News
-
Maine unemployment ticked upward in August
Maine’s unemployment rate increased in August, rising to 3.1 percent from July’s rate...
-
Legislative oversight committee votes to subpoena DHHS for child death records
The Maine Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee (GOC) will subpoena confidential case files related...
-
After 975 days, Washington’s governor will finally relinquish his emergency pandemic powers
For most Americans, COVID-19 long ago stopped being an immediate crisis and has...
-
New cannabis delivery rules test scope of Maine’s facial surveillance ban
New rules for Maine’s adult-use cannabis program went into effect on September 8....
-
Maine’s labor force participation lags the rest of New England
While the number of jobs available in Maine has recovered to near pre-pandemic...
-
Maine DOE gave MEA, other groups access and editing privileges to official COVID response documents
From early March 2020 through the summer, when discussions about whether to close...
-
Emails show how MEA, other interest groups steered Maine DOE’s COVID-19 response
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) worked with several interest groups in the...
-
Maine DOE, MEA discussed withholding relief funds from schools that didn’t comply with COVID rules
As the summer of 2020 progressed, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) continued...
-
Maine high court rules against ballot initiative that halted construction of NECEC
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday ruled against a ballot initiative that...
-
Fishing interests ‘disappointed’ in federal push for offshore wind in Gulf of Maine
On August 18, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), part of...
-
Nurses at Maine Medical Center vote to keep their union
An election to remove the Maine State Nurses Association (MSNA) from Maine Medical...
-
Maine unemployment rate 2.8 percent in July
Maine’s unemployment rate was 2.8 percent in July, down from 3 percent in...
-
Teachers unions politicized US schools, not parents
When voters were asked by Pew Research, prior to the 2020 election, what...
-
Maine Medical Center nurses to hold union decertification vote next week
On August 17 and 18, nurses at Maine Medical Center (MMC) will vote...
-
Bangor reapproves ban on flavored tobacco products
At its August 8 meeting, the Bangor City Council voted 6 to 1...
-
Rules released for property tax stabilization program for seniors
A new property tax stabilization program aimed at helping keep senior citizens in...
-
Judge rules RSU 22 violated First Amendment in banning parent from school property
A regional school unit violated the First Amendment when it banned Shawn McBreairty...
-
2017 mining law prevents Maine couple from extracting lithium on their property
Maine’s laws regulating metallic mineral mining mean a Newry couple cannot extract an...
-
Maine unemployment rate at 3 percent in June
According to the Maine Department of Labor (DOL), Maine’s employment rate decreased slightly...
-
Government Oversight Committee meets to address flaws in Maine’s child welfare system
In a July 20 meeting, the Government Oversight Committee (GOC) met and further...
-
Groups launch ballot initiative effort for paid family medical leave
A joint ballot initiative effort between the Maine People’s Alliance and the Maine...
-
Property tax stabilization program for seniors raises concerns for towns and taxpayers
A law intended to stabilize property taxes for full-time Maine residents aged 65...
-
First Circuit Court resumes ban on lobster fishing gear in Maine waters
Lobster fishing gear is once more banned from a roughly 1,000 square mile...
-
Commission submits final report proposing eight changes to Portland’s charter
Portland’s Charter Commission submitted its final report, including eight proposals for reform that...
-
UMS Chancellor Malloy receives one-year contract extension
Dannel Malloy will continue to serve as chancellor for the University of Maine...
-
Five ballot initiatives approved to appear on Portland’s November ballot
Five citizen’s initiatives will appear on Portland’s ballot in November. Four of those...
-
SCOTUS limits EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions at power plants
On the final day of its October 2021 term, the Supreme Court ruled...
-
Southport voters rescind authority for locally-owned broadband network
Residents of Southport voted on June 28 to overturn approval for a fiber...
-
Maine DOE seeks accountability and assessment reporting waivers for third consecutive year
For the third consecutive school year, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) is...
-
Maine DOE hiring for MOOSE online learning program
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) recently announced it is looking to hire...
-
University of Maine System disregards policy in Chancellor Malloy’s temporary contract extension
During a June 16 meeting of the Maine Legislature’s Committee on Education and...
-
SCOTUS overturns Roe v. Wade, ending federal abortion rights
In a 6-3 majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito, the U.S. Supreme...
-
Maine Supreme Court denies challenge to state’s ‘yellow flag’ law
In a decision released June 21, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled against...
-
Supreme Court strikes down sectarian exclusion in Maine’s town tuitioning program
On June 21, the United States Supreme Court ruled Maine’s prohibition on sectarian...
-
Maine unemployment rate hits 26-month low in May
Maine’s unemployment rate fell slightly in May, to 3.2 percent from 3.3 percent...
-
Waterville doctor who wrote COVID-19 vaccine exemptions has license reinstated
The Board of Osteopathic Licensure restored Paul Gosselin’s license to practice medicine on...
-
Malloy, UMS Board of Trustees chair address controversies during education committee meeting
A decision about University of Maine System (UMS) Chancellor Dannel Malloy’s contract will...
-
Poliquin tops Caruso, Sartoris defeats Sarhbeck in Maine’s June primary elections
Republican Bruce Poliquin defeated Elizabeth Caruso in the June 14 primary for the...
-
Maine DOE announces public comment period for new waiver requests
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is currently seeking comments related to a...
-
Federal watchdog finds 20% of pandemic unemployment funds wasted on fraudulent or ineligible claims
At least 20 percent of federal dollars paid out through pandemic-related unemployment programs...
-
Subcommittee of Gov. Mills’ Climate Council recommends payments, transportation and childcare for Mainers who attend meetings
As part of Maine’s Climate Council, which is working to implement a four-year...
-
New report pegs Maine’s economy as 8th weakest in 2022
According to a report recently released by WalletHub, Maine has the eighth weakest...
-
Maine DSA pushing four ballot questions in Portland, including $18 minimum wage
The Maine chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) recently announced it...
-
Portland reverses course on food truck lottery, grants permits to all applicants
Days after announcing the results of a lottery for a new pilot program...
-
What the ReCode Portland effort can learn from the city of Auburn
Now that LD 2003, the housing bill sponsored by Speaker of the House...
-
Maine’s $850 checks to start hitting mailboxes by next week
The $850 checks passed as part of the most recent supplemental budget deal...
-
Mainers faced among the highest gas prices in the nation over Memorial Day weekend
According to The Hill, Maine’s average price of gas per gallon was 10th...
-
Portland Charter Commission’s initial report calls for noncitizen voting, clean elections and a strong mayor
If passed as currently written, a recently submitted draft proposal of reforms to...
-
What a SCOTUS ruling in favor of Maine families would mean for school choice, town tuitioning
Before the Supreme Court issues its final opinion for the October 2021 term...
-
Chancellor Malloy receives fourth no-confidence vote, Laliberte withdraws from UMA post
University of Maine System (UMS) Chancellor Dannel Malloy has now received four votes...
-
Maine’s unemployment situation ‘essentially unchanged’ in April
Following an upward revision to March’s jobs numbers, Maine’s unemployment rate was “essentially...
-
Halsey Frank: The CDC and trying to make sense of firearms homicides
On May 14, 18-year-old Payton Gendron traveled more than 200 miles from his...
-
UMS chancellor Malloy under fire for hiring practices at UMA, retrenchment at UMF
After failing to disclose a vote of no confidence in the incoming University...
-
Report questions the information collection, retention and auditing practices of the MIAC
As a result of its information retention practices related to privacy and the...
-
Lawmakers spar over hemp regulations on final day of session
Maine’s Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) would write new rules to...
-
Lawmakers sustain all five of Gov. Mills’ vetoes
When the legislature returned to Augusta for veto day on May 9, lawmakers...
-
Secretary of State’s Office can consult Urban Dictionary in review, approval of vanity license plates
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ office released draft rules on May 5 detailing...
-
Small business advocates worry about costs, confusion with Maine’s new paid vacation time policy
A law related to pay for vacation time at the end of employment...
-
New rules spell trouble for Maine lobstermen, with or without enforcement
Though a new rule from the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration affecting the...
-
Gov. Mills issues first vetoes of the second session
Gov. Janet Mills has so far vetoed two bills passed during the 130th...
-
Unpacking the tribal sovereignty bills and debate
Though the 130th Maine Legislature will return to Augusta for a veto day...
-
Here’s what has become law thus far from the legislature’s second session
On April 27, Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 2003 into law. The bill...
-
Lawmakers fund cessation efforts but retreat on more sweeping tobacco taxes and regulations
With the 130th Maine Legislature’s second session completed, except for a veto day...
-
Extra day of session results in substantial legislative spending spree
Both chambers of the Maine Legislature met on April 25 for the final...
-
Lawmakers extend session one day, Mills’ utility accountability bill revived with new amendment
Lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and Senate met on April 20...
-
Lawmakers enact budget agreement, House rejects Gov. Mills’ utility accountability proposal
Both the House of Representative and the Senate convened on April 19 for...
-
Lawmakers closing in on final deals on budget, housing and utility accountability measures
With only three days left in the 130th Legislature’s second session, both the...
-
Maine unemployment shows modest improvement in March
In March, Maine’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, a decrease from February’s 4...
-
Lawmakers reach budget agreement, approve House Speaker’s housing bill
The Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) met late on the evening...
-
Lawmakers rush to finish work with one week left in second session
With one week left in the legislative session and work on the supplemental...
-
Speaker Fecteau offers last minute amendment to affordable housing bill
On April 7, the Maine Legislature’s Labor and Housing Committee voted 8 to...
-
Legislature approves sale of spirits at stadiums, indefinitely postpones inspection fee hike
The Maine Senate on April 7 voted to indefinitely postpone a bill that...
-
‘Pine Tree Amendment’ fails to garner enough support in House to amend state constitution
The House of Representatives on April 5 failed to pass a bill that...
-
Both parties outline spending priorities with less than three weeks until adjournment
The 130th Maine Legislature is currently scheduled to adjourn its second session on...
-
Legislature passes bill to keep open veterans’ homes, Senate tables bill to double inspection fee
A bill to keep veterans’ homes in Machias and Caribou open was passed...
-
Waivers, assessment changes make difficult comparisons of education outcomes in Maine during pandemic
For the last two school years, Maine has received a waiver from the...
-
Maine House votes to double annual fee on motor vehicle inspections
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate met on March 29 for...
-
Senate tables measure to expand RCV to municipal elections
During a joint session of the Maine Legislature on March 24, the Senate...
-
Maine’s employment outlook largely unchanged in February
Maine’s unemployment rate was 4 percent in February, a small change from January’s...
-
Disagreement between Speaker Fecteau, Senate President Jackson prevents hearing on gas tax suspension
A disagreement between the presiding officers of the Maine Legislature––House Speaker Ryan Fecteau...
-
Lawmakers debate name changes, liquor laws and local election procedures during Tuesday session
Both chambers of the Maine Legislature convened on March 22 for the first...
-
Energy committee splits on Gov. Mills’ utility accountability proposal
On March 18, the Maine Legislature’s Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology held...
-
Appropriations Committee Democrats sink plan to accelerate disbursement of direct relief checks
During a work session on a bill proposing to return surplus money to...
-
Gov. Mills’ final supplemental budget plan increases value of relief checks to $850
Gov. Janet Mills unveiled her change package to the supplemental budget on March...
-
Speaker Fecteau’s amended housing bill clears hurdle in committee
The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Labor and Housing (LBHS) on March 16 voted to...
-
Maine’s unemployment outlook unchanged in January
Maine’s unemployment rate was unchanged from December 2021 to January 2022. The unemployment...
-
Bill to allow hunting on Sunday shot down in committee
The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) voted against a...
-
Senate defeats bill to prohibit mandatory COVID-19 shots for 5 years
For the sixth time during the 130th Maine Legislature’s second session, the House...
-
Former state auditor Matt Dunlap ‘not sure’ if he’ll pursue post again next year with new credentials
Approximately five months after being forced to vacate the position of state auditor,...
-
As gas prices soar in Maine, an Auburn legislator proposes suspending the gas tax
With the retail price of gasoline in Maine over $4 per gallon and...
-
Affordable housing bill pushes local deregulation while questioning the extent of local control
The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Labor and Housing held a public hearing March...
-
Tobacco provisions stripped from bill in HHS Committee to repurpose the Fund for a Healthy Maine
The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Health and Human Services (HHS) voted to advance...
-
Legislative Council votes to make masks optional at State House starting March 7
Maine’s Legislative Council voted unanimously on March 3 to change its requirement that...
-
Mills admin recommends optional masking in schools, childcare settings starting March 9
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Maine Department of...
-
Revenue Forecasting Committee revises projected surplus upwards by $411 million
Maine’s General Fund revenue forecast will increase by approximately $411.6 million following a...
-
Following other states, Gov. Mills calls on state liquor commission to delist Russian spirits
On February 28, Gov. Janet Mills signed a proclamation expressing solidarity with the...
-
Lawmakers debate new occupational regulations for residential construction contractors
The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business convened on...
