WASHINGTON (AP) — Finance officials of the world’s major economies expressed confidence Friday that they can meet an ambitious goal of boosting global growth by $2 trillion over the next five years. That’s despite a variety of threats including rising political tensions over Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Finance ministers and central bank presidents of the […]
economy
Posted inBusiness, Nation / World, sj-web
U.S. economy adds 192,000 jobs in March
WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added jobs at a solid pace in March and hired more in January and February than previously thought. Friday’s government report sent a reassuring signal that the economy withstood a harsh winter that had slowed growth. The economy gained 192,000 jobs in March, the Labor Department said Friday, slightly below February’s […]
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Posted inFranklin
Phillips loses plow truck to fire
PHILLIPS — A fast-moving fire reduced the town’s 2010 International plow truck to charred rubble Wednesday. The driver was not injured. Public Works employee Matt Stevens was plowing the remote East Madrid Road when he saw the flames shooting from the hood of the double-axle wheeler, Town Manager Elaine Hubbard said. Stevens, also an experienced […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Survey: Mainers struggle to pay medical bills — even those with insurance
Many Maine residents, even those with health insurance, struggle to afford their medical bills, a new statewide survey has found. While the poorest Mainers reported the most difficulty affording health services, more than a quarter of residents with health coverage ran into trouble paying medical bills, according to the survey released Wednesday by the Maine […]
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USM president proposes cutting four programs, 20-30 faculty positions
PORTLAND — University of Southern Maine President Theo Kalikow is proposing to cut four programs and between 20 and 30 faculty jobs as the school attempts to overcome a $14 million budget shortfall. Kalikow announced the spending gap, which represents nearly 10 percent of the school’s fiscal year 2015 budget, nearly two months ago and […]
Posted inBusiness, Nation / World, sj-web
U.S. economy adds more jobs than expected
WASHINGTON — Employers added more workers than projected in February, indicating the U.S. economy is starting to bounce back from a weather-induced setback. The jobless rate unexpectedly climbed from a five-year low. The 175,000 gain in employment followed a revised 129,000 increase the prior month that was bigger than initially estimated, Labor Department figures showed […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Oxford Hills, River Valley
Andover hearing to start SAD 44 withdrawal process set for Saturday
ANDOVER — A public hearing on a proposal to begin steps to withdraw from SAD 44 will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Town Hall. Those who are not able to attend Saturday’s hearing are invited to attend the On Our Own Committee meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at the […]
Posted inMaine
Maine budget committee eases forward with fix ideas for 2014 and 2015
AUGUSTA — State lawmakers on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee are gaining steady ground as they work to create a supplemental budget that will balance spending and revenues for 2014 and 2015. The Maine Constitution requires a balanced budget, and without a supplemental budget offering from Republican Gov. Paul LePage, the committee has been left largely […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
U.S. economy adds 113,000 jobs in January
WASHINGTON — A surprisingly weak jobs report for a second straight month has renewed concern that the U.S. economy might be slowing after a strong finish last year. Employers added 113,000 jobs in January, far fewer than the average monthly gain of 194,000 last year. Job gains have averaged just 154,000 the past three months, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage lays out major initiatives for job creation, lowering taxes in State of the State
The state’s chief executive discussed most major policy areas — from energy and education to welfare reform — and reiterated his opposition to Medicaid expansion and desire to reform welfare. But the most sweeping new policy proposals focused on economic development, lowering taxes and fighting drug abuse in Maine. As was the case in his […]