Author: Libby Palanza

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…

President Donald Trump (R) signed a bill Thursday eliminating $9 billion worth of already approved federal spending, including $1.1 billion that was originally destined for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Last week, the House and Senate approved the multi-billion dollar rescission plan to cut federal spending put forward by the White House in early June. A June 3rd thread on X posted by the OMB details a number of the initiatives that the White House sought to see defunded through this rescission package, including several LGBTQ-related programs in places like Uganda and the Western Balkans, as well as several million…

The Maine Ethics Commission decided Wednesday that it would not be taking action against the Cape Elizabeth School Department for its alleged mishandling of communications surrounding a local ballot initiative this past November. This finding came in response to a complaint filed by Larry Benoit and Mary Ann Lynch, Cape Elizabeth residents who alleged that Superintendent Chris Record allowed for more than $5,000 in taxpayers’ dollars to be spent on advertisements in the Cape Courier supporting a $95 million school construction bond ahead of the November 2024 election. Record has said previously that the only $4,940.44 was spent across five…

Despite a relative flatlining of year-on-year real estate prices nationwide, Maine home sales are up from where they were last June, an industry survey shows. Maine home sales were up 10.51 percent in June compared to this same time last year. At the same time, the median sale price rose by 4.94 percent to $425,000, according to the Maine Association of Realtors. A median sale price of $425,000 was reached in Maine for the first time in May of this year, at which time it was described as an “historic” high. [RELATED: Median Sale Price of Maine Homes Rose to…

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey has once again joined a coalition of states, this time in suing the federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) over new rules for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The plaintiff states argue in the lawsuit that the changes advanced by DHHS and CMS could cause up to 1.8 million people to lose their health insurance coverage beginning in 2026. “This rule creates unnecessary barriers for the nearly 65,000 Mainers who get their health insurance from the exchange to stay covered,” said Attorney General Frey in…

Mainers need to make over $45,000 annually on average to afford a one-bedroom apartment in the state, and they need nearly $60,000 if they want to live in a two-bedroom apartment, according to a recent survey. This translates to a so-called housing wage of $22.41 per hour for a one-bedroom apartment and $28.42 for a two-bedroom apartment. In other words, someone would need to work two full-time jobs in order to afford a two-bedroom apartment and one-and-a-half full-time jobs to pay for a one-bedroom. Source: National Low Income Housing Coalition Affordability varies widely, however, from location to location throughout the…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) has allowed a bill establishing net neutrality to become law in Maine without her signature. Sponsored by Rep. Christopher J. Kessler (D-South Portland), LD 536 was originally introduced as a concept draft and later amended with policy details. Under Maine’s new law, internet service providers will be required to treat all web data equally without showing favor toward any particular websites or content. Internet service providers will still, however, have the ability to offer plans with different speeds or data limits, income-based eligibility, promotional rates, and legacy pricing. The concept of net neutrality was first introduced…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed a bill into law earlier this month that expanded eligibility for free hospital care, raising the income threshold below which no-cost treatment must be provided by hospitals throughout the state. These changes are set to take effect next July. While this level is currently set at 150 percent of the federal poverty level — equivalent to $23,500 this year — this will increase to 200 percent of the federal poverty level next year. Based on this year’s numbers, this would mean that anyone making less than $31,300 would be eligible for free care. The new…

The Trump Administration is now expected to release $1.3 billion worth of federal funds for before- and after-school programming, multiple source reported on Sunday. A specific date for the distribution of these funds to states has not yet been announced. This money was originally held by the Administration as part of a $6.8 billion funding freeze that encompassed money for several programs originally set for distribution on July 1. The $1.3 billion worth of now-released funding comes under Title IV-B and goes toward before- and after-school programs, particularly in “high-poverty and low-performing schools.” [RELATED: Breaking Down the Trump Administration’s $6.8…

Maine’s unemployment rate has remained steady in recent months, coming in at 3.3 percent in June. The seasonal increase in hospitality jobs has for a second month continued to be less substantial than normal. Last month, the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) appeared to suggest that the extraordinarily rainy weather experienced throughout the state in May could have potentially contributed to the relatively stagnant pace of job growth. Labor force participation again dropped slightly to 59.9 percent in June, a figure that is notably lower than the national rate of 62.3 percent. Labor force participation rates are representative of the…

A group of ten Republican senators, including Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, have sent a letter to the Trump Administration urging that $6.8 billion worth of frozen federal education funding, originally scheduled for distribution on July 1, be immediately released. Although Congress voted in March to extend the prior year’s funding levels government-wide for the next fiscal year, an email sent by the Department of Education (DOE) on June 30, according to reporting from EdWeek, outlined several public education programs that would not be receiving funding in accordance with the expected timeline. Impacted programs were said to include those that…

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has joined her counterparts in sixteen states in calling on Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to release $6.8 billion in funding that was scheduled for distribution on July 1. Although Congress voted in March to extend the prior year’s funding levels government-wide for the next fiscal year, an email sent by the Department of Education (DOE) on June 30, according to reporting from EdWeek, outlined several public education programs that would not be receiving funding in accordance with the expected timeline. Impacted programs were said to include those that support the children of migrant agricultural…

The Trump Administration has delayed distributing $6.8 billion worth of federal funding for certain education programs it is currently reviewing instead of sending those funds to states on July 1 as originally scheduled. This move prompted swift push back from both Democrats and Republicans, including from the State of Maine. Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) joined sixteen states in calling on Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to release this funding immediately. Earlier this week, the State of Maine was listed as a co-plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration alleging that the freeze is “contrary to law, arbitrary and…

Earlier this week, the State of Maine was listed as a co-plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration over $6.8 billion worth of federal education funding that frozen ahead of its scheduled distribution date of July 1. The lawsuit alleges that this freeze is “contrary to law, arbitrary and capricious, and unconstitutional.” By taking legal action, the states involved hope to have the courts force the Administration to release this funding as soon as possible. Although Congress voted in March to extend the prior year’s funding levels government-wide for the next fiscal year, an email sent by the Department…

The Portland City Council voted Monday night to spend $15 million in order to open the door for future development on three vacant Bayside lots that were set to be converted to housing more than a decade ago. A development originally proposed in 2013, known as the “Midtown Project,” would have included 800 market-rate apartments spread across four towers with 100,000 square feet of retail space but was quickly scaled back in response to a challenge in 2014. The project reportedly never was able to get off the ground due largely to the three federal court cases that were resolved…

The United States Senate voted early Thursday morning to pass President Donald Trump’s (R) plan to cut $9 billion in federal spending. Maine Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) joined the Senate Democrats in opposition to the plan. All remaining Republicans voted in support of the cost-cutting plan, known as a rescission package, allowing it to pass the chamber by a margin of 51-48. Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota was not present at the vote due to hospitalization. Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell had opposed a procedural move Wednesday to advance the package, but he…

Congressional Republicans have renewed calls to revoke the federal charter for the nation’s largest teachers union on the grounds that the association has strayed from its original mission. The National Education Association (NEA) has maintained its federal charter since 1906, at which time the group was given a unique position among labor unions to “elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching; and to promote the cause of education in the United States.” According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), federal charters do not confer special rights or privileges onto groups, but such recognition has often…

Maine’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has launched an effort to support the production of renewable energy on agricultural land contaminated by “forever chemicals,” or PFAS. The agency opened a request for proposals (RFP) to purchase energy or renewable energy credits from projects located on contaminated land. The PUC is looking to procure up to 1,573,026 megawatt-hours worth of energy from qualifying operations. For comparison, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that the average household used about 10.7 megawatt-hours worth of electricity annually. Based on this, the Maine PUC is looking to purchase enough energy or energy credits to power about…

President Donald Trump (R) has issued a three-month extension of the federal hiring freeze that was set to expire earlier this month. Jobs in the military and positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, and public safety continue to be exempted from this freeze and positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs, medical personnel, food safety inspectors, firefighters, air traffic controllers, and National Weather Service employees will not be affected either. Positions within the Executive Office of the President are also excluded from the hold. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may grant additional exemptions to…

The United States Senate narrowly cleared the first procedural hurdle for President Donald Trump’s (R) plan to reverse $9.4 billion worth of federal spending, with Vice President JD Vance casting the decisive vote late Tuesday evening. This vote released the plan, known as a rescission package, from committee consideration and sent it to the chamber floor. Put forward by the White House, the Senate is considering a proposal to pull back billions of dollars in previously approved federal spending. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) ultimately voted against advancing the measure in a procedural vote Tuesday. “The rescissions package has a…

On Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Wolf permanently enjoined the State of Maine from enforcing the new limits on Super PAC contributions approved by voters 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 of how much any one person contributed. “The disclosure requirement is facially unconstitutional because it risks chilling contributors’ rights to speak and associate, and that risk ‘is enough because…

The Maine Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday morning in the case against the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) over rules adopted for the state’s newly-instituted Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce, which represents the interests of businesses in the state, and Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of the defense contractor General Dynamics, have sued the MDOL for allegedly adopting rules that contradict the program’s establishing legislation. Separately, BIW argues that the new program represents a violation of Maine businesses’ constitutional rights. Much of Tuesday’s oral arguments focused on the question of whether…

While a new report from a state agency shows a slight decrease in homeless persons in Maine compared to the same period last year, a brief visit to Portland is enough to demonstrate that the problem persists and – in the summer months – may be more disparate throughout a state with ample places for outdoor camping. The Maine State Housing Authority released its point-in-time homeless report Monday, the findings of which were based on data collected in January of this year. The report looks at the issue from a range of perspectives – in terms of geography, demographic character…

As part of a $4.5 million slate of upgrades, a new security fence currently being erected around the Blaine House has raised eyebrows around Augusta in recent days. The Maine’s governor’s mansion will be getting a new stone and metal fence similar to the one currently surrounding the State House across the street. This will replace the wooden picket fence that previously ran along the perimeter of the property. Construction of the fence is now underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Funding for this project comes primarily through a $10 million bond approved…

A church fighting to stop a major university in Maine from selling a Belfast property it had won the right to purchase to another buyer is filing an appeal against what a ruling in what it has called discriminatory action, new legal documents show. Earlier this year, a federal judge refused to grant a preliminary injunction blocking the University of Maine System (UMS) from selling a campus property after reneging on its original deal with Calvary Chapel in Belfast. This decision has now been appealed on behalf of the church by Liberty Counsel, a self-described Christian ministry organization. Calvary Chapel…

The Maine Supreme Court ruled Friday to uphold Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ wording of a citizens initiative requiring voters to present some form of identification set to appear on the ballot this November. The challengers bringing the case had alleged that the wording of the question, as drafted by Secretary Bellows’ Office, was leading and misrepresentative of their proposal’s intent. While supporters of the petition have argued that its primary purpose is to implement voter ID requirements for casting a ballot in Maine and ought to be characterized as such, others have suggested that the provisions pertaining to absentee…

Earlier this week, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals voided the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new rule making it easier for customers to cancel unwanted subscriptions. Mainers, however, can still expect to see some of the promised benefits under a new law unanimously approved in both chambers of the Legislature and signed by Gov. Janet Mills (D) last month. State law will now ensure that those who subscribe to various services, including gyms or other health clubs, will be given advance notice prior to the renewal or extension of a subscription, as well as a straightforward method of cancellation that…