Stories about Maine Department of Labor
Maine Department of Labor says it overbilled feds by $1.3M
The Associated Press on May 11, 2012, at 6:37 p.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Department of Labor says it took $1.3 million that it wasn’t entitled to from the U.S. Department of Labor over a period of nearly 12 years. Labor Commissioner Robert Winglass said he updated the governor Friday and sent a letter to federal officials to acknowledge ...
Maine labor comissioner pledges fast implementation of new unemployment fraud law
AUGUSTA, Maine — Labor Commissioner Robert Winglass says his agency is gearing up to implement the new law on unemployment fraud, expressing his belief that fraud is worse than many believe. “I think there are more than perhaps are being credited, more people who are abusing the system,” he said ...
Labor pool, skilled work force more important than energy prices for job creation, report says
The Associated Press on March 25, 2012, at 10:03 a.m.
PORTLAND, Maine — Maine Gov. Paul LePage has said repeatedly that businesses need cheaper energy in order to create jobs. But a report Sunday by Maine Today Media says that while no business wants high energy bills, a deep labor pool and skilled work force are more important than energy ...
ANALYSIS
Fact-checking LePage’s State of the State
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage delivered a straight-forward State of the State address on Tuesday that hit on many of his priorities — lowering energy costs, reducing welfare benefits and improving education. Republicans in the Legislature praised the governor for his focus on improving Maine’s economic picture. Even Democrats ...
POLL QUESTION
LePage says youths should be able to work during school vacation
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage says the state should leave work decisions up to children and their parents when they are not in school and limit state laws restricting child labor to safety issues, but some argue that is already state policy. “I don’t see why kids can’t go ...
Educated workers needed for health care jobs, LePage says
As Maine’s economy continues to struggle, state leaders say the health care sector remains strong and is expected to grow. At a conference on Tuesday, officials said training a qualified work force is the key to both meeting the growing demand for health care services in Maine and taking advantage ...
LePage’s crackdown on unemployment claims goes beyond fraud
By Steve Mistler, Sun Journal on Oct. 15, 2011, at 5:04 a.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Earlier this month, Gov. Paul LePage announced that his administration was undertaking a new effort to tackle improper unemployment payments and fraud, a problem that cost state employers about $6.5 million last year. The governor’s initiative came on the heels of President Barack Obama’s mandate that all ...
Glitch delays unemployment claim filings in Maine
The Associated Press on Oct. 11, 2011, at 3:31 p.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Department of Labor says a software glitch prevented thousands of people from filing unemployment claims on Sunday and Monday. Laura Boyett, director of the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation, said the computer problem affected claims made both online and by automated telephone system. The problem was ...
LePage says domestic violence efforts don’t conflict with gun law
FAIRFIELD, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage asked employers on Wednesday to stand with him as he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fighting domestic violence at home and in the workplace. At an event at Hammond Tractor in Fairfield, the governor signed an executive order that directs state agencies to make ...
Fight over labor mural removal by LePage not over yet
AUGUSTA, Maine — The drawn-out battle over public access to a mural removed this spring from the Department of Labor at the request of Gov. Paul LePage — a decision that drew national attention — is entering a new chapter. Last month, Maine’s attorney general submitted a request for summary ...
$338,000 grant approved for 60 Maine grocers who lost jobs
The Associated Press on June 28, 2011, at 5:21 a.m.
GARDINER, Maine — U.S Labor officials say a $338,000 grant has been approved to help 60 workers who have lost their jobs due to the closure of Associated Grocers of Maine. The Gardiner grocery distributor announced in April that it would be shutting down its operations and laying off all of ...
Katahdin millworkers to get emergency aid
EAST MILLINOCKET, Maine ― About 450 workers laid off in the Main Street paper mill’s closure in April will be the beneficiaries of a $657,841 National Emergency Grant, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud said Thursday. The U.S. Department of Labor is awarding the grant to the Maine Department of Labor to ...
CONTRIBUTORS
Good facts, not good intentions, lead to good oral health
By Mark Eves on May 18, 2011, at 7:53 p.m.
Health care does not end at the shoulders. It is time that we all acknowledge that dental care is health care. Lack of access to a dentist, or indeed to any oral health care, has adversely affected Mainers’ health, happiness and economic performance for far too long. We know poor ...
Judge schedules next step in ongoing labor mural legal case
BDN staff and wire reports on May 05, 2011, at 6:03 a.m.
BANGOR, Maine — Federal Judge Woodcock convened a conference call Wednesday with both parties in the continuing legal case regarding the disposition of the History of Maine Labor mural. Gov. Paul LePage caused an uproar in March by ordering the removal of the 11-panel mural depicting scenes from Maine’s labor ...
Gardiner-based Associated Grocers closing, laying off more than 100
The Associated Press on April 28, 2011, at 2:57 p.m.
GARDINER, Maine — A central Maine company that distributes products to hundreds of small independent grocery stores is going out of business. Associated Grocers of Maine says continuing financial losses have forced it into receivership. In an open letter to customers, a court-appointed receiver said the business will be liquidated. ...
Collins urges jump-start to job growth in Maine
BANGOR, Maine — The economy continues to make a lethargic crawl toward recovery, and as a result 52,800 Mainers were still unemployed in March, according to the state Department of Labor. Although Maine has seen little change in its jobless rate in recent months, 7.6 percent unemployment is unacceptable to ...
LePage cabinet member resigns amid allegations of racist remarks
By Kevin Miller, BDN staff on April 27, 2011, at 12:21 p.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage announced a major shake-up of his administration on Wednesday, including the resignation of his top economic adviser amid allegations of improper comments during a tour of Aroostook County earlier this month. Barely four months into his term, LePage is faced with filling two additional ...
POLL QUESTION
Mural dispute lands in federal court
BANGOR, Maine — A federal judge heard arguments Tuesday on whether the LePage administration’s removal of a labor-themed mural from a state building was an act of lawful government speech or illegal censorship by an overzealous governor. It’s been more than three weeks since Gov. Paul LePage removed the mural ...
MICHAEL AUBE
Whoopie pies, murals and Maine’s economy
By Michael W. Aube on April 07, 2011, at 5:39 p.m.
The water cooler. Often a hub of office conversation, it is where colleagues gather and talk about things other than cash flow projections or marketing strategy. Typically, in March, water-cooler topics are almost exclusively related to NCAA basketball “bracketology.” This year in Maine, however, we’ve mixed it up a bit. ...
State House rallies decry labor mural removal
AUGUSTA, Maine — Chanting “Recall Paul” and “Put it back,” a crowd of artists, union members and activists demanded on Monday that Gov. Paul LePage return a mural that has become an unlikely symbol of the friction between the Republican administration and Maine’s labor unions. Monday’s events actually began in ...
Glenburn art teacher killed in Friday morning collision in Bangor
Harvard student asked to leave bar for ‘bad behavior,’ not drunkenness
LePage blasts teachers union for endorsing same-sex marriage question
Reporting crime
A people’s revolt in Bar Harbor
Old Town football coach steps down
Perakslis helps UMaine beat Albany; Binghamton next in America East tournament
Orono baseball shuts out archrival Old Town for ninth straight victory
Stony Brook knocks out UMaine to win America East tournament
Aroostook businessman expands company out of home with hit mobile app 7 Little Words
Small idea launches major project in Hampden
Former CEO of MaineToday Media Richard Connor sued over $250,000 in loans
Out of the ashes, Central Street’s garden grows
New, old methods combine to deter scrap metal thefts in Aroostook
Gary Allan talks with the BDN leading up to Bangor concert
Mid Coast Actor’s Studio provides new forum for classic plays
Signs lead artist to opportunity
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