated from Maranacook High School, and went on to attend Dartmouth College, Oxford University,…

A Saturday recount revealed that Bar Harbor residents rejected an updated cruise ship disembarkation ordinance by just 65 votes, upholding the original results of the vote reported following the election. This represents a slight increase in opposition votes over the initial count when it was found that the measure had been rejected by just 63 votes. In comparing the results, the total of votes in support of the new ordinance increased from 1,713 to 1,714, while the number of votes against the measure rose from 1,776 to 1,779. [RELATED: Bar Harbor Voters Narrowly Reject New Approach to Cruise Ship Regulation…

The State of Maine reached a settlement Tuesday with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in a lawsuit over alleged violations of the the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) due to their handling of children with behavioral disabilities. According to the lawsuit filed in September, the State “unnecessarily segregat[ed] children with behavioral health disabilities in hospitals, residential facilities and a state-operated juvenile detention facility,” thus violates their rights under the ADA. As part of this settlement, the State of Maine will make a number of improvements to the availability of community-based services for these children. The DOJ filed their…

The Maine Climate Council has released an updated version of the state’s four-year plan concerning climate change, “Maine Won’t Wait.” This report outlines the state’s policy goals and objectives over the next few years, giving a preview of what can expected from the state government in the near future with respect to environmental policy. As explained in the report, the state will be pursuing policies to achieve an “accelerated goal” of having a 100 percent “clean electricity” grid by 2040. [RELATED: Green Energy’s Soaring Costs Outweigh Projected Benefits for New England: Think Tank Report…] Among the major priorities identified in…

A federal judge in Bangor has ruled against five Maine lobstermen who sued Maine Department of Marine Fisheries (MDMR) Commissioner Patrick Keliher in January of this year over new rules mandating that all federally permitted lobster boats be equipped with a 24-hour electronic location monitoring system. The ruling grants Commissioner Keliher’s motion to dismiss, thus rendering the lobstermen’s motion for a preliminary injunction moot. These mandated devices — provided by the MDMR — identify a vessel’s location every sixty seconds while in motion and once every six hours when stationary. Using one of these devices, a boat’s position is able…

The median price of homes in Maine has increased more than five percent compared to this same time last year, reaching $395,000 in October 2024. Despite rising prices, the number of homes sold in the state has also increased to 1,481, a 3.21 percent jump over October of 2023. According to Paul McKee, President of the Maine Association of Realtors, “regional variations” can be seen across the state, as some markets are seeing homes receive multiple offers, while others show for-sale inventory trending upward and stabilizing prices. “Maine needs additional housing supply,” McKee said. “As markets gradually move toward a…

On Tuesday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg requested to delay former and President-elect Donald Trump’s sentencing on the thirty-four felony counts of falsifying business records until 2029, meanwhile the defense team is seeking a complete dismissal. In recent months, former and President-elect Trump had been at the center of several legal battles throughout the country, although the charges brought against him by Bragg in New York went the furthest. Following Trump’s substantial electoral win earlier this month, however, questions were raised about how these challenges will proceed, particularly with respect to the felony counts levied against him by Bragg. [RELATED:…

Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his name from consideration for United States Attorney General. This decision comes after former and President-elect Donald Trump’s (R) selection received harsh criticism from many in the media, government, and the public as a result of serious allegations against the representative, including sex trafficking and drug use. Gaetz has never been charged with any crime, as the Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to bring charges following an FBI investigation in 2021. Gaetz was recently the subject of a related congressional ethics committee investigation. The report from this ethics investigation was set to be…

A coalition of New England based think tanks released an extensive report Wednesday in collaboration with Always on Energy Research (AOER) detailing the costs and consequences associated with the rigorous clean energy policies being pursued by most state governments in the region, including Maine. This report — The Staggering Costs of New England’s Green Energy Policies — was completed by Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF), the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy in New Hampshire, the Ethan Allen Institute in Vermont, the Fiscal Alliance Foundation in Massachusetts, Maine Policy Institute, Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, and Yankee Institute…

Friday, a federal judge in Texas blocked the United States Department of Labor (DOL) from increasing the maximum salary threshold for so-called “white-collar” overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), preventing the rule from going into effect nationwide. As a result of this, the new minimum salary threshold in Maine will be $845.21 per week — or $43,951 annually — instead of the expected $58,656, according to the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL). Under the FLSA, employers are generally required to pay employees overtime, or time-and-a-half, if they work more than forty hours in a week. Some “white-collar” employees…

Maine’s newly launched Eviction Pilot Program—designed to “help tenants who may be facing eviction and the loss of their housing”—has proven so popular that the organization running it is sending new applicants to a waiting list. The program first began accepting applications on October 18, and as of November 18, more than 1,400 applications had been received by the Quality Housing Coalition, the organization responsible for administering the program under a contract with the Maine State Housing Authority. The program works by paying tenants’ rent with taxpayer dollars that flow from Maine State Housing Authority to landlords. Over 500 landlords…

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) made it known during a campaign stop in Vassalboro Friday that she intends to seek reelection in 2026 for her sixth term in office. Despite confirming these intentions, Sen. Collins emphasized that her focus currently remains on the work she does as a member and Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee. Given the Republican Party’s success in obtaining control of the Senate, Collins indicated that she expects to be made Chair of the Committee next session. “My primary focus for this year, this upcoming year, is going to be overseeing the appropriations process,” Collins said…

The University of Maine (UMaine) has decided to sell the Hutchinson Center to Waldo Community Action Partners (WCAP) following a second round of solicitations for offers. This award comes several months after the institution rescinded its offer of the property to Calvary Chapel Belfast. WCAP, a 501(c)3 funded almost entirely through taxpayer dollars, has offered UMaine $3.06 million for the property, about half a million more than the appraised value of $2.52 million. The Future of the Hutchinson Center Steering Committee/Waterfall Arts offered $1.8 million for the property, and Calvary Chapel Belfast offered $1.1 million. [RELATED: Cavalry Chapel Will Pursue…

The Cape Elizabeth Town Council voted Wednesday night in favor of directing the Town Manager to offer the Cookie Jar — a local bakery that has been in operation since the 1950s — a license formalizing four critical parking spaces located in front of their building. Councilors were divided 4-3 in favor of making this license available to the bakery, with Councilors Timothy Reiniger, Stephanie Anderson, Susan Gillis, and Timothy Thompson supporting the measure and Councilors Jeremy Gabrielson, Caitlin Jordan Harriman, and Penelope Jordan opposing it. This decision followed a lengthy, and at times heated, discussion among the Councilors regarding…

The Maine Secretary of State’s Office announced Thursday that recounts have been scheduled in nine races for seats in the Maine House of Representatives. In most of these races, preliminary results show just a handful of votes and margins of less than one percent separating the candidates. One race appearing to have resulted in a mathematical tie. Under Maine State Law, a recount can be conducted without a deposit when the apparent margin of victory is below 1.5 percent in races for seats in the State Legislature. For races with a wider apparent margin of victory, a deposit is required…

The developers behind the controversial Yard South project in South Portland have withdrawn their application for special zoning permissions and indicated that they are now pursuing alternative options for the property. Yard South developers have been working on plans for the sprawling parcel of land near Bug Light Park for about six years and submitted their pre-application for a contract zone to the City in 2022. A final application was submitted in July of this year. In South Portland, Contract Zoning allows the City Council to “impose, by agreement with the property owner or otherwise, certain conditions or restrictions not…

South Portland residents approved two of the three bonds on this year’s ballot but rejected a $12.3 million proposal to fund the “design, construction, and equipping of improvements to the South Portland High School athletic stadium complex.” Voters also passed a charter amendment requiring citizen approval for the sale, lease, trade, or gift of three key City-owned properties: Mill Creek Park, Bug Light Park, and Hinkley Park. While the two smaller bonds on the ballot — seeking a combined $4 million for maintence and improvements at the City’s public schools — were overwhelmingly approved, both receiving over 75 percent support,…

Nearly 60 percent of Portland voters supported a measure Tuesday allowing local emergency wage provisions to go into effect only when a state of emergency is declared by the City, as opposed to when one is called by state, as is currently the case. In addition to this, 67 percent of voters also approved changes to the City’s registration requirements for short-term rental units that are now set to go into effect on September 1, 2025. The petition behind the emergency wage amendment was sent to City in May of this year by a group of citizens, officially constituting the…

Voters in Bar Harbor narrowly rejected a proposal Tuesday that would have overturned a 2022 ordinance capping the number of cruise ship passengers allowed to disembark per day at 1,000, replacing it with an updated set of rules that took a markedly different approach to cruise ship regulation. According to results published by the Town of Bar Harbor, the measure’s failure was determined by just 63 votes, representing only 1.8 percent of ballots cast and around 1 percent of the town’s registered voters. Because of these extremely close margins, Tuesday’s vote may be subject to a taxpayer-funded recount if 100…

On Tuesday, Mainers made their voices heard not only on a number of key state, federal, and local elections, but also on five ballot questions, including one citizens initiative, three bonds with a total combined initial cost of $65 million, and one proposal from the Legislature. Early Wednesday morning, it was determined that voters had overwhelmingly approved a citizens initiative limiting Super PAC contributions, closely mirroring what the late-fall polling had predicted. By Wednesday afternoon, it became clear that Mainers had rejected the Legislature’s attempt to redesign the state flag based on the version used for eight years between 1901…

Voters in Cape Elizabeth narrowly rejected a $94.7 million school improvement plan that included the construction of a new middle school for $89.9 million. The bond for the proposed “Middle Ground School Project Design” was rejected by just 166 votes, representing only 2.47 percent of those who turned out to the polls. [RELATED: Cape Elizabeth Voters to Decide on $94.7 Million Plan to Construct New Middle School] The $89.9 million “Middle Ground School Project Design” had been developed after two years of deliberation by the School Building Advisory Committee (SBAC), and was accompanied on the ballot by a $4.8 million…

Former President Donald J. Trump (R) has been elected to serve as the 47th President of the United States. The president-elect secured his win early Wednesday morning when Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were called in his favor, bringing his total number of electoral votes to 277, exceeding the 270-vote threshold needed to win the election. Around 2:30am, president-elect Trump delivered a victory speech to his supporters at Mar-a-Lago promising to “help our country heal,” assuring Americans that “every single day [he] will be fighting for [them].” Co-chair of the Harris-Waltz campaign Cedric Richmond announced around 1am Wednesday morning — shortly before…

Two Maine citizens have threatened to sue Secretary of State Shenna Bellows for improper voter roll maintenance unless action is taken within ninety days. Alex Titcomb — co-founder and Executive Director of The Dinner Table PAC — and Kristin Tripp allege that all sixteen counties in the state have an implausible, and in some cases impossible, share of registered voters. In eleven counties, they calculated that the number of registered voters exceeded the county’s entire voting age population, and in the remaining five they found a registration rate of over 95 percent, far outpacing the nationwide registration rate in recent…

In business since the 1950s, Cookie Jar Bakery in Cape Elizabeth is now fighting to retain use of the four parking spaces in front of its building. Although the use of this area for parking has been unchallenged for years, controversy was sparked when the bakery recently applied to create a delivery entrance in the back of their property. In reviewing their proposed site plan, the Town determined that the parking spaces in front of the bakery were in violation of zoning rules and must be removed, as they are too close to the road and block access to the…