Author: Libby Palanza

Augusta lawmakers on the Judiciary Committee brought a proposed concept draft concerning “reproductive rights” to the forefront Tuesday, discussing the possibility of referring the bill to another committee, as the intended scope of the proposal appears to have changed since it was first brought forward last year. Although proposed text for LD 335 is still not yet available, sponsor Rep. Amy Kuhn (D-Falmouth) explained during Tuesday’s work session that the bill has essentially become a “funding bill for reproductive and sexual health providers in Maine.” Originally, the concept draft was referred to the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee due to their jurisdiction…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced Wednesday that she will be allowing nearly all remaining bills enacted by the Legislature during the previous session to become law, vetoing only an automotive right to repair bill. Designed to implement recommendations from the Automotive Right to Repair Working Group, the vetoed LD 1228 aimed to clarify and improve the effectiveness of a law approved by voters at the ballot box in 2023. Under the citizens’ initiative, vehicle manufacturers were required to standardize on-board diagnostic systems, as well as allow both owners and non-dealership repair facilities remote access to these systems and mechanical data.…

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced Monday that its Board of Directors has voted to dissolve the organization after nearly sixty years. This comes several months after a measure was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) rolling back $9 billion worth of already approved federal spending, including $1.1 billion that was originally destined for the CPB. According to the CPB, the Board determined that it would “not serve the public interest” to continue operating as a “nonfunctional entity” in the absence of Congressional funding. The CPB was primarily responsible for distributing funding to…

On Tuesday, Mainers gathered in Augusta to make their voices heard on a proposed “right to repair” law for electronic devices carried over from the first legislative session. LD 1908, a bipartisan bill presented by Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot), would establish an electronic “right to repair” law in the state, requiring that original equipment manufacturers make it possible for individuals and unauthorized repair shops to fix their products. In speaking before committee members Tuesday, Sen. Tipping highlighted the bipartisan nature of the bill, as well as the handful of exemptions included in the legislation for items like gaming consoles and…

Lawmakers in Augusta are set to discuss a bill Tuesday that aims to prohibit “housing discrimination” based on a person’s source of income under the Maine Human Rights Act. If approved, LD 847 would prevent anyone looking to sell or rent a property from refusing to rent to, or engage in housing negotiations with, individuals because of their income source, so long it is legal and rightfully obtained. For example, landlords and property owners could not discount potential tenants or buyers because a portion of their income is sourced from a public assistance program, non-governmental organization (NGO), or the Social…

Starting this month, New Hampshire will be ending its practice of requiring annual vehicle safety inspections, leaving Maine as just one of thirteen states to have such a mandate on the books. Reportedly integral to New Hampshire’s shift away from inspections was the $50 price tag associated with obtaining a sticker, a cost that is roughly double that which Mainers are required to pay on an annual basis. Much like in Maine, supporters of these inspections argue that they help to keep poorly maintained and unsafe vehicles off the road, while opponents raise concerns that the system opens the door…

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

Beginning on New Year’s Day, Maine’s minimum wage increased to $15.10 per hour. Following the enactment of a bill signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills (D) last June, this minimum wage will now also apply to the state’s agricultural workers. 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. [RELATED: Minimum Wage in Maine Set to Rise…

A new poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of the yes. every kid. foundation suggests that the majority of Americans are supportive of several types of school choice, including public school open enrollment and education savings accounts (ESAs). The yes. every kid. foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the expansion of educational flexibility in order to “unlock the potential of every kid.” Source: YouGov/yes. every kid. foundation Survey, December 2025 80 percent of K-12 parents surveyed by the organization expressed a belief that “all children benefit from families having more control and choices in K-12 education.”…

Four Republicans serving in the United States House of Representatives broke with party leadership Wednesday to sign onto a Democrat-led petition forcing a vote on extending the pandemic-era health insurance subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year. Because the petition was able to meet the minimum signature threshold, it is now guaranteed that the chamber will at some point hold a vote on the proposed three-year extension in early 2026. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick, Rob Bresnahan Jr., and Ryan Mackenzie, all of Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York signed onto the petition, allowing it to…

The State of Maine and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows have filed a motion to dismiss the case brought recently by the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) over the state’s refusal to turn over voter registration information requested earlier this year. The lawsuit alleges that Maine and Secretary of State 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 Bellows’ refusal “to provide data regarding the removal of ineligible individuals and to produce an…

A new omnibus poll from Pan Atlantic Research, a Portland-based research company headed by former Maine Democratic Party chair Victoria Murphy, sought to reveal Mainers’ opinions on a range of topics including their elected leaders, the future of their state, and several hot-button issues. A strong plurality of Mainers were shown to feel pessimistic about the direction in which the state is currently headed. Nearly half of Mainers feel that the State of Maine is currently on the wrong track, while just just under a third (32 percent) feel that things are moving in the right direction. The remaining 20…

The United States Senate considered two proposals this week to extend the expanded health insurance tax credits first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Right now, about 85 percent of the roughly 61,000 Mainers who get their insurance through the ACA marketplace take advantage of the EPTC. Absent Congressional action, the 2021 expansion of this credit — approved as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and allowed…

A Massachusetts federal judge has ruled against the Trump Administration in a case concerning their plan to end billions of dollars in funding for a federal disaster mitigation program, prompting applause from Maine’s attorney general. Known as Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), this program was designed to help localities prepare for potentially hazardous weather conditions by preemptively expanding their “capability and capacity.” After arguing that the program was “wasteful and ineffective,” the Administration moved to halt billions in funding that had been awarded but not yet paid, as well as decline to award millions in funding next year, according…

The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) announced on Wednesday a number of Subway sandwich shop locations throughout the state will be closing following the revocation of their business registrations. Now, the MDOL is attempting to get in contact with any workers that have been laid off as a result of the closures. “The department is here to assist these workers through this period of uncertainty,” Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said in a statement. “We have resources to assist them with both their immediate needs and long-term goals, and want to make their next steps as simple as possible during…

Maine’s unemployment rate held steady in September at 3.2 percent, a figure that remained unchanged from the previous month. Despite this, the total number of jobs in the state decreased for the second month in a row. In terms of unemployment, Maine is currently faring better than both New England and the nation at large, where unemployment came in at 4.1 percent and 4.4 percent respectively in September. Despite the promising nature of these numbers for Maine’s comparative economic position, the number of jobs available in the state has continued its first decrease since the COVID-19 pandemic. From August to…

A new omnibus poll from Pan Atlantic Research, a Portland-based research company headed by former Maine Democratic Party chair Victoria Murphy, offered a snapshot of key 2026 races that showed the establishment Democrat candidate for the U.S. Senate enjoying a double digit lead over the renegade upstart. Two key primary races on the ballot next summer will be for the governorship, as well as for one of Maine’s two seats in the United States Senate. Source: Pan Atlantic Research, 67th Omnibus Poll, December 2025 Gov. Janet Mills (D) currently appears to hold a sizable ten-point lead over Graham Platner in…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Sen. Angus King (I) announced Tuesday that ten Maine organizations will be receiving a combined $6.5 million for economic development projects. Individual awards range in value from just over $35,000 to a maximum of $1 million. Projects funded by these awards include the construction of a new facility at the Bangor YMCA, building a second water main crossing the Aroostook River, and developing a commercial working waterfront facility at Henry Point in Hancock County, among others. Funds will also be used to support building a new library and community center in Patten, as well as…

On Monday, a federal judge struck down President Donald Trump’s (R) Executive Order pausing wind energy projects that he signed on Inauguration Day. The order aimed to prevent any of the Outer Continental Shelf, including the entire coastline of the mainland U.S. and Alaska, from being leased for offshore wind development indefinitely until the president decides to lift the restrictions. Additionally, the order calls for an immediate review of the federal leasing process for both offshore and onshore wind development, which will consider the potential downsides, including “negative impacts on navigational safety interests, transportation interests, national security interests, commercial interests,…

U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) has reached out to members of the Trump Administration urging them to provide relief to Maine’s blueberry industry in light of the tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum, according to a letter her office released. In her two-page letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Sen. Collins explained that between this year’s drought conditions and the increased costs of the tariffs, Maine’s blueberry industry is at risk. She highlighted the industry’s $361 million annual contribution to Maine’s economy and points out the $28 million in losses that…

Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced late last month that the Department of Education (DOE) will be outsourcing several of its functions to other agencies in an effort to “break up federal bureaucracy,” sparking the ire of congressional opponents. On Friday, Sen. Angus King (I-ME) joined a number of his Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to the Secretary criticizing this move, alleging that the Department’s new interagency agreements (IAAs) are illegal. The scathing letter opens by accusing the Department of jeopardizing critical funding nationwide by attempting to “dismantle” the DOE. Its authors go on to urge the Administration to keep…

Led by Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D), Maine’s Congressional delegation has joined together to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation aimed at providing assistance to farmers impacted by “forever chemicals.” Sen. Angus King (I) and Rep. Jared Golden (D) are both original co-sponsors of the legislation. Under the proposed bill, the federal government would be authorized to send grants to states so that they could give financial assistance to farmers impacted by PFAS, expand monitoring and testing, remediate the presence of PFAS, or even help farmers to relocate. A task force would also be created…

Data shared by the Maine State Housing Authority shows that Mainers from the northern-most parts of the state have so far this year been the largest beneficiaries of the organization’s heating assistance programs. With a combined $26 million available in total, roughly $3.5 million remains for the rest of the winter season as around $22.5 million has already been distributed to households throughout the state. Just over $3 million has been spent on MaineHousing’s Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) this winter, helping a total of 7,003 households. Under this program, qualifying households are eligible to receive a one-time benefit of…

Beginning on January 1, Mainers who subscribe to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify may see a new charge on their monthly bill. Approved as part of Maine’s supplemental budget for the current fiscal year, changes to the state’s tax code will impose a 5.5 percent fee on all streaming service subscriptions starting in the new year. This is the second time that Gov. Janet Mills (D) has attempted to impose a streaming service tax in the state, as lawmakers declined to include her proposal to advance it in the 2024 supplemental budget. Although cable TV premiums and the…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has joined eleven of her counterparts in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) concerning their approach to making voter eligibility determinations. At issue is the effort by the federal agency to apply its Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to states’ voter lists in order to determine whether non-citizens are in fact voting in elections. The Secretaries of State argue in their comments that the expansions being adopted by DHS would make it harder for states to ensure election integrity, compromise privacy, and lower participation. In their letter, they…

Beginning Wednesday, December 3, the Maine State Housing Authority will be opening its Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) for the upcoming winter season. This comes after the federal government released $40 million in heating assistance funds to Maine that were initially delayed due to the prolonged government shutdown earlier this year. Typically, ECIP opens on November 1 each year, meaning that the program’s launch was pushed back by just over a month. Through this program, qualifying households are eligible to receive a one-time benefit of up to $500 for heating is they are in an emergency situation, such as having…

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced Tuesday that the federal government has released nearly $40 million in heating assistance for Mainers. About $38 million of this funding will go towards the State of Maine, while the remaining $1.5 million will be sent directly to the Indian Township and Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet, and Mi’kmaq Tribes in Maine. Last month, Sen. Collins joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in urging the Trump Administration to release heating assistance funds as quickly as possible after the record-long government shutdown initially delayed their distribution. [RELATED: Susan Collins Urges Administration to Release LIHEAP Grants Now…

Maine lawmakers have scheduled a work session for a bipartisan bill that would subject state agencies to zero-based budgeting once every ten years. On Monday, December 15 at 10:30am in Room 228 of the State House, members of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee will meet to discuss LD 1521, a bill sponsored by Rep. Jack Ducharme (R-Madison). Cosponsoring the bill alongside Rep. Ducharme are a handful of Republican lawmakers, as well as Rep. Tavis Rock Hasenfus (D-Readfield). For the purposes of this legislation, “zero-based budgeting” refers to a method of budgeting where all “programs and activities are justified for…

As the first major snow storm of the season sweeps through Maine, many schools, businesses, and state offices have closed or adjusted their hours in preparation for the inclement weather. Warnings, reminders, and information have been posted online to help Mainers prepare for and make it through the incoming storm. This comes as the entire State of Maine was placed under either a Winter Storm Warning, Winter Weather Advisory, or Hazardous Weather Outlook by the National Weather Service. The heaviest snow is expected Tuesday afternoon and evening, creating hazardous travel conditions, according to a press release from the Maine Emergency…

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is now making relief available to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Maine that were negatively impacted by the drought which afflicted the state in September, according to a recent announcement. Meanwhile, a separate program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be providing emergency loans to Maine’s agricultural producers affected by the fall weather. Low interest federal disaster loans through the SBA are now accessible for qualifying organizations located in parts of the state covered by the disaster declaration. According to a press release shared by the SBA Wednesday, the…

Eligible Lewiston residents will have the chance to go to the polls on February 24 to participate in a special election to fill the House District 94 seat recently vacated by former Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D), Maine’s secretary of state announced on Monday. Comprising a swathe of central Lewiston running from the Androscoggin River up Central Avenue and College Street and down Old Greene Avenue on the other side, the House district was swapped with one in Knox County during a re-districting in 2022. Cloutier announced last month that she would be resigning from the House in favor of taking…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has signed onto a letter with a handful of her counterparts in blue states rebuffing the Trump administration’s request for the voter data. Over the past several months, Secretary Bellows has repeatedly refused requests from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to turn over the state’s voter rolls and other information about how elections are run. All ten of the Secretaries of State who signed the letter had received similar requests from the federal government for voter data. [RELATED: Shenna Bellows Continues to Reject the DOJ’s Request for Maine’s Voter Registration Data] The…

Maine Senators Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (I) sent a joint letter to several key Trump Administration officials seeking support for the state’s forest products industry as many companies are struggling to adapt to the imposition of tariffs. The senators note that Maine’s forest products economy is “deeply entwined” Canada, meaning that a great deal of product moves back and forth across the border every day. Their joint letter was addressed to numerous Trump Administration officials, including: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. A summary published in…

A controversial power corridor running through the North Maine Woods is set to be completed and put to use by the end of the year – a goal that has been eight years in the making. Avangrid, the parent company of Central Maine Power (CMP), has indicated that the corridor will go live at some point in the next few weeks after it has been tested and commissioned, according to WGME. After years of legal and regulatory battles, the State of Maine has issued the final permit necessary for the corridor to be finalized, as was previously reported by the…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) and the Maine State Housing Authority announced Friday that the state has secured financing for 311 apartments located across eight developments throughout the state. Spanning across the cities of Biddeford, Belfast, Lewiston, Portland, South Portland, and Rockland, the new apartments will primarily benefit Maine’s seniors, with a handful of units also going toward lower-income families. This latest batch of awards has brought the total number of affordable housing units financed by the state to more than 1,000 in the past year alone, the majority of which have been new construction. These eight newest projects are supported…

Maine’s Sen. Angus King (I) has joined a coalition of Democratic lawmakers in cosponsoring a bill that would repeal a provision included in the government funding bill. Under the new law, senators who had their phone records seized without their knowledge are eligible to sue for at least $500,000. This comes after the Senate Judiciary Committee released documentation related to “Arctic Frost,” a 2021 investigation into the events that transpired on January 6, 2021. The provision allowing senators to file lawsuits and collect damages over this was said to have been added last minute to the spending bill that reopened…

The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has announced the new standard offer price for Central Maine Power (CMP) customers in 2026, who will see a nearly 20 percent rate increase. Next year, the per kilowatt-hour rate will increase from 10.61 cents to 12.72 cents, resulting in an average $11 monthly increase for households using 550 kilowatt-hours each month. Impacting the supply portion of the bill, the standard offer rate affects the amount of money going to the company generating power, not distributing it. Consequently, the increased revenue will not be going to CMP, as their responsibility is only to transport…

The United States Supreme Court has granted the Trump Administration’s request to review the 9th Circuit’s decision in a case concerning the management of southern border. Challenged in this case is the use of “metering” — a tactic that has been employed by both Democratic and Republican administrations — in which officers are granted the authority to turn away individuals on the Mexico side of the border without granting a screening or hearing. While the Department of Justice has argued that metering is a critical tool for effectively maintaining the border, critics have called it an “illegal scheme.” In a…

Sen. Susan Collins (R) heralded the news on Tuesday that Maine’s $48.4 million plan to expand access to broadband internet throughout the state has been approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Alongside Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sen. Collins coauthored the section of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) allocating $65 billion toward the advancement of projects nationwide designed to bring quality internet to rural areas. Of the $42.45 billion set aside for the Broadband Equity, Access, And Deployment (BEAD) Program, Maine is eligible for a total of $272 million. The funding for the state’s now-approved project…

On Tuesday, Gov. Janet Mills (D) officially certified the results of the statewide referendum election held earlier this month. Following months of intense campaigning, the majority of Maine voters cast their ballots on Questions 1 and 2 at the start of November. Roughly the same share of Mainers voted to reject the series of election reform measures proposed in Question 1 as expressed support for the new gun control law proposed in Question 2. This year’s off-cycle election drew a substantial turnout of 47.4 percent according to the numbers reported Tuesday by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, representing 492,008…

A city in Massachusetts has found itself in the spotlight over an ongoing effort to install two statues depicting Catholic saints outside of a municipal public safety building. Depicting St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian, the statues slated for placement outside the new Quincy Public Safety Building are said to have been selected for their importance to firemen and policemen around the world. Critics, however, have taken issue with the use of taxpayer money to fund the installation of Catholic imagery on public property. Commissioned in 2023, the statues are each ten feet tall and cost a combined $850,000.…

The vast majority of Mainers are pessimistic about the projected impact of artificial intelligence (AI) over the next decade according to a new Pine Tree State Poll, a States of Opinion Project, from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. Younger Mainers are significantly more skeptical that AI could be beneficial, with 85 percent believing that it will have a negative impact over the next ten years compared to just 52 percent of those over the age of 65. This may be because many fear AI will eliminate jobs, which is a widely-held concern. Nationally, 50 percent of Americans are…

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) wants the world to know about her decision to vote against the bill allowing the government to reopen after being shutdown for a record-long period of time. The First District Democrat was the only member of Maine’s Congressional delegation not to support the deal to end the forty-plus day shutdown. After overcoming its most significant hurdle in the Senate, the plan was approved by the House Wednesday signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) later that same day. [RELATED: As the Federal Government Finally Reopens After 40+ Days, Some Maine Politicians Respond] Many Democrats…

Maine’s Senator Susan Collins (R) announced Friday that she and two other lawmakers led a bipartisan group of senators in asking the federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to release heating assistance funds as quickly as possible. During the record-long government shutdown, states including Maine were delayed in receiving funding for their heating assistance programs, forcing them to put the distribution of most benefits on hold. Now that the government has been reopened, Sen. Collins has joined Rhode Island’s Sen. Jack Reed (D) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) of Alaska in urging the DHHS to make available the…

Known for its beautiful foliage, Maine is often a destination during the autumn months for those looking to soak in the colorful sights, typically bringing with them some financial benefit to the places they visit. While not necessarily as substantial as summer tourism — an industry understood to be a key part of many local economies throughout the state — fall visitors can also be thought of as playing an important role in boosting local businesses. Despite this, not everyone is always happy with having outsiders flood their towns during this period of the year, particularly on the heels of…

A new report from the Tax Foundation analyzes the burden imposed by states upon their residents, taking into consideration sales taxes, income taxes, property taxes, and more. Despite finding itself in the middle of the pack overall, a closer look at the details shows that Maine stands out on both the positive and negative ends of the scale. The primary factor boosting Maine’s placement on the list is its relatively low sales tax rate, which was found to be the 9th best in the country. Two categories in which Maine was found to neither particularly good or bad were individual…

After weeks of gridlock, a plan to reopen the federal government was signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) Wednesday after receiving approval in the House earlier that day. Many Democrats had previously pushed to keep the government shut down until they come to an agreement with their Republican counterparts on the potential extension of expanded health insurance tax credits, leading to a stalemate in the Senate where any plan needed at least 60 votes to advance. First created in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), these credits give many Americans access to free or…

A coalition of more than twenty states, including Maine, have sued the Trump Administration over its decision to disqualify some nonprofit and public sector workers from a federal student loan forgiveness program because their employers may be involved in illegal activity as determined by the Department of Education (DOE). In keeping with an Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump (R) in March, the DOE adopted new rules outlining a series of activities that are defined as having a “substantial illegal purpose.” Some of the new restrictions are centered on key issues such as immigration and terrorism, while others more…

The deal now making its way from the Senate to the House that will bring an end to the record-long government shutdown has drawn mixed reactions from Maine’s Congressional delegation. While both of Maine’s senators appear pleased that progress is being made toward reopening the government, the Democratic representative from the First District has expressed distaste that some of her colleagues have agreed to move the needle in this direction. Many Democrats have pushed to keep the government shutdown until they come to an agreement with their Republican counterparts on the potential extension of expanded health insurance tax credits. First…

A new poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center offers some early insight into the 2028 presidential primary field for both the Democratic and Republican tickets. As the first state in the nation to conduct their presidential primary elections, how things turn out in New Hampshire can often set the tone going into the rest of the election cycle, indicating up front which candidates have a real chance of taking their party’s nomination. Results from the Granite State Poll, a States of Opinion Project, revealed that former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is currently at the top of the…

Maine’s Sen. Susan Collins (R) has asked U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to provide disaster assistance to Maine’s specialty crop and livestock producers. This comes in the wake of numerous struggles for the industry, including extreme weather, high costs, and labor shortages. She also drew attention to the drought conditions experienced throughout the state during the summer months this year. In a letter to Secretary Rollins, Sen. Collins specifically highlighted Maine’s wild blueberry, apple, and livestock producers as having been severely impacted by these conditions. Collins then urged the USDA to include these producers in any federal…

The Maine State Housing Authority announced Wednesday that an initial round of Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) payments will be issued despite the ongoing government shutdown, which has now stretched to a record 38 days and counting. In order to provide this assistance despite the lack of federal funding, MaineHousing has explained it will be utilizing carryover funds from last year that were originally earmarked for the Central Heating Improvement Program (CHIP) and HEAP-related weatherization programs. In doing so, MaineHousing will distribute a total of about $2.2 million in assistance, providing aid to about 4,000 households across the state. Those…

After many months of negotiations, Northern Light and Anthem have finally agreed upon a new contract, allowing patients to continue receiving in-network coverage for their care. Details of the contract have not been released, but the agreement will be applied retroactively to November 1, meaning that all care from Northern Light will be considered in-network by Anthem regardless of when the services were rendered. Northern Light and Anthem’s new contract will be valid for the next three years. On October 31, the previous contract between the two organizations came to an end following the adoption of a one-month extension, leaving…

Falmouth residents have narrowly rejected an effort to repeal the town’s new pesticide and fertilizer ordinance, with about 55 percent of those who turned out to the polls voting against the measure. Approved Tuesday by a wider 61 percent margin was the proposed $13.7 million bond to expand the town’s public works facilities. [RELATED: What Falmouth Residents Are Voting On This Fall] The first of these two questions stemmed from a new set of local regulations that went into effect earlier this year restricting the use of pesticides and fertilizer throughout the town. Under this ordinance, no type of pesticide…

South Portland residents voted Tuesday to approve a natural grass field for their high school’s athletic complex by a decisive margin of 54 percent in favor to 46 percent opposed. In parallel, a resounding 73 percent opposed the alternative of an artificial turf field which only 23 percent supported. Unlike last year’s substantially more costly proposal, voters had the choice between a $4.6 million natural grass field and a $5.5 million synthetic turf field. Both projects included a new track, new lighting and permanent bathrooms. Voters were able to cast their ballots in support of one, both, or neither of…

Mainers voted Tuesday to approve a new statewide “red flag” law, which will now function alongside the uniquely tailored yellow flag policy adopted several years ago. As of late Tuesday night, with a little less than two-thirds of the votes counted, support for the red flag law proposed in Question 2 outweighed opposition by a margin of three to two. Otherwise known as an “Extreme Risk Protective Order” (ERPO), a red flag law empowers law enforcement to disarm an individual who family members, friends or others say poses a risk to themselves or the community at large. As a result…

Maine’s Gov. Janet Mills (D) has again issued a statement urging lawmakers to extend the expanded health insurance tax credits that are set to expire at the end of this year. This latest statement comes as open enrollment begins for plans on Maine’s health insurance marketplace, CoverME. 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…

U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) has signed onto a bill that would keep benefits from both Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) funded as the government shutdown continues. Very similar to a bill sponsored by his Republican counterpart, U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act would expressly direct the USDA to use available funds to keep these programs running. Collins’ bill, on the other hand, would only apply to SNAP benefits. In both cases, distribution of benefits would be retroactive to the start of the…

Daughter Jasmine Vincent, image from a friend’s GoFundMe page

The United States Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a case that may have a major impact on campaign finance law in early December this year. Depending how the Justices ultimately rule, this case could potentially overturn a twenty-five year precedent allowing for limitations on “coordinated party expenditures,” or money spent by a political party at the direction of a particular candidate. Originally brought several years ago by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), former former Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), and then-Senator — now Vice President — J.D. Vance, this case challenges these restrictions on the grounds…

Enrollment this fall at Maine’s community colleges is up three percent over last year, marking yet another historic high for the seven-college system. Central Maine Community College and Southern Maine Committee College saw the most substantial increases in their enrollment numbers, going up by 7.9 percent and 10.1 percent respectively. As of October 15, total enrollment for this fall across all seven schools was 15,833 students, a three percent increase from the 15,366 students enrolled as of the same date last year. Source: Maine Community College System, 10/22/25 “This sustained enrollment growth is critical at a time when Maine’s economy…

The Maine State Housing Authority announced Wednesday that the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) will not be opening on November 1 this year as a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown. This comes as the shutdown is nearing historic lengths, on track to potentially outpace the 34-day shutdown that occurred in early 2019. As part of the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP), ECIP is designed to provide emergency aid to Mainers facing an “imminent heating crisis.” Eligible recipients of regular HEAP benefits typically qualify to receive up to $500 in emergency assistance. It is estimated that about 7,000 households…

Maine State Attorney General Aaron Frey, alongside a number of other defendants, have appealed a lower court ruling that nixed new regulations on Super PAC contributions that was approved by voters at the ballot box last 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, the ongoing lawsuit now headed to the federal First Circuit Court challenges the state’s new $5,000 annual limit on contributions to “independent-expenditure only” PACs, more commonly known as Super PACs. Part of this lawsuit focuses on…

More than $2 million has been raised in opposition to Question 1 on this November’s ballot, a citizens initiative that aims to implement voter ID requirements and amend Maine’s absentee voter laws. By contrast, Voter ID for ME, the ballot question committee (BQC) behind the initiative, has raised a just over $613,000 during this same period. This information is all made publicly available by the Maine Ethics Commission and will continue to be updated as additional filings are made leading up to election day. At this point in the election cycle, ballot question committees are expected to file additional reports…

With Halloween just a few days away, the latest deadline for Anthem and Northern Light to negotiate a new contract or again extend their current agreement is fast approaching. It was announced on October 1, as the expiration date for their existing contract came and went, the health care provider and insurance company extended their agreement for another month while talks continued. Despite the lack of updates, Northern Light’s new president and CEO, Dr. Guy Hudson, expressed hope this past Wednesday in an interview with WGME that they would be able to work out a deal with Anthem in time.…

Maine’s Sen. Susan Collins (R) is among a group of GOP lawmakers co-sponsoring a bill to ensure that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit payments continue without interruption despite the ongoing government shutdown. This came almost immediately after Sen. Collins sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins urging her to take action to avoid recipients experiencing a delay in receiving their benefits. “The needless and reckless government shutdown directed by Senator Schumer is putting federal nutrition assistance for these individuals at risk,” Collins wrote last week. [RELATED: Senator Collins Calls on USDA to Take All Possible Steps to Protect…

The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) announced Friday that beneficiaries will be receiving a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) next year. These increases will impact payments being sent out through Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) — which is what most people think of traditional Social Security benefits — as well as the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. On average, Americans will see their Social Security payments increase by $56 per month beginning in January of next year, but the exact amount will depend upon each person’s exact level of benefits. According to the SSA’s Friday press release, the…

Experts suggest that buyers and sellers in Maine’s housing market are on a more level playing field this fall with 1,582 homes changing hands in September. A new report from the Maine Association of Realtors indicates that the median sale price of homes in the state has decreased slightly since this time last year, coming in at $402,500. This is down a bit from the historic high of $425,000 seen earlier this year. September represented the second time in 2025 that home prices have shown a year-over-year decrease, something that has only happened twice now since 2019. Despite this, the…

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has halted its plans to remove hundreds of navigation buoys from the Northeast after receiving push back from those who rely on them for safety while on the water. A press release shared by the Coast Guard Tuesday indicates that more than 3,200 public comments were submitted concerning this matter. In light of this, the removal of any buoys will be delayed for the time being, including with respect to the dozens located off the coast of Maine. Rajesh Harrilal — a representative for USCG Northeast District — said in a statement to News…

Early polling indicates that Mainers are extremely closely divided over both of this November’s referendum questions, according to the latest Pine Tree State Poll, a State of Opinion Project, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. While political partisanship was, unsurprisingly, shown to be the single strongest indicator of someone’s stance on these questions, moderate and Independent voters were split nearly down the middle on the two questions. First on the ballot will be the citizens initiative advanced by Dinner Table Action Executive Director Alex Titcomb and Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) that aims to implement voter ID requirements…

Voters in Washington County are being asked this fall to approve an $11 million bond to help the area fill a massive budgetary gap caused by years of financial mismanagement. This unhappy surprise is the result both of shoddy bookkeeping and a false sense of security brought on by COVID-era funding largesse. Slow audits and inaccurate record keeping reportedly led to the County continually overestimating how much was in their reserves, leading them to underestimate just how much money was needed in taxes to cover their expenses. After having already used up millions of dollars in federal COVID-19 funds and…

Falmouth voters will have the chance next month to weigh in on two local referendum questions — one to repeal a new pesticide and fertilizer ordinance and another to approve a $13.7 million bond to expand the town’s public works facilities. The first of these two questions stems from a new set of local regulations that went into effect earlier this year restricting the use of pesticides and fertilizer throughout the town. Under this ordinance, no type of pesticide may be used within 75 feet of a body of water or within 20 feet of a storm drain. All neonicotinoids…

A Portland attorney has recently been ordered by a Maine Superior Court justice to pay over $1.3 million in damages to one of his former clients, a whopping judgement in a rarely-awarded case of legal malpractice. Stemming from conduct associated with a 2016 personal injury case, Anthony Sineni and The Law Offices of Anthony J. Sineni III, LLC were found to have engaged in “professional negligence” with respect to the responsibilities owed to their client, Douglas Bean. Court documents obtained by the Maine Wire reveal that Maine Superior Court Justice Darcie McElwee determined that Sineni’s “negligent conduct” was “egregious,” resulting…

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…