“The BDN has their facts wrong,” DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew said in June. Then, her department retroactively changed its spending to line up with the law.
Matthew Stone
Opinion Page Editor
Maine Focus
After denying it misused millions in welfare funds, Maine changed its spending to follow the law
MAINE FOCUS
With no explanation, Maine rejects scarce funds for young people with mental illness
“To refuse these dollars makes no sense, especially because other states are using these dollars and using them well,” said Arabella Perez who previously led one of the organizations involved in the federally funded initiative. “We just don’t understand the decision behind this.”
MAINE FOCUS
Maine got millions to help moms and babies, but has little to show for it
DHHS said it would reach more families and collaborate with other home visiting programs. But competition between the groups has only gotten worse.
MAINE FOCUS
Maine has sliced the ranks of nurses who prevent outbreaks, help drug-affected babies
The LePage administration, which has not publicized the cuts, had the money to fill the positions.
Maine Focus
How Maine redirected millions meant to help poor families with kids
Documents obtained by the BDN show the state has spent at least $7.8 million in federal welfare funds in ways that run afoul of the law.
We annotated Gov. Paul LePage’s State of the State — again
In what’s become an annual tradition, we annotated it.
Making Maine the safest again
In saying he favors the death penalty for drug traffickers, LePage said he wants Maine to return to being the safest state in America. Census data indeed show that in 2007, Maine had the lowest violent crime rate in the nation, at 118 violent crimes per 100,000 population. In 2014, …
Costly film tax credits
Gov. LePage spoke of efforts to expand tax incentives for film productions in Maine. What he didn’t mention is that a number of states have evaluated their generous film production tax incentives, and they’ve concluded they’re not worth it. In Massachusetts, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has continued to propose cutting …
LePage on Medicaid
Gov. LePage revisited some familiar arguments concerning an expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. He’s right that the federal government doesn’t fully fund the expansion through 2020. The 100 percent funding for those considered newly eligible (in Maine, that would be about 50,000 adults without children) runs out …
LePage breaks down the Legislature
Gov. LePage hit a familiar them in describing an uncooperative Legislature. He said there are three types: Those who “go there and work night and day.” He cited his education commissioner, Bill Beardsley, not a legislator, as an example. The second third are those who will negotiate. The last third, …
Two companies are headed for a showdown over your trash
One facility wants it so it can stay in business. Another wants it so it can get off the ground.
Where your Bangor-area trash could go in 2018
The Bangor area’s solid waste landscape will change in 2018. And this year, 187 towns and cities in northern and central Maine are deciding where they’ll send their trash. Will they choose to continue sending their solid waste to the Penobscot Energy Recovery Co. in Orrington, which incinerates the trash …
Here’s the story of a Syrian who came to Maine to escape war
“It’s not easy to be uprooted,” he said.
How refugees make their way to Maine
Here’s how they got here.
More on the GOP’s House pickups
BDN political reporter Chris Cousins has more on the Republicans’ two pickups tonight in the Maine House. Read it here.
No legal marijuana in Ohio, a GOP governor in Kentucky
Looking outside of Maine for a moment, here’s a taste of what’s happening with noteworthy contests elsewhere in the country: In Ohio, voters have rejected marijuana legalization. Another measure on the Ohio ballot that could have nullified the legalization — a constitutional amendment barring the creation of other amendments for …
Question 1 owes a lot to Maine cities
Results on Question 1 ran close for much of the night, but most of the state’s largest population centers approved the ballot measure by some of the largest margins, helping the “yes” camp claim about 55 percent of the vote. Here’s a taste of unofficial Question 1 results in some of …
BDN’s projection: Yes on Question 1
The BDN has called Question 1 for the “yes” camp with about three-quarters of precincts reporting. Story to follow soon.
Strimling’s victory speech
WCSH6 will carry a livestream of Portland Mayor-elect Ethan Strimling’s victory speech. NEWS CENTER will stream Ethan Strimling's speech after being elected Portland's new mayor. https://t.co/r1UJbjCsKr pic.twitter.com/5H87JZKpfg — WCSH 6 (@WCSH6) November 4, 2015 Story continues below advertisement.
Victory call for mayor-elect
.@ethan6_2 on phone thanking @mayorbrennan for running a positive campaign. #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/eAwVqKtpIv — Paul Merrill (@PaulMerrillWMTW) November 4, 2015 Story continues below advertisement.
Rock Church plans second expansion in 5 years to accommodate growth
Abandoned boat nearly hits breakwater after breaking loose in Rockland Harbor
Underdog in Maine’s 1st District follows campaign trail blazed by LePage, Trump
Master of horror fiction Stephen King scared to death of Trump presidency
Authorities capture suspect in mass shooting at Washington state mall
No one should be denied the right to be at a loved one’s side at the end of life
Debate prep 2016
This is an election cycle when voters want an alternative, but third parties get little attention
What students want when it comes to fighting addiction: Someone to listen
James Madison wears down mistake-prone UMaine football team
Reserve punt returner powers Lewiston past Bangor
Marlins’ ace pitcher Jose Fernandez killed in Miami boating accident
Brunswick boys soccer team hit stride in handling Hampden
Joy riders and just plain terrible ‘autoists’ fueled mayhem on Queen City streets
Highlights