AUGUSTA — A slate of bills aimed at helping more Maine veterans get access to the services and benefits available to them are set for public hearings at the State House next week. The bills, all the result of recommendations from a special legislative commission that worked over the summer to review the state’s Bureau […]
augusta
Posted inMaine
Lawmakers table lobster as official crustacean
AUGUSTA — Legislation that would take an iconic symbol of Maine’s coastal heritage and tourism economy and give it official status was put on hold by state lawmakers Thursday. Not to worry, lobster lovers. The bill to make the lobster the official state crustacean hasn’t hit a boiling point, but it is on the back […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine
Maine Conservation Voters give King and Pingree top grades for 2015
AUGUSTA — The League of Conservation Voters on Wednesday released its annual scorecard for Congress, giving Maine’s U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent, and 1st District U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, perfect scores of 100. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, received a 60, while 2nd District Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, received a score of 9. […]
Posted inMaine
Wilton Republican wants to fight drug crisis with Medicaid expansion
The move to expand is backed by the state’s hospitals, as well as advocates for the poor and a large portion of Maine’s law-enforcement community. “Increasing access to MaineCare coverage means increasing access to mental health counseling, drug addiction treatment and counseling and preventive health care, providing measurable cost-savings and beneficial health outcomes across Maine,” Saviello […]
Posted inMaine
$73 million state surplus expected: GOP wants it in savings
AUGUSTA – It looks like an uptick in state tax revenue will put Maine’s two-year budget more than $70 million in the black, and Republican Gov. Paul LePage said the money should go into the state’s savings account. LePage also urged state lawmakers to resist finding new ways to spend the increased revenue, as he […]
Posted inMaine
Maine taxes: Five things lawmakers agree on (and two they don’t)
AUGUSTA — State lawmakers are in the midst of an election-year struggle over a bill that pits pro-business Republicans against pro-education Democrats. The bill offers about $38 million over the state’s two-year budget cycle in tax credits and deductions to Maine residents and businesses, with the two sides fighting over a specific $11.5 million tax […]
Posted inLocal Sports
Tourney Roundup: Class A boys’ top seeds Hampden, Greely ousted
PORTLAND — No. 4 Brunswick avenged a double-digit loss during the regular season and rallied from an early 10-point deficit to stun No. 1 Greely, 65-52, in the Class A South boys’ semifinals Wednesday night at Cross Insurance Arena. Brunswick will face Falmouth for the regional title at 9 p.m. Saturday. Greely jumped out to […]
Posted inBusiness
Local businesses to lawmakers: Pass tax bill, increase predictability
AUGUSTA — Fearful of not being able to file their taxes in time and of having to face filing inconsistencies, local business leaders were pressuring state lawmakers in Augusta on Friday, urging them to quickly pass tax conformity legislation. With most businesses required to file taxes by March 15, politicians have been wrangling over changes […]
Posted inMaine
Maine medical marijuana bill allows for lab testing and hospital access
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee unanimously approved a bill Wednesday that would give immunity from state law to hospitals that allow nonsmoking marijuana for patients who need it. The bill, LD 726, also defines in law what incidental marijuana is, including nonflowering plants or plant byproducts that have not yet been processed into medicinal products. […]
Posted inObituaries, sj-web
Raymond D. Albert
1937 – 2016 AUGUSTA — Raymond D. Albert of Augusta died Friday, Feb. 5, of cancer at Togus Springs Hospice. He was born in Augusta on Oct. 30, 1937, to Renee and Laura (Veilleux) Albert Sr. Raymond attended St. Augustine School and graduated from Cony High School in 1956. While at Cony, Ray joined the Marine […]