Politics
Catholic bishops reject Obama offer on contraceptive coverage
By David Morgan, Reuters on Feb. 07, 2013, at 10:09 p.m.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Roman Catholic bishops on Thursday rejected the Obama administration’s latest bid for compromise on a hotly disputed health policy that requires employees at religiously affiliated institutions to have access to insurance coverage for contraceptives. Cardinal Timothy Donlan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic ...
Pentagon backed plan for U.S. to arm Syrian rebels
By Phil Stewart and Patricia Zengerle, Reuters on Feb. 07, 2013, at 9:33 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Pentagon leaders told Congress on Thursday that they had supported a recommendation to arm Syrian rebels promoted by the State Department and CIA but which President Barack Obama ultimately decided against. Obama’s government has limited its support to nonlethal aid for the rebels who, despite receiving weapons from ...
Susan Collins co-sponsors bill trying to strengthen mental health care system
By Brady Dennis and Paul Kane, The Washington Post on Feb. 07, 2013, at 8:54 p.m.
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of senators, citing renewed urgency after the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, introduced legislation Thursday aimed at strengthening the nation’s fragmented mental health care system and improving access at the community level. The bill would put in place standards for about 2,000 “federally ...
VIDEO
It’s not automatic: Gun experts prime lawmakers for session
AUGUSTA, Maine — People who make laws about guns should at least have some understanding of how they work, according to presenters at a firearms primer for approximately 20 legislators on Thursday. With gun control at the center of national and state political discourse since the Dec. 14 massacre at ...
Drone policy, harsh interrogations focus of CIA nominee hearing
By Patricia Zengerle and Tabassum Zakaria, Reuters on Feb. 07, 2013, at 7:50 p.m.
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s nominee for CIA director, John Brennan, said on Thursday he did not try to stop waterboarding, an interrogation technique that some consider torture, as he faced tough congressional questioning on that issue as well as security leaks and the use of drones to kill U.S. ...
LePage chooses long-time Dirigo Health critic to serve on program’s board
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage has nominated a vocal opponent of the state’s Dirigo Health program to sit on its board of trustees as the health care program launched by his predecessor, Democrat John Baldacci, winds down in the coming year. LePage this week chose Jonathan McKane of Newcastle, ...
Lawmaker wants future school funding cuts to include charter, private academies
AUGUSTA, Maine — A Democratic legislator wants to ensure that future mid-year cuts to education are applied evenly to all schools receiving public funds, whether they’re traditional public schools, charter schools or private academies that enroll public-school students. Rep. Karen Kusiak’s bill, LD 194, comes amid a contentious debate among ...
PINE TREE POLITICS (blog)
Baldacci redux
on Feb. 07, 2013, at 3:36 p.m.
Remember John Baldacci? I certainly do. This was a unique Maine politician who managed to somehow turn from one of the most popular political figures in the state when he was in the amoral swamp of Washington, D.C., into the most unpopular governor in recent Maine history. When he entered ...
LePage seeks stronger measures to keep guns away from domestic abusers
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage continued his laser focus on the prevention of domestic violence Thursday with the creation of a task force that’s assigned a broad goal and tight timeline. The task force, whose report to LePage is due by July 31, will review existing laws and practices ...
CAPITOL INCITE (blog)
LePage taps former Bangor Sen. Farnham for education board seat
on Feb. 07, 2013, at 9:54 a.m.
Gov. Paul LePage has chosen Nichi Farnham for a seat on the nine-member State Board of Education. Farnham, a Bangor Republican, served one term in the state Senate representing District 32, which includes Bangor and Hermon. She lost her bid for re-election in November to Democrat Geoffrey Gratwick following a ...
New Jersey’s Christie fires back at ‘hack’ doctor over weight comments
Reuters on Feb. 07, 2013, at 9:38 a.m.
NEW YORK — New Jersey Governor Chris Christie responded angrily on Wednesday to a former White House physician’s comment that he could die in office if he does not lose weight, calling the doctor a “hack” for offering advice without examining him. Connie Mariano, a doctor in the White House ...
Call put out for ground search volunteers in effort to find missing Glenburn teen
More than 500 help with ground search for missing Glenburn teen Nichole Cable
Three indicted in Houlton meth bust, endangering welfare of child
One winning ticket sold in Florida in historic $590.5 million Powerball drawing
LePage not allowed to address legislators as panel works out budget deadline
Jeffrey Nugent says his brother Ted Nugent is wrong on background checks
Maine protects a woman’s right to choose
Funding isn’t everything: Education reform takes innovation, cooperation
Strengthening the schools Maine already has
Emma Libby, 15, overcomes ruling to win Sport-4 race at Speedway 95
Marcus Davis wins mixed martial arts main event at NEF VII
For those who are too fat for Abercrombie and Fitch
Market Basket in Biddeford starts hiring 300 workers
Promise of land brought Theriault family to ‘Acadie’ in 1630s
How do I teach my kids it’s not OK to be bullied, even by family?
