CARRABASSETT VALLEY — Bruce Miles knows the saying, “It takes a village,” might be a little worn out these days, but Friday he could think of no other way to describe the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into putting on a world-class ski race. Miles, a member of the Sugarloaf Ski Club, and 90 other club […]
Maine
‘Honest Pint’ bill passes Maine House on split vote Thursday
AUGUSTA — Bottoms up. The Maine House of Representatives on Thursday voted 83-62 along party lines in favor of a bill that would require bars and restaurants that advertise pints of beer to serve those pints in 16-ounce glasses. The bill, LD 122, authored by state Sen. John Patrick, D-Rumford, was approved unanimously by the […]
LePage joins call for constitutional amendment to balance federal budget
AUGUSTA — Flanked by Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Gov. Paul LePage said Thursday he would push Maine lawmakers to pass a resolution urging Congress to create an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require the federal government to maintain a balanced budget. LePage and Kasich, both Republicans, said the issue of balancing the federal […]
Battle with snow continues Down East
CALAIS — It hasn’t been the easiest of winters Down East, where the unofficial snowfall total for Eastport already is a half a foot higher than the previous record of 169.6 inches set during the winter of 1906-07. Municipal officials in Eastport, Calais and Lubec continue to battle with snow piles, high winds causing drifting […]
LePage to host Ohio governor, support U.S. balanced budget amendment
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage will host Ohio Gov. John Kasich at the State House on Thursday to make an announcement regarding the national push for a federal balanced-budget amendment. Kasich and LePage, both Republicans, are among a group of governors supporting an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require the federal government to […]
Legislative panel ponders bills to build Maine task force for veterans
AUGUSTA — A Lewiston lawmaker and Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan wants Maine to take a hard look at how the state helps veterans who return home after their service. State Rep. Jared Golden, D-Lewiston, said Wednesday that the state’s Bureau of Veterans Services does many good things and offers many […]
Rotundo wants a woman on U.S. paper money
AUGUSTA — A state lawmaker from Lewiston says it is time to put a woman on U.S. paper currency and wants that woman to be a Mainer. “America hasn’t changed its paper currency for many years,” state Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, said in a prepared statement Tuesday. “There is a national group organizing for this […]
Bill to keep younger students in school gets committee approval
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Education Committee on Tuesday agreed to change the state’s truancy laws in an effort to help school districts improve attendance for students under the age of 7. The bill, LD 311, offered by state Sen. Nathan Libby, D-Lewiston, was meant to address concerns from Lewiston Schools Superintendent Bill Webster […]
Before Maine swaps statues, panel wants to study details
AUGUSTA — A bill aimed at swapping out one of Maine’s two statues in the U.S. Congress’ National Statuary Hall was turned into a measure that would first study the idea. In February, state Sen. Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon, offered legislation that would have seen Maine exchange a statue of the state’s first governor, William King, with one […]
Fund for Healthy Maine survives in unanimous committee vote
AUGUSTA — In a bipartisan and unanimous decision, the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee beat back a proposed $7.2 million raid on the state’s tobacco settlement funds, currently used for community smoking cessation and prevention programs. The committee instead took about $2.4 million from the fund to use on other parts of the $28 million spending […]