AUGUSTA — It may seem like a small gesture, but it’s a meaningful one for Maine veterans who are also artists. On Wednesday, the Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee voted unanimously in support of a bill that would establish Nov. 1 as Veterans in the Arts and Humanities Day. The committee moved the bill from […]
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Requests for help obtaining public records in Maine on a steady uptick
AUGUSTA — Maine people are interested in what their governments are up to. That’s the upshot of a new report issued by the state’s ombudsman for opening meetings and public records. In 2015, there were 416 inquiries about public meetings and public records handled by Brenda Kielty, a lawyer with the Maine Attorney General’s Office. […]
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Maine State House Democrats announce support for Bernie Sanders
AUGUSTA – Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., got a lift in Maine on Tuesday with endorsements from Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, party godfather and lobbyist Severin Beliveau and a host of legislators. The progressive senator is an underdog in his race against former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — who received […]
Posted inLivermore Falls Advertiser, Maine
Emerge Maine, hoping to add female lawmakers, announces candidates
AUGUSTA — An organization that hopes to increase the number of Democratic women serving as lawmakers at the State House in Maine announced 18 candidates for 2016 on Tuesday. Emerge Maine, which conducts training and workshops for female, elected officials and candidates, announced the candidates — including 10 incumbents — during a news conference at […]
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Maine’s only black lawmaker discusses ‘white girl’ comment with LePage
AUGUSTA — The only African-American lawmaker serving in the Maine Legislature said Tuesday he met with Republican Gov. Paul LePage, in part, to discuss a controversial comment LePage made last week. Rep. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, said he met with LePage on a number of topics but the two did discuss LePage’s comments in Bridgton last […]
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Bill seeks to strengthen Maine’s new revenge porn law
AUGUSTA — A bill that makes it easier for a victim of “revenge porn” to more quickly get a protection from abuse order gained support Monday from range of organizations that help victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. The bill, LD 1487, is co-sponsored by Rep. Lori Fowle, D-Vassalboro, and Rep. Ken Fredette, R-Newport. […]
Posted inLivermore Falls Advertiser, Maine
Legislature again looks to help bolster volunteer firefighters in Maine
AUGUSTA – Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee got their first look at a new report on problems with recruitment, retention and training for volunteer firefighters across Maine. Lawmakers also discussed how to best move forward with establishing a central training facility for volunteer fire departments and how to best fund […]
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Paul LePage says ‘white girl’ remark was mistake, not racial
Discussing the state’s growing opioid addiction problem LePage said, “Guys with the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty … these types of guys. They come from Connecticut and New York; they come up here, they sell their heroin, they go back home. Incidentally, half the time they impregnate a young white girl before they leave, which is a […]
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Maine group seeking ballot question on gun checks nears signature target
AUGUSTA — A group hoping to bring a statewide ballot question to require federal background checks on all gun sales in Maine said Thursday it was well on its way to gathering the more than 61,000 voter signatures it needs for a November referendum. “We fully anticipate having the signature numbers that we need and […]
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Bill to reduce electric rates for industry gets mixed review
AUGUSTA — A bill meant to help reduce the cost of electricity for Maine businesses received a mixed review Thursday before the Legislature’s Energy Committee. The legislation, LD 1398, sponsored by Sen. Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon, would change the way funds from the state’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Trust Fund are distributed to electricity ratepayers starting […]