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Senators disagree over resolution creating government oversight of east-west highway
AUGUSTA, Maine — A resolve to ensure continued legislative oversight of the planning, creation and operation of an east-west highway in Maine caused dissention in the Senate Tuesday night, where Democrats sought to control the process and Republicans said it’s a private venture that should be left alone. The possibility ...
Democrats advance repeal of 2-year cap on treatments for addicts on Medicaid
AUGUSTA, Maine — A bid by Democrats to repeal the 2-year limit on methadone and suboxone treatments that are paid for by Medicaid passed Tuesday night in the Senate but could face a veto by Gov. Paul LePage, who has voiced support for the initiative since his campaign for office. ...
Maine election results: Newport-area school budget fails to pass, Glenburn, Veazie OK school budgets
BDN staff reports on June 18, 2013, at 10:38 p.m.
RSU 19’s $22.7 million budget fails NEWPORT, Maine — With seven of the district’s eight towns reporting, Superintendent Gregory Potter said on Tuesday that the 2013-2014 budget for RSU 19 failed to pass. Potter did not report figures because one town did not send in its vote numbers, however, a ...
Senate rejects LePage bill to lift charter school cap, send taxpayer funds to religious schools
AUGUSTA, Maine — A bid by Gov. Paul LePage to lift a 10-school cap on charter schools and route some taxpayer funding to religious schools failed Tuesday night in the Senate by a vote of 29-6. LD 1529, An Act to Expand School Choice for Maine Students, was sponsored by ...
Tuesday vetoes highlight LePage’s conflicts with Democrats over education
AUGUSTA, Maine — A measure that would require charter schools to be operated by nonprofit organizations was among five bills that Gov. Paul LePage vetoed Tuesday evening. LD 671, An Act to Protect Charter Schools by Requiring Them to be Operated as Nonprofit Organizations, is a Democrat-sponsored bill that sought ...
Teachers dispute UMaine System’s poor rating in national report
When Kathryn King studied secondary English education at the University of Maine 30 years ago, she found that her academic classes and student teaching experience prepared her very well for her teaching career. That was true even when she first graduated and was hired to teach life skills to a ...
House votes 95-45 to allow dental hygienist therapists to open practices
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine House gave initial approval Tuesday to a bill that would allow a new type of dental provider, a dental hygiene therapist, to open up shop in the state and address what the bill’s supporters call a shortage of access to dental care in Maine. The ...
Town slogans, from ‘Don’t pass Gas’ to the ‘Center of the known universe’
Yes. Life is good in Portland. Elsewhere in the nation, cities such as Las Vegas (“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”) and New York City (“I love New York”) have found great success branding, merchandising and attracting visitors with snappy slogans. Others have done the best with what they ...
MaineCare’s payday will help hospitals, patients unlikely to see lower rates
AUGUSTA, Maine — Last week Gov. Paul LePage signed a bill to pave the way for Maine to cover its $183.5 million tab to 39 hospitals for services provided over the years to patients enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program. Once paid, the federal government will kick in $300 million. ...
Handful of Republicans being pressured to override LePage Medicaid veto
AUGUSTA, Maine — When Republican Gov. Paul LePage vetoed Medicaid expansion for the second time this legislative session on Monday, it set the stage for perhaps the biggest political showdown at the State House this year. A handful of moderate Republican senators are now expected to cast the key votes ...
Minimum wage hike, ethics reform among 100 bills awaiting scarce funding
AUGUSTA, Maine — More than 100 bills passed this session by the Legislature languish in a limbo created by uncertainty about whether they can be funded. They include a bill that would raise Maine’s minimum wage, a proposal to offer tax credits to primary care physicians practicing in underserved areas ...
Bill to clear past shoplifting offenses from criminal records wins Maine House approval
AUGUSTA, Maine — A bill giving some people with a single and minor criminal conviction on their records a second chance passed the Maine House of Representatives by a 123-18 vote Tuesday. But the bill, LD 549, which first intended to expunge from a person’s criminal record any of a ...
POLL QUESTION
Replacement for LePage’s A-through-F grading system wins majority support in Legislature
AUGUSTA, Maine — A Democratic initiative to remove and replace Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s A-through-F school grading system implemented earlier this year won passage Tuesday in the Maine House and Senate. The Senate passed the bill by a 21-14 vote, then the House followed with an 80-55 tally for passage. ...
Report: University of Maine System teacher-training programs rank among worst in nation
By Lyndsey Layton, The Washington Post on June 18, 2013, at 8:36 a.m.
Education secretaries in 21 states have endorsed the report, but some education experts assailed the review as incomplete and inaccurate.
Maine Senate approves bill requiring warrant for police surveillance with drones
AUGUSTA, Maine – The State Senate voted, 23-12, in favor of a bill that would require police to obtain a warrant before using unmanned aerial vehicles or drones to collect evidence in a criminal investigation. The bill, LD 236, allows police to use the vehicles for emergency law enforcement activities ...
Central Maine Healthcare files suit against state, says federally subsidized insurance would exclude some hospitals
LEWISTON, Maine — Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield wants to form a new insurance plan with MaineHealth. And it wants the state to keep the details of that plan secret as it seeks approval from the Maine Bureau of Insurance. The state has said OK. Central Maine Healthcare has ...
LePage vetoes Medicaid expansion, says ‘Maine can do better’
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage on Monday vetoed legislation to expand Maine’s Medicaid program, turning the focus back to majority Democrats to try and rally enough Republican votes to override it. In his veto message, LePage wrote Maine has expanded Medicaid before — what he termed a “massive increase ...
25 things to do this summer — boats, barbecue, the Bard and everything else
There is only one drawback to summer in Maine: By the time it’s officially summer — June 21 this year — the three warmest months of the year are already crammed with weddings, reunions, cookouts and much-needed sojourns to camp. Can’t very well plan a lakeside barbecue in January, can ...
Democrats pass changes to GOP insurance law they campaigned against
AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrats in the Maine Legislature took steps Monday toward rolling back portions of a 2011 Republican-backed health insurance overhaul law. Democrats made the law a central theme last year in their campaign to recapture control of the Legislature. The House and Senate voted largely along party lines ...
Five more LePage vetoes withstand override votes
AUGUSTA, Maine — Five more vetoes issued by Republican Gov. Paul LePage survived legislative votes Monday, keeping intact his streak of avoiding any overrides from the Democrat-controlled 126th Legislature. So far, Democratic lawmakers have been unable to overturn 17 LePage vetoes this session. In two votes in the House and ...
Report: University of Maine System teacher-training programs rank among worst in nation
We don’t understand female politicians
LePage fails to surprise on Medicaid expansion
Bangor ballot
Maine Sports Hall of Fame revokes Dana Wilson’s 2012 induction
Pellerin enthusiastic about job as new Lawrence High School boys varsity basketball coach
Rask gives Bruins 2-1 series lead
Retiring Hermon High School athletic administrator Soucy maintains love of sports
25 things to do this summer — boats, barbecue, the Bard and everything else
UMPI solar system model expanding into Canada
Saying goodbye to our Pakistani daughter
