State
See it. Fix it.
Submit your issues using this form. We’ll contact your city to try and get it fixed. Read more »
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 ...
Former Newtown resident brings call for gun-sale background checks to Augusta
AUGUSTA, Maine — A national push for laws that keep guns out of hands that would do evil with them came to Augusta on Monday. Organizers of a 25-state, 100-day road tour designed to pressure political leaders to require background checks for the purchase of all firearms made their case ...
Attorney seeks psychiatric evaluation of Orono man charged with killing Nichole Cable
BANGOR, Maine — The attorney for the Orono man accused of kidnapping and killing a 15-year-old Glenburn and Alton girl has asked that Kyle Dube , 20, undergo a psychological evaluation to determine whether he is competent to stand trial. Dube is expected to plead not guilty Wednesday at his ...
Bicyclist in Trek Across Maine was drinking water at time of fatal collision with Canadian truck, police say
AUGUSTA, Maine — A bicyclist who died Friday while participating in the Trek Across Maine lost control of his bike while drinking from a water bottle as a tractor-trailer passed him, according to police. David LeClair, 23, of Watertown, Mass., hit his head in the fall from his bike and ...
House, Senate defeat bills adding new restrictions to welfare assistance
AUGUSTA, Maine — Both chambers of the Maine Legislature on Monday voted down a pair of Republican-backed bills that sought to add new restrictions to the state’s primary welfare cash assistance program. One bill, which was defeated in an 85-55 House vote, would have barred some Mainers convicted of drug ...
Eight Maine communities receive wastewater project funding
on June 17, 2013, at 11:48 a.m.
BANGOR, Maine — Eight communities will receive nearly $3 million in funding for wastewater projects, the USDA announced Monday. The eight communities and the grant amounts are as follows: Norridgewock Water District has been selected to receive $1,468,500 in the form of a loan of $1,118,000 and a grant of ...
2013 Trek Across Maine ends Sunday in Belfast
BELFAST, Maine — The cyclists in this year’s Trek Across Maine finished Sunday, with the usual joy at the finish line underscored by sadness. David LeClair, 23, of Watertown, Mass., was riding with his athenahealth cycling teammates Friday morning when he was killed in a collision with a tractor-trailer truck.
VIDEO
Riders finish trek marred by tragic crash
BELFAST, Maine — As the 130 or so cyclists pedaling with the athenahealth team crossed the finish line of the Trek Across Maine on Sunday afternoon in Belfast, they were met by sustained cheers, shouts, clanging cowbells and clapping. And not a few tears. Most of the group wore red ...
Drug use continues to drive Portland, Bangor rates of violent and property crimes
BANGOR, Maine — It doesn’t matter if you’re in the state’s biggest city or the Queen City — illegal drug use is behind many of the violent and property crimes residents experience, police department leaders in the two communities said Friday. “The majority of our crime happens while [offenders are] ...
York subdues Winslow to win first baseball state championship since 1971
STANDISH, Maine – Adam Bailey scattered six hits during a complete-game pitching effort to lift York to a 4-1 victory over Winslow in the Class B baseball state championship game Saturday at Saint Joseph’s College. The state title is the first for the Wildcats since 1971, when they competed in ...
O’Toole builds big lead, powers Scarborough past Skowhegan for Class A state softball title
AUGUSTA, Maine — Scarborough High School softball coach Tom Griffin said he was “flabbergasted” when his second baseman, Marisa O’Toole, didn’t make the SMAA all-stars first team. She still had a venue left to display her value. “She got a chance right through the playoffs to really show what she ...
Snowman pitches Cougars to third state C baseball title in four years with 8-2 win over Stearns
BANGOR — Dirigo High School senior righthander Chad Snowman didn’t know if he was going to play baseball this season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at the end of basketball season. But after an 11-day class trip to Italy in April, he decided he wanted ...
Orono man enters not guilty pleas in Cable kidnapping, murder
LePage speaks frankly to Dirigo Girls State delegates
A vote against the budget is a vote for a state shutdown
LePage fails to surprise on Medicaid expansion
Susan Collins: Why Congress should reform federal court
The cost of requiring more renewable power
Maine Sports Hall of Fame revokes Dana Wilson’s 2012 induction
American Lung Association retires number of cyclist killed in Trek Across Maine
Retiring Hermon High School athletic administrator Soucy maintains love of sports
Pats’ Hernandez questioned in homicide case
Midcoast multibajillionaire knows what her husband is doing before he does it
The Esther II: A father’s boat, a son’s heart
