Augusta
Maine AG wants Obama to reverse contraception policy; women’s groups cry foul
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s attorney general has joined several other state attorneys general in signing a letter recently that asks President Barack Obama to reverse his administration’s stance on requiring health insurance companies to provide contraception coverage. “A recently proposed federal mandate requiring religious employers that provide health insurance coverage ...
Head of Maine National Guard stepping down
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maj. Gen. John W. “Bill” Libby, head of the Maine National Guard since 2003 and commissioner of the state Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, is stepping down. Libby, 67, informed Gov. Paul LePage this week that he would retire effective March 16. No reason was ...
Bill would clarify rules on double dipping by state workers
The Associated Press on Feb. 22, 2012, at 9:35 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — A Maine state senator has proposed changing the rules that restrict educators and other state workers from collecting retirement benefits at the same time they are getting a full paycheck. Cape Neddick Democrat Dawn Hill says a money-saving law passed last year restricting so-called “double dipping” missed ...
Head of Portland Catholic Diocese thanks Maine lawmakers for service
AUGUSTA, Maine — Bishop Richard J. Malone, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, thanked lawmakers Tuesday for their service at an annual reception held in their honor. Malone also explained why the church takes positions and lobbies on political issues, but he did not urge legislators to support ...
LePage signs resolve naming Harmony bridges after domestic violence victims
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage signed a resolve Tuesday — Domestic Violence Awareness Day — that names two bridges in Harmony after a mother and her two children who were killed last year by her estranged husband — and as a tribute to all victims of domestic violence. One ...
Hours of testimony heard over bill that would allow property owners to sue if regulation cuts value of property
AUGUSTA, Maine — It seemed as if decades of simmering frustrations over Maine’s private property rights and environmental regulations came to a boil Tuesday afternoon during a public hearing on a controversial takings bill at the State House. Lawmakers on the Judiciary Committee heard hours of passionate testimony both in ...
Maine bill removes union rights for egg workers
The Associated Press on Feb. 21, 2012, at 4:41 p.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s House of Representatives has passed a bill that eliminates the right of workers at the former DeCoster egg farms to unionize. The bill passed 73-69 along party lines Tuesday, with Republicans in support and Democrats opposed. It still faces more votes in the House and Senate. ...
Gov. LePage marks domestic violence awareness day, previews legislation
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage, flanked by advocates from across the state, marked Tuesday as the second annual Domestic Violence Awareness Day in Maine — one day before he was expected to unveil legislation aimed at strengthening state laws. The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence welcomed to the ...
Two men claiming to be armed rob Augusta pharmacy
The Associated Press on Feb. 21, 2012, at 10:23 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Authorities say two men claiming to be armed made off with prescription painkillers after robbing an Augusta pharmacy. Police say the men entered the Rite Aid pharmacy at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday and passed a note to a pharmacy employee saying they had a weapon and ...
Bill would exempt first responders, such as police, from Maine’s texting-while-driving ban
The Associated Press on Feb. 21, 2012, at 9:55 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine lawmakers are considering a bill that would exempt police, emergency medical personnel and firefighters from the state’s ban on texting while driving. The Legislature’s Transportation Committee is holding a public hearing Tuesday on the proposal. Maine’s ban on texting while driving went into effect in September. ...
Hollywood Slots to get Maine’s 1st casino license Tuesday
The Associated Press on Feb. 21, 2012, at 5:22 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine officials are poised to issue the state’s first casino license. The Gambling Control Board is slated to issue the license to Hollywood Slots in Bangor when it meets Tuesday in Augusta. Hollywood Slots is now licensed as a slots operator, but it requires a casino license ...
Maine charter school panel seeking public feedback
The Associated Press on Feb. 21, 2012, at 5:17 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — The newly formed Maine State Charter School Commission is taking to the road to hear the public’s ideas on what they want to see in a charter school. The commission can authorize up to 10 public charter schools during the first decade of Maine’s charter school law, ...
Pittston puppy home safe with family after plunge into icy bog
PITTSTON, Maine — A puppy rescued Sunday from the icy waters of a local bog was returned to its family Monday after spending the night at an emergency vet clinic in Lewiston, according to the Gardiner Fire Department. The 6-month-old black Labrador retriever and an adult black German shepherd were ...
Bill would allow Maine property owners to sue if regulation cuts value of property
AUGUSTA, Maine — Should Maine give landowners more recourse when state regulations affect what they can do with their property? Lawmakers expect many people to testify Tuesday at the State House in Augusta during a public hearing on LD 1810, “An Act To Implement Recommendations of the Committee To Review ...
Lawmaker seeks no time limit on sex crime lawsuits against perpetrators who are authority figures
AUGUSTA, Maine — Prosecutors would have longer to bring criminal charges and all victims of sexual assaults would have no time limit on bringing lawsuits if the perpetrator was a person in authority over the victim, under a measure before lawmakers. “It does limit it to people who have committed ...
FACT CHECK
LePage’s claims that Maine’s Medicaid spending is above average are true
By CLARKE CANFIELD, The Associated Press on Feb. 20, 2012, at 11:37 a.m.
PORTLAND, Maine — In his relentless demands for steep Medicaid cuts, Gov. Paul LePage has said Maine spends far more per capita than other states on Medicaid and is high above the national average. Whether you support or oppose LePage’s cost-cutting proposals, he’s right. Maine had the nation’s fifth-highest Medicaid ...
Delegation wants deficit reduction but pessimistic it will pass
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s congressional delegation wants Congress to act this year to reduce the federal budget deficit, but there is pessimism that it will occur in an increasingly partisan election year atmosphere. “Whether something can happen this year remains to be seen,” said Republican U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe in ...
Maine motorcycles to display inspection stickers
The Associated Press on Feb. 19, 2012, at 10:24 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Motorcycles in Maine will soon have to display vehicle inspection stickers for all to see. Come March, a new state law goes into effect requiring motorcycle owners to place their inspections stickers on the upper left corner of their license plates. Previously, inspection stickers didn’t have to ...
Testimony heard on workers’ comp proposal
AUGUSTA, Maine — One man was working as an electrician when almost 20,000 volts of electricity hit him in an accident. A nurse talked about how she fell while treating a patient, severely injuring her back and ending her professional career. A woman described how her husband’s boss accidentally ran ...
Lawmaker proposes expansion of state police crime lab to fight child porn
AUGUSTA, Maine — With federal grants running out, Sen. Bill Diamond is proposing the state provide at least $300,000 a year in additional funds for the state police computer crimes unit that deals mostly with Internet sex crimes against children. “The last I checked recently there are 560 pieces of ...
Rosa Scarcelli suing stepfather for not firing her mother
Man shot in Hermon home invasion arrested for second time Friday, released Tuesday
Bangor police looking for Florida firefighter
Scarborough boy, 11, rocking open mike nights at Lewiston restaurant
What’s more important — presidential or party preference?
Toilet-papering spree in Bangor neighborhoods a result of high school swimmers’ success
No. 8 Houlton stuns No. 1 Orono, will face Stearns in semifinal
Cianbro has 150 job openings
Gambling board approves Maine’s first casino: Hollywood Slots becomes Hollywood Casino Bangor
Maple syrup producers concerned about mild winter
Maine inspires chefs and foodies nationwide
Photos of Mainers who served in Vietnam War needed for national center
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