Author: Libby Palanza

The South Portland City Council is set to consider a resolve Tuesday night that appears to indirectly encourage opposition to Question 1 on this November’s statewide ballot, highlighting concerns about the possible impact of the bill on local election operations. Although it is seemingly uncommon for a municipal government to take such a stance on an upcoming statewide referendum, the resolve that is up for consideration this week underscores the role that local officials play in administering elections. Stemming from a citizens initiative, Question 1 seeks to implement voter ID requirements for both in-person and absentee voting. The bill also…

South Portland residents will be asked yet again to approve a multi-million dollar plan to restore the city’s high school’s athletic complex. Unlike last year’s substantially more costly proposal, next month voters will have the choice between a $4.6 million natural grass field and a $5.5 million synthetic turf field. Both projects would include a new track, new lighting and permanent bathrooms. When voters go to the polls, they will be able to vote for one, both, or neither of these options. If both options pass with majority support, the City of South Portland will move forward with whichever option…

Democrat U.S. Representative from Maine’s Second District Jared Golden urged voters to reject Question 1 at the ballot box this November in a written statement Friday . Rep. Jared Golden (D) referred to Question 1 as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” according to reporting from the Portland Press Herald. As Election Day approaches, two disparate pictures of the legislation behind Question 1 have emerged. While supporters argue that the proposed law would help to secure Maine’s elections by requiring voters to show identification when casting their ballots, opponents frame the bill as an existential attack on the state’s absentee voting…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has ordered Common Sense for Maine to stop prefilling the party affiliation section on blank voter registration cards being sent to Mainers ahead of the November 4th election. As originally reported by WGME, the conservative political action committee had been partially filling out voter registration cards by checking off Republican under the party affiliation section. While the Secretary of State has said that this not allowed in the state, Common Sense for Maine disagrees with her interpretation. Despite this, the PAC will comply with the order, citing the need to continue receiving blank registration…

Republican lawmakers in Maine have announced plans to introduce legislation implementing one of the new tax credits created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) over the summer. This upcoming proposed legislation would implement in Maine an OBBBA provision establishing a new, nonrefundable tax credit worth up to $1,700 per taxpayer beginning in the 2027 tax year. For those filing jointly, both taxpayers on a given return would be eligible to claim the credit individually. This exact value of this credit for any given taxpayer is determined by a dollar-for-dollar match…

The Portland Jetport is now among the several airports nationwide declining to play a video from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding the ongoing federal government shutdown. Coming in at 37 seconds, the clip from Secretary Noem places blame squarely on Democratic lawmakers for the federal government shutdown, which has now entered its third week. “Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are working without pay,” said Noem. “We will continue to do all that we can to avoid delays…

As online and mail-in voter registration came to an end at the close of business Tuesday, Mainers are still able to easily get registered to vote ahead of the upcoming election on November 4. Because Maine has same-day voter registration, anyone who is eligible to vote may register in-person at their local town hall from now until election day. Registration will be open through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) until October 28. Anyone who is unsure of their voter registration status may contact their local municipal clerk’s office to check. Contact information for all Maine municipal clerks and registrars…

Maine’s Gov. Janet Mills (D), who announced her intent to run for the United States Senate Tuesday morning, has officially expressed her opposition to Question 1 on this November’s ballot. Stemming from a citizens initiative, Question 1 seeks to implement voter ID requirements for both in-person and absentee voting. The bill also looks to make several amendments to Maine’s absentee voter process more broadly. Most notably, the proposed legislation would end Maine’s ongoing absentee voter program, eliminate the option of requesting an absentee ballot over the phone, and change some of the rules surrounding absentee ballot drop boxes. If passed,…

Maine Democrat Rep. Jared Golden issued a lengthy Substack post on Friday morning urging lawmakers in Washington to end the federal shutdown. In doing so, Rep. Golden pushed back against the narrative that reopening the government is necessarily contingent upon the left and right reaching an agreement over extending an enhanced tax credit. The expanded credit in question, first created in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), gives many Americans access to free or discounted monthly premiums health insurance premiums through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. Without intervention from Congress, this tax credit is set…

A federal judge ruled Thursday to temporarily block President Donald Trump from deploying the National Guard in Chicago, Illinois. As a result of this, the federal government will be prohibited for at least a fourteen day period from sending National Guard troops into Chicago. Although the order is set to expire at midnight on October 23, a hearing has been scheduled by US District Judge April Perry, appointed by former President Joe Biden (D), for October 22. During this hearing, the judge will decide whether or not to extend the block for another two-week period. In light of this ruling,…

Maine has now become involved in an Oregon lawsuit against President Donald Trump and his Administration over the deployment of National Guard troops. Joining a coalition of twenty-four other states, Maine Attorney General Frey has signed onto an amicus brief supporting Oregon’s challenge of the Trump Administration’s decision to deploy the National Guard in their state. Federal officials have argued it is necessary to deploy the Guard to Portland, Oregon in order to “make Portland safer” in the wake of protests at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. The City has pushed back on this argument, however, calling the protests…

Scarborough voters will have the chance next month to approve or reject a bond of nearly $130 million to rebuild and renovate the town’s aging schools. If approved, the town would used the borrowed funds to tear down and rebuild Eight Corners School, as well as construct one-story additions at Blue Point and Pleasant Hill schools to replace the portable classrooms that are currently being used. Also covered by this bond would be $3.6 million worth of addition to the Wentworth school (grades 3-5) and $28.65 million in improvements to the middle school. The second question on Scarborough residents’ ballots…

This November’s question 1 has quickly become a polarizing topic in the State of Maine, with those on either side of the issue presenting seemingly disparate pictures of what the proposed legislation would actually do if approved by voters at the ballot box. While supporters argue that the law would help to secure Maine’s elections by requiring voters to show identification when casting their ballots, opponents frame the bill as an existential attack on the state’s absentee voting system. But what would the legislation behind Question 1 specifically change about Maine’s election laws? A closer look at the full text…

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a case involving an Illinois law allowing ballots to be counted for up to two weeks after election day. At issue in this case, however, is only the question of whether or not the Plaintiff in this case has standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge state regulation of his federal elections. The Justices are not tasked with weighing in directly on the permissibility of the Illinois law at the heart of this case. Despite the narrow nature of the question before the Court this term, a ruling…

As the United States Supreme Court returns to the bench, there are a number of key cases expected to be heard by the Justices in the coming weeks. Among them is a consolidated case concerning the tariffs levied by President Donald Trump’s (R) earlier this year. The question before the Justices this fall asks whether or not a 1977 statute authorizes the President of the United States to directly impose tariffs on foreign goods. Justices will also be considering whether the specific executive orders issued by the President serve as an appropriate basis for imposing tariffs under the federal law.…

Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) has indicated that she will not enact some of the changes made by federal lawmakers in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) earlier this year without action from the State Legislature. Because Maine’s biennial budget was already passed by state lawmakers in March, Gov. Mills has indicated that the changes required under OBBBA could result in a $400 million deficit, due to the unexpected drop in revenue. Although the state is expected to implement some portions of this legislation, reduced taxes on tips and overtime, as well as an increased standard deduction, will temporarily…

Many consumer products containing “forever chemicals” will be pulled from store shelves throughout Maine beginning next year. Included in this prohibition will be non-stick cookware, as state regulators determined that they do not qualify for a “currently unavoidable use” exemption, according to reporting from Maine Public. This exemption is designed to exclude from the ban products with intentionally added PFAS that are “essential for health, safety and the functioning of society” when alternatives without PFAS are not available to consumers. According to reporting from Maine Public, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recommended that the Maine Board of Environmental…

Northern Light and Anthem have agreed to a thirty-day extension of their contract, almost immediately after their prior contract lapsed, leaving thousands of Mainers out of network from their physicians. The health care system and insurance provider shared a joint statement earlier this week explaining that the extension is intended to ensure continuity of care for patients as the two keep working toward a long-term agreement. “Northern Light Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) have agreed to extend their existing contract by 30 days as both parties continue working toward a long-term agreement that prioritizes affordability, patient…

Mainers are becoming increasingly less reliant on oil to keep their homes warm throughout the winter, but despite this trend, fuel oil is still the most predominant way that Mainers are choosing to heat their homes. Federal data shared by the State of Maine reveals that 50.3 percent of residential heating is achieved with fuel oil, a proportion that has steadily declined for the past several years as alternatives have begun to gain prominence. Down 2.2 points from last year, usage of fuel oil for heating has dropped 20 percent since 2018. In 2010, more than 70 percent of energy…

As the contract between Anthem and Northern Light is rapidly approaching expiration, it appears increasingly less likely that the two will be able to reach an agreement in time. The current contract between the two organizations is set to expire on Tuesday, September 30, at which point services will begin to be phased out-of-network through the end of the year for certain groups of patients if an eleventh-hour agreement is not reached. Over the past several months, the two companies have publicly traded strongly worded statements, each offering updates on the negotiation process from their own perspective. While Northern Light…

President Donald Trump’s (R) administration is asking the United States Supreme Court to uphold the 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 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 the power to issue nationwide, or universal, injunctions. The 6-3 ruling released in June found that federal judges “likely exceed the equitable authority…

The United States Supreme Court has affirmed its ruling allowing the Trump Administration to temporarily halt $4 billion worth of foreign aid spending in what is known as a “pocket rescission” while legal challenges proceed in the lower courts. This move by the President represented a rare use of the rescission process, which typically allows the president to request that Congress cancel previously approved federal funding and to withhold the money for 45 days while lawmakers decide whether or not to act. Because there were less than 45 days until the end of the fiscal year at the time, the…

Among the hundreds of laws now going into effect in the state is a unanimous measure preventing medical debt from being included on Mainers’ credit reports. In June of this year, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle agreed to pass a bill preventing unpaid medical bills from affecting Mainers’ credit scores. Although State Law currently has some restrictions on the treatment of medical debt, this new law blocks it from being included at all. Under this legislation, “a medical creditor, debt collector or debt buyer may not report a consumer’s medical debt to a consumer reporting agency.” According to…

The State of Oregon and the City of Portland have sued the Trump Administration after National Guard troops were deployed to the area. Federal officials have defended the deployment, emphasizing a need to “make Portland safer” in the wake of protests at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, but the City pushed back on this argument, calling the protests “small.” On September 27, President Donald Trump (R) made a post on Truth Social announcing that, at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, he would be directing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth — who is also now known as…

Maine’s Congressional delegation has sent a letter to the Education Secretary Linda McMahon urging her to reverse the Department of Education’s (DOE) decision to cut funding for two programs that help prepare low-income, first-generation, and veteran college students. According to reporting from Maine Public, the total value of these grants comes in at about $600,000. The programs are said to have been notified of the cancellation on September 12 of this year. While six of the University of Maine’s Upward Bound programs have already received their continuation awards, federal funding was cut for the Veterans Upward Bound Program at the…

The Maine Secretary of State’s Offices has released the 2025 Maine Citizen’s Guide to the Referendum Election, available both online and in-person at municipal offices and public libraries throughout the state. Information included in the guide pertains to the referendum election that is set to take place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Contained within the guide is the text of the referendum questions themselves, alongside the legislation they represent, summaries of the intent and content of the legislation, what a “yes” or “no” vote means, and information on their expected financial impact. A limited amount of public comment was also…

Among the many new state laws going into effect this week is one creating a new cabinet-level Department of Energy Resources (DOER), which will be responsible for coordinating and leading the state’s energy policy and programs. This Department will replace the existing Governor’s Energy Office (GEO), taking on the agency’s responsibilities alongside new ones identified by the Legislature in the bill approved earlier this year. Because the Commissioner of the DOER is a cabinet-level position, someone will be appointed by the governor and be subject to confirmation by the Legislature’s Energy and Utilities Committee and confirmation by the Maine State…

Home sales are up nearly 10 percent in Maine compared to this same time last year, coming in at a median sale price of $409,450. According to the Maine Association of Realtors, this represents a 2.36 percent increase over August of 2024. That said, this is down several thousand dollars from the historic high of $425,000 seen in May and June of this year and about a $10,000 dip since last month. [RELATED: July Marked 5th Consecutive Month of Inventory Increases for Maine Housing Market] In a press release shared earlier this week, the Association suggested that “potential home buyers…

Northern Light Health and Anthem appear to have again reached an impasse as their existing contract rapidly approaches its expiration date. Despite talk about a month ago of both parties being open to mediation, it appears that negotiations between the insurance provider and health care system have once again fallen through. Unless an agreement can be reached, all physicians and some ancillary services will become out-of-network with Anthem on October 1, followed by all hospital-based services on December 31. The entire Northern Light Health system would become out-of-network with all Anthem Medicare Advantage Plans as of January 1, 2026. [RELATED:…

This week, hundreds of new Maine laws are beginning to take effect. Among them is a unanimous bill preventing municipalities from prohibiting homeless shelters. A short piece of legislation, this new statute simply states that cities and towns in Maine cannot block homeless shelters from existing within their borders. It is explicitly said, however, that the law does not infringe upon municipalities’ right to home rule in terms of regulating these facilities. For the purposes of this law, homeless shelters are defined as a “housing facility” with the primary purpose of providing “temporary overnight accommodations” to those who are homeless.…

Hundreds of laws approved by the Legislature this year are now beginning to go into effect. Among them is a unanimous bill allowing health care providers to charge uninsured patients for COVID-19 vaccines that went unsigned by Gov. Janet Mills (D). Under a statute approved in 2021, health care providers have been barred from charging uninsured patients for any costs associated with administering a COVID-19 vaccine. The bill repealing this statute was sponsored by Rep. Joshua K. Morris (R-Turner) and cosponsored by a handful of other Republican legislators, including Rep. Reagan L. Paul (R-Winterport), Rep. Jennifer L. Poirier (R-Skowhegan), Rep.…

New data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) breaks down how much money the average Mainer was earning in March of this year. Weekly wages in Maine were found to be several hundred dollars below the national average, even in the state’s largest counties. Maine has also struggled to keep pace with wage growth nationwide, nearly ranking last in terms of year-over-year improvement. Earning an average of $1,460 per week, workers in Cumberland still made over one hundred dollars less than the national average of $1,589. Those working in Maine’s second largest county, York, earned an average of…

All four members of Maine’s Congressional delegation are urging the Treasury Department and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to hold off implementing an executive order eliminating paper checks. In March of this year, President Donald Trump (R) signed an executive order with the intention of “modernizing payments to and from America’s bank accounts.” According to the order, issuing paper checks “imposes unnecessary costs; delays; and risks of fraud, lost payments, theft, and inefficiencies.” President Trump also suggested that paper checks are sixteen-times more likely to be lost or stolen “to be reported lost or stolen, returned undeliverable, or altered…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) and the Maine State Housing Authority announced Tuesday that $2.3 million worth of state grants will be put toward supporting the operation of warming centers throughout the state this winter. The grant money will be distributed across twelve centers located in seven of Maine’s counties, resulting in a total of 338 beds being opened. Counties receiving funding from these grants include Penobscot, Hancock, Kennebec, Cumberland, Aroostook, Androscoggin, and York. Source: Gov. Janet Mills’ Office, 09/23/25 After distributing these grants, the state will have spent a total of $5.78 million to support Maine warming centers over the…

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has analyzed responses from thousands of students nationwide to gauge the level of free speech experienced on college campuses throughout the country. Over 68,000 students across more than 250 colleges and universities participated in the online survey, which was conducted in early June of this year. Based on the responses received, the vast majority of higher education institutions in America were found to have a failing free speech climate on their campus. Just eleven of these schools were given a “grade” of C or higher. Results also showed that students are increasingly…

A Maine mother has filed a lawsuit against the makers of several popular video games, alleging that they profited off of children’s addiction to their products. “This litigation is not a war on fun,” said the complaint, filed by Somerset County mom Casey Henderson. Spanning 83 pages in total, Henderson’s initial complaint alleges that the companies behind games like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite have concealed and “exacerbated” the risks their products pose to children in the name of increasing profits. Sparking the lawsuit was Henderson’s experience with her now nine-year-old child, who she says first began playing these video games…

Although Maine’s unemployment rate has remained steadily low in recent months, the state has begun losing jobs during this same period for the first time since 2020. In August, unemployment sat at 3.2 percent in Maine, a figure that is down slightly from the beginning of the year and unchanged from this same time in 2024. Regionally, unemployment came in at 4.1 percent, a slightly better figure than the national rate of 4.3 percent. Despite the promising nature of these numbers for Maine’s comparative economic position, the number of jobs available in the state has been decreasing for the first…

Central Maine Power (CMP) — the state’s largest electric utility, serving nearly 650,000 households — is again looking to implement a more than $400 million rate increase over the next five years. If approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Mainers who receive their electricity through CMP will see their monthly distribution rates go up by a total of $35 between 2026 and 2031. The most substantial hike would occur in the first year, when ratepayers would see their bills rise by $17 per month, or $204 annually. Over the next several years, Mainers would see their electric bills…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows responded Wednesday afternoon to the lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the state over her refusal to turn over requested voter registration and election information. This lawsuit alleges that Maine and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows have violated several federal laws, including the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA). These alleged violations are said to stem from Secretary Bellows’ refusal “to provide data regarding the removal of ineligible individuals and to produce an unredacted, computerized state voter registration…

In a reversal of a months-long pattern of state government seeking civil legal relief against the Feds, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has now sued the State of Maine over its refusal to turn over voter registration information. The lawsuit alleges that Maine and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows have violated several federal laws, including the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA). These alleged violations are said to stem from Secretary Bellows refusal “to provide data regarding the removal of ineligible individuals and to produce…

Maine has been found to be one of the worst states for teachers in the entire country. According to a new study from personal finance website WalletHub, Maine was ranked as the third worst state in which to be a teacher. Factoring into this calculation were statistics related to compensation, school quality, student-teacher ratios, and projected turnover, among other things. Despite a fairly strong showing on metrics related to the academic and work environment, Maine was found to be struggling significantly when it comes to the opportunity and competition for teachers. The methodology section of the report explains that the…

Two Republican lawmakers in Maine are hoping to expand their authority to investigate the exorbitant fees and lengthy timelines that the state’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has attached to Mainers’ requests to access public records. Under the Freedom of Access Act, or FOAA, Mainers have the right to access a wide array of public records, subject to certain restrictions that protect “legitimate governmental interests” and individual citizens’ privacy. Although Maine’s FOAA law does not specify exactly how quickly agencies must turn over the requested records, but they must do so “within a reasonable period of time.” Agencies…

Democrat Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine’s First Congressional District, alongside Republican Sen. Susan Collins, has criticized President Donald Trump’s (R) attempt to cancel $5 billion worth of federal spending in what is being called a “pocket rescission.” This move represents a rare use of the rescission process, which more typically finds the president requesting that Congress cancel previously approved federal funding and to withhold the money for 45 days while lawmakers decide whether or not to act. Because there are less than 45 days until the end of the fiscal year, the President Trump’s plan to claw back billions in…

Maine Sen. Susan Collins (R) and New Hampshire’s Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) — a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — have raised concerns to the Trump Administration about the impending expiration or destruction of “US–purchased lifesaving commodities.” In a statement on Friday, the senators announced that they had sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking that additional information regarding these products be provided to them by September 30. More specifically, they are looking for a complete list of goods targeted for destruction or expected to expire at the end of the year, as well…

Mainers sounded off earlier this week to weigh in on the implementation and administration of the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program. Many of those who spoke during the Tuesday morning meeting were business and industry association advocates who shared their perspective on the program’s importance to employees throughout the state, citing personal experiences that have led them to believe that the program provides a critical support for Maine workers. Representatives of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and HospitalityMaine also appeared before the Authority to speak about the program from the perspective of business owners, offering…

Maine is set to raise its minimum wage is to $15.10 per hour statewide beginning on January 1 of next year. In conjunction with this, the tip wage — also known as the tip credit — will also be increased to $7.55. The tip credit is a policy that allows businesses to pay employees below minimum wage so long as the workers make enough in tips to at least close the gap. Maine’s minimum hourly wage has been pegged to the broader economy since 2016, the result of statewide referendum approved nine years ago. Although this referendum also eliminated the…

The Maine Legislature’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee held a meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss the state’s relationship with ModivCare, a large Colorado-based company that recently filed for bankruptcy. While ModivCare currently has a contract to provide non-emergency medical transportation to MaineCare patients in certain areas, the State of Maine has been attempting for the past two years to award them full responsibility for all sixteen counties. As of now, Maine-based organizations Penquis and Waldo Community Action Partners provide non-emergency medical transportation in a handful of areas, but this would change if the new contract with ModivCare is ultimately…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has continued to refuse requests from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to turn over to the feds the state’s voter rolls and other information about how elections are run. On Monday, Secretary Bellows published her second formal response to the DOJ’s requests, replying to a letter sent to her by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon on August 18. This comes after the Secretary of State told the DOJ to “go jump in the Gulf of Maine” earlier this summer in response to their initial request for these records. While she has argued…

Maine Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee has spoken out against President Donald Trump’s (R) recent decision to cancel $5 billion worth of Congressionally approved spending with a “pocket rescission.” This move represents a rare use of the rescission process, which typically allows the president to request that Congress cancel previously approved federal funding and to withhold the money for 45 days while lawmakers decide whether or not to act. Because there are less than 45 days until the end of the fiscal year, the President’s plan to claw back billions in federal funding will…

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) issued a statement Thursday urging the United States Congress to extend a federal tax credit that serves to dramatically lower the monthly cost of health insurance for many Americans. Known as the enhanced premium tax credit (EPTC), this program gives many Americans access to free or discounted monthly premiums if they purchase their insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. Without intervention from Congress, this tax credit is set to expire at the end of this year. Should this happen, only the more constrained version of the tax credit originally included in the ACA…

During an event promoting her new book, United States Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett spoke about the widely circulated comment she directed at fellow Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in the opinion she authored earlier this summer prohibiting universal injunctions. Kicking off a tour for her new book “Listening to the Law,” which is taking place while the Supreme Court is not in session, Barrett spoke for over an hour at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan this past Thursday. Bari Weiss of the Free Press asked Justice Barrett about these remarks as part of her rare public appearance. In response,…

The Portland City Council has voted to penalize commercial property owners if storefronts are vacant for over six months unless they agree to allow the City to bring in temporary art installations. Fines for empty storefronts will range from $500 to more than $7,500, depending upon how long the space has gone without housing a business. The $250 fine would be levied for commercial spaces left vacant between six months and a year, while spaces empty for ten years would be hits with a $7,500 fine. Every year beyond that would increase the fine by $1,000. Below is a full…

A federal judge in Boston has ruled that the Trump Administration must unfreeze billions of dollars in federal funding destined for Harvard University. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs — appointed by former President Barack Obama (D) — found that the federal government’s decision to freeze this money amounted to a form of illegal retaliation for the University’s refusal to comply with the Trump Administration’s requests. While the Trump Administration has said that they froze the funds in response to Harvard’s lack of cooperation in the effort to reduce antisemitism on campus, Judge Burroughs suggested in her decision that this reasoning…

As a new school year begins, many schools throughout Maine have banned students from using their cell phones during the day. This comes a few months after the State Legislature passed a bill requiring all school districts throughout the state to adopt policies regarding cell phone use by August of next year. Although lawmakers originally considered outright banning cell phones from public schools statewide, they ultimately pulled back on this idea, leaving it instead up to each individual district in order to preserve Maine’s tradition of local control. In its final form, the bill did not mandate explicitly how the…

Voters in Portland will be asked this November if they would like to see the city’s minimum wage increase to $19 an hour over the course of the next three years. Late last month, the Portland City Council narrowly voted to place a question on the ballot that would raise the minimum wage to $16.75 an hour in 2026, $17.75 in 2027, and then $19 an hour in 2028. At that point, the minimum wage would continue to increase in conjunction with the cost of living in the same manner that it does now. Mayor Mark Dion voted against this…

A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled against the Trump Administration’s request to stay an order temporarily halting implementation of a new policy preventing affiliates of Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funding. Massachusetts U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani rejected the government’s argument that they would suffer “irreparable injury” if they are forced to allow Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide to continue billing Medicaid as this case plays out in court. According to Judge Talwani, the clinics would be more likely to suffer harm if they are blocked from receiving payments while the case is pending, as they have indicated they may…

With schools across America preparing to re-open their doors for another academic year, most parents are feeling pessimistic about the direction of K-12 education at all levels, according to a new report from EdChoice, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to support school choice nationwide. Conducted in collaboration with Morning Consult, this survey consists of results collected during May, June, and July from online surveys. 2,250 adults and 1,300 parents participated in this study. Numerous education-related issues were explored in this survey, including the Trump Administration’s effort to close the Department of Education, federal funding, course offerings, and school choice policies.…

With the start of a new school year right around the corner, many parents are preparing anew to consider how well their selected educational paths serve the needs of their children over the course of the coming months. A new report from EdChoice, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to support school choice nationwide, explores Americans’ opinions on a range of education-related issues as the summer comes to a close, including support for and opposition to policies that foster educational flexibility. Conducted in collaboration with Morning Consult, this survey consists of results collected during May, June, and July from online surveys.…

The Maine Supreme Court has ruled against Bath Iron Works (BIW) and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce in their lawsuit challenging the rules adopted by the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) when implementing the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program. Initially filed in January, the lawsuit brought by BIW and the Maine Chamber argues that the portions of the rules adopted by MDOL for the PFML Program contradict its establishing legislation. Separately, BIW argued that these rules represented a violation of Maine businesses’ constitutional rights. [RELATED: Bath Iron Works, Maine Chamber Sue State Over Paid Leave…

Northern Light Health announced Tuesday that their leadership is now open to engaging in mediation with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as a “last-ditch effort” to come to an agreement before their current contracts expire. Just over a week earlier, Northern Light announced that it would be ending talks with Anthem after months of stalled negotiations. Unless an agreement can be reached, all physicians and some ancillary services will become out-of-network with Anthem on October 1, followed by all hospital-based services on December 31. The entire Northern Light Health system would become out-of-network with all Anthem Medicare Advantage Plans as…

A federal judge in Portland has ruled against requiring the federal government to temporarily allow Planned Parenthood affiliates to receive Medicaid funding as challenges to a policy approved in the Big Beautiful Bill play out in court. In a 19-page decision, U.S. District Judge Lance Walker explained that the plaintiffs in this case failed to convincingly argue that their constitutional rights had been violated “due to several severe jurisprudential headwinds that I am bound to observe.” Judge Walker went on to suggest that the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health eliminated “the thermal lift…

A new Pine Tree State Poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center sought to discern Mainers’ opinions on a range of timely topics, including the Epstein files and elected officials’ stock trading activities. As has been a staple in these surveys, respondents were also asked how they feel about the President’s job performance. 57 percent of Mainers surveyed expressed disapproval of President Donald Trump (R), while 42 percent are supportive of him. Partisanship was an incredibly strong predictor of respondents’ opinions of the President, with 94 percent of Republicans expressing approval, compared to 31 percent of Independents, and…

Augusta Republicans issued a statement Monday morning in response to the news that ModivCare—the out-of-state company awarded a multi-million dollar contract by the State of Maine to provide transportation to MaineCare patients—filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week. In addition to raising concerns about the quality of services provided by ModivCare, Senate Republicans, they urged state officials to reconsider their plans to expand their partnership with the company. Although ModivCare’s statewide contract is currently on hold amidst a legal battle over the legitimacy of the state’s proposal evaluation process, the company has continued to provide medical transport services to…

A judge issued a temporary ruling Wednesday that the State of Texas cannot require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms located in certain districts, including those of Fort Bend and Dripping Springs. Texas is the third state where laws concerning the placement of the Ten Commandments in classrooms has become the subject of a legal battle. Originally set to go into effect on September 1, Texas’ law was challenged by a group of families alleging that the requirement violates the First Amendment’s guarantee of the separation of church and state, as well as its protection of…

An out-of-state company that was previously awarded a multi-million contract by the State of Maine to provide transportation to MaineCare patients has now filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Although the company’s statewide contract is currently on hold amidst a legal battle over the legitimacy of the state’s proposal evaluation process, ModivCare has continued to provide medical transport services to patients in eight Maine counties. As legal challenges continue to wind their way through the court system, contracts were drawn up allowing ModivCare, as well as Maine-based organizations Penquis and Waldo Community Action Partners, to keep operating non-emergency medical transportation…

Maine’s housing market appears to be shifting more in buyers’ favor as the number of homes being listed for sale has been on the rise for several months. The number of homes on the market in Maine has increased for the fifth month in a row, selling for a median price of $419,950. Although this is roughly $5,000 less last month’s median sale price, it still represents a 5.25 percent increase over July of 2024. 1,470 homes were sold in July, 5.04 percent more than the year prior. May and June saw an historically high median sale price of $425,000.…

Portland Mayor Mark Dion has denied claims that the City agreed to cooperate with federal ICE agents in order to receive an $18 million transportation grant for improvements at the Jetport. Speculation that the City consented to cooperate with ICE, or the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, in exchange for this funding began after a closed-door council meeting was held on short notice Wednesday night. Councilors Kate Sykes and Wes Pelletier told the Portland Press Herald that the City decided to sign the funding agreement during this meeting despite the inclusion of a stipulation requiring cooperation with ICE. In response…

Mainers have until August 26 to submit statements for inclusion in the 2025 Citizens’ Guide to the Referendum Election, the state office in charge of supervising elections said. Individuals, corporations, political action committees, and other organizations may file public comments in support of or in opposition to either of the questions on the ballot this November. Up to a total of six comments will be accepted for each of the questions — three in favor and three in opposition. Comments are limited to 300 words and must be accompanied by a completed application form and $500. Electronic filings will be…

Maine’s unemployment rate for July came in at 3.2 percent, roughly one percentage below the regional average for New England. The national unemployment rate for last month was very similar to the regional rate, coming in at 4.2 percent, identical to this same time last year. This represents a slight drop in comparison to June, where unemployment was calculated to be 3.3 percent. Since this same time last year, however, unemployment has risen by about this same amount. In July of 2024, Maine’s unemployment rate was found to be 3.1 percent. [RELATED: Maine’s Unemployment Rate Held Steady in June as…

Debate in the Texas House of Representatives kicked off Wednesday on the Republican-backed redistricting plan as Democratic lawmakers returned to the state after a fifteen-day protest that prevented the chamber from reaching a quorum. Throughout August, national attention has centered on Texas’ plan to reconfigure its congressional districts. Some populous Democrat-led states like California and New York have even vowed to undertake their own redistricting efforts if Texas lawmakers approve the plan that is currently on the table This week, the Maine Morning Star interviewed Attorney General Aaron Frey about Texas’ redistricting proposal. During the interview, Attorney General Frey expressed…

After filing for bankruptcy over two years ago and becoming an online-only storefront, Bed Bath and Beyond Home has now begun reopening physical storefronts across the country — with one notable exception. A company executive announced Wednesday morning that retails stores will not be coming to California, citing the Golden State’s high costs and burdensome regulations. On Monday, the company that has recently been operating a Beyond, Inc. announced that it would be officially changing its name to Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. and again appear on the New York stock Exchange under the BBBY ticker symbol. Also under the…

The United States Coast Guard has paused plans to remove navigation buoys from the Gulf of Maine and the Atlantic Ocean. Under April’s Coastal Buoy Modernization Initiative, part of the broader Short-Range Aids-to-Navigation Modernization, hundreds of buoys were slated for removal or review in New England’s waters over the next few years. 351 coastal buoys — 41 percent of which were located in Maine’s waters — had been marked for discontinuation. In May of this year, the Coast Guard suggested that the “current buoy constellation predates global navigation satellite systems, electronic navigation charts and electronic charting systems (ECS), which are…

Maine has joined a coalition of twenty other Democrat-led states in suing the Trump Administration over its latest effort to crack down on so-called “sanctuary states.” Under the Administration’s new policy, grants from the Office for Victims of Crime — housed under the Department of Justice (DOJ) — will not be awarded to any program that “violates (or promotes or facilitates the violation of) federal immigration law.” Also ineligible for grant funding will be any program that “impedes or hinders the enforcement of federal immigration law,” including by failing to “give access to [Department of Homeland Security (DHS)] agents, or…

President Donald Trump (R) indicated Monday morning that he intends to sign an executive order ending “mail-in voting” ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. He also took aim at the use of “voting machines,” advocating for a return to paper ballots as he argues they are a faster and more accurate means of tallying the vote. In a Truth Social post Monday morning, the President suggested that Democrats will oppose these efforts “BECAUSE THEY CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE.” According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 28 states — including Maine — offer no-excuse absentee voting where…

Northern Light, one of Maine’s largest health care systems, said that it has ended talks with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield after months of stalled negotiations. All physicians and some ancillary services will become out-of-network with Anthem on October 1, followed by all hospital-based services on December 31. The entire Northern Light Health system will become out-of-network with all Anthem Medicare Advantage Plans as of January 1, 2026. [RELATED: Talks Between Northern Light and Anthem Stall as Deadline for New Contract Approaches] In a written statement shared Friday, Northern Light suggested that Anthem’s “decision to withhold interim payments for services…

Novartis, a New Jersey pharmaceutical company, has sued the State of Maine over new regulations imposed earlier this year on a federal discount drug program for certain health care providers. Originally introduced as LD 1018 and ultimately enacted as part of the biennial budget, this initiative sought to strengthen the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program in Maine. Set to take effect in late September, this measure would prohibit pharmaceutical companies from limiting discount drug providers’ ability to form partnerships with local pharmacies. According to the American Hospital Association, 340B requires drug manufacturers participating in Medicaid “to sell outpatient drugs at…

Popular food manufacturer Kellogg’s has signed a legally binding agreement to remove all toxic dyes from its products by the end of 2027. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Wednesday that a “months-long investigation and ongoing negotiations” have now culminated in an “historic Assurance of Voluntary Compliance,” or AVC, that legally certifies their agreement. “Following months of investigating and negotiating, I’m proud to officially say Kellogg’s will stop putting these unhealthy ingredients in its cereals,” said Attorney General Paxton in a statement. “The signed AVC demonstrates that Kellogg’s is committed to keeping this pledge, and I commend the company for…

One candidate for governor of Maine was recently in the peculiar position of having to ask another about the role Ranked Choice Voting [RCV] will play in next year’s election for the state’s chief executive. It was peculiar for two reasons: first, the person charged with administering Maine’s elections, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, is herself a candidate for the Democrat nomination. And second, the person asking – fellow gubernatorial candidate and state senator Jim Libby (R-Cumberland) – is, like most of his fellow Republicans, staunchly opposed the RCV system. Will the 2026 gubernatorial election be impacted by ranked choice…

Bowdoin College is among the more than thirty institutes of higher education that are facing a class action lawsuit over alleged conspiracy to inflate tuition costs through the early admissions process. Filed by a group of former current and former students, the suit argues the named universities “openly” engaged in practices “that entrench patterns of inequality of access while inflating the price of attendance.” “Among these is the central practice challenged in this case: a horizontal agreement to reduce or eliminate competition through use of the early decision process,” the plaintiffs wrote. Also named as defendants in the case are…

The First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston has found that Maine’s law prohibiting foreign governments — and companies owned in part by foreign governments — from campaigning in state elections is unconstitutional in an apparent blow to the state’s ability to say who can influence its elections and, accordingly, its sovereignty. This ruling has temporarily halted enforcement of the law as the case is sent back to the lower courts for further consideration. In addition to barring foreign involvement, the challenged legislation also required the media to do their “due diligence” to determine whether or not the entity behind…

Tuesday, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows formally rejected the federal Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request for access to the state’s voter rolls and other election-related information. This comes shortly after the Secretary of State told the DOJ to “go jump in the Gulf of Maine” in response to their initial request for these records. At the time, Secretary Bellows indicated that she would be collaborating with Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey to craft a more formal response in the coming days. Bellows also took the time out of her busy schedule to go on progressive activist and former Hillary…

Maine released its annual Child Welfare Report for 2024 last month, which details changes the state asserts it has achieved with the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) over the course of the past year and the impact they’ve had on the system. A 2023 study showed that Maine led the nation in terms of the mistreatment of children in the state’s custody – a superlative that has been a blight on the system. Groups like Walk a Mile in their Shoes have been sharply critical of the agency that has been so poorly run that it has cost…

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has moved to end a $7 billion Biden-era grant program designed to pay for residential solar panels. Known as Solar for All, this program was first launched as part of the Inflation Reduction Act in April of 2022 to fund residential solar projects in low- and middle-income areas. In 2024, Maine received $62 million through this program to bring solar power to “low-income households and communities,” while simultaneously “creating job and economic development opportunities in the growing clean energy industry.” [RELATED: Maine Receives $62 Million Federal Grant to Expand Solar Power Access for Low-Income…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows this week announced the order in which the two statewide referendum questions will appear on this November’s ballot, assigning numbers to each. First on the ballot will be the voter ID citizens initiative advanced by Dinner Table Action Executive Director Alex Titcomb and Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn). The second of the two referendum questions on the ballot is a citizens initiative establishing a Red Flag Law brought forward by the Maine Gun Safety Coalition. Both are politically-charged questions that will in all likelihood be the subjects of intense voter education and persuasion campaigns over…

Lisbon voters have rejected the town’s proposed school budget of more than $21 million for the second time this year. This comes amidst significant controversy surrounding tax hikes resulting from the municipal budget that was approved earlier this year despite strong opposition from residents. 21 percent of registered Lisbon voters turned out to the polls on August 5th to weigh in on the school budget, up notably from the already substantial 16 percent that cast ballots back in June. Nearly 60 percent of voters rejected the budget as it currently stands, representing a slightly slimmer margin than the original 69…

Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Benefits Authority announced Thursday that it will be holding a meeting next month to solicit public comment on the state’s new PFML program. On Tuesday, September 9 at 9am, the PFML Benefits Authority will be meeting at the Maine Department of Labor in the Frances Perkins Room to receive feedback from employees and employers on their experience with the program so far. The Authority will be gathering immediately after this public comment period to discuss the feedback and consider any ideas for future legislation they may like to advance. The meeting will be…

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey has responded to the Trump Administration’s effort to reverse course on the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In his comments, he accuses the federal government of attempting to “def[y] science, law, and reality” with their proposed changes. The EPA announced late last month that it intends to rescind the 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…

Federal authorities have moved further to reverse course on the Biden administration’s embrace of offshore wind power infrastructure in recent days, earning praise from regional fishermen. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has taken two key actions in the past week in pursuit of bringing an end to offshore wind development throughout the country, including in the Gulf of Maine. At the end of July, BOEM said that it would be rescinding all designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), a move in alignment with an Executive Order issued by the President on his…

Are the robust enrollments rates experienced by Maine’s community colleges over the past few years about to substantially contract? In recent years, Maine has seen a significant increase in the number of students attending community college, correlating with the COVID-era free tuition program that was extended for several years beyond its original expiration date. Lawmakers voted earlier this summer, however, to end the program, making this year’s graduating seniors the last class of students eligible to attend Maine’s community colleges at no cost. Students who graduated from high school in 2025 will have two years to claim the free tuition…

Many Mainers will likely see the cost of their health insurance increase by double-digits next year in what regulators are calling historic premium hikes. Filings with Maine’s Bureau of Insurance reveal that proposed increases for individual and small group plans being offered in the state range from 8 percent to 32 percent. Although these rate increases are currently under review by the state regulator, individuals can expect to see an average increase of 26 percent, while small groups will experience an average hike of 19 percent. Bob Carey, Superintendent of the Maine Bureau of Insurance, told the Portland Press Herald…

As the 2025 Fiscal Year came to a close last month, Maine’s General Fund turned out to have a $152.2 million surplus, the governor’s office declared last week. In addition, the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund, also known as the “Rainy Day Fund,” has also reached its statutory maximum of $1.03 billion. Mainers should not expect to see any of their tax dollars coming back to them, however. Instead, the surplus will be distributed across a number of categories in accordance with state law as outlined by the Legislature in the co-called “cascade” plan. Despite there being millions of dollars left…

The group behind last fall’s ballot initiative placing new limits on Super PAC contributions has appealed a federal judge’s ruling that voided the law early last month. In mid-July, U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Wolf permanently enjoined the State of Maine from enforcing the law limiting Super PAC contributions as approved by voters by referendum last November. According to Judge Wolf, the Supreme Court’s fifteen-year-old ruling in Citizens United “forecloses limits on contribution to independent expenditure groups.” She also found that the law’s disclosure requirements were in violation of the First Amendment because they would encompass all Super PAC donors, regardless…

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey has joined a coalition of twenty-one Democrat-led states in suing the Trump Administration over a clause in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that defunds Maine’s branch of Planned Parenthood Family Planning, and other similar organizations. The provision in question blocks Medicaid reimbursements for services performed at facilities deemed ineligible due to their association with Planned Parenthood, one of the nation’s most prominent abortion providers. On Monday, a federal judge ruled to blocked enforcement of this measure while the lawsuit makes its way through the courts. The fifty-eight page injunction issued by U.S. District Judge…

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced earlier this week that it intends to rescind the 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 gas are a category of air pollutant covered by the Clean Air Act, opening the door for the EPA to determine under section 202(a) if they can reasonably…

The quality of Maine’s early education system was found to be one of the worst in the nation despite a high overall ranking, according to a new study from WalletHub. While the state falls into the top fifty percent in terms access, it’s overall ranking is brought up significantly by its 8th place score for resources and economic support. This placement in the top ten is reflective of a range of figures, including the total spending per child enrolled in preschool, the change in state spending per child enrolled in preschool, and the amount of monthly child care co-payment fees…

Maine has signed onto a lawsuit against the Trump Administration challenging its new prohibitions on providing access to certain social services to people who are in the country illegally, including Head Start. Enforcement of the changes in question has been paused in the plaintiff states until September 3rd pursuant to a federal judge’s ruling issued Monday. Head Start is a federal program that provides services to three- and four-year-old children with access to a number of services, including those related to their health and social needs. Head Start service models vary from place to place and may take the form…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has refused a request from the Trump Administration to turn over the state’s voter rolls, telling the Department of Justice (DOJ) to “go jump in the Gulf of Maine.” Earlier this month, this DOJ began asking states to turn over voter registration information, and Maine was among the states to most recently receive such a request. Maine Morning Star reported that Secretary Bellows had said the National Association of Secretaries of State indicated that the DOJ was eventually planning to ask for voter registration files from all fifty states. According to the Portland Press…

The First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday to uphold the lower court’s dismissal of a Maine mom’s lawsuit against the Great Salt Bay Community School (GSBCS) Board for allegedly withholding information from her about her child’s gender transition. In May of last year, District Court Judge Jon D. Levy found that the mother — Amber Lavigne — failed to state a claim because the facts provided in this case were insufficient to establish municipal liability. Since the judge’s reasoning then was based solely on Lavigne’s inability to show that the municipality could legally be found responsible for the alleged…

Maine Sen. Susan Collins (R) announced Friday that the Trump Administration has agreed to release the rest of Maine’s public education grant funding that had been held earlier this month by the Department of Education (DOE). The state will now be receiving about $28 million in federal public education grant funding for a variety of programs as part of a roughly $5 billion distribution nationwide. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration delayed distributing $6.8 billion worth of federal funding nationwide for certain education programs, reviewing previously approved grants instead of sending the funds to states on July 1 as originally…

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a bill into law prohibiting pharmacies from selling tobacco products beginning in April of next year. Fiscal estimates suggest that this move will cost the state about $800,000 in the next fiscal year with projections indicating similar levels of loss expected for FY 2027-28 and FY 2028-29. Although many retail pharmacies, including CVS in 2014 and Hannaford in 2020, have independently decided to stop offering tobacco products in stores, businesses will no longer have the option doing so next spring. Under LD 166, sponsored by Rep. Matt Moonen (D-Portland), pharmacies and retail establishments…