OLD TOWN — Like many of his classmates in 1972, Duane Lugdon graduated from Penobscot Valley High School in Howland, got a job at the Old Town paper mill and punched his union card. Being a millworker in the 1970s not only paid well, it provided workers with a sense of stability, Lugdon recalled. The […]
Maine
Posted inLocal Sports
Local roundup: Spruce Mountain girls remain unbeaten
JAY — Senior guard Nicole Hamblin poured in 18 points to lead Spruce Mountain to a comfortable 55-34 victory over Lincoln Academy in KVAC girls’ basketball action Friday. The Phoenix (11-0) added to their margin in each quarter, leading 22-15 at the midpoint. Emily Keene contributed nine points for Spruce Mountain. Sophomore guard Taylor Oliver […]
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Posted inMaine
LePage budget plan reforms Maine tax policy
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage on Friday made good on his promise to “go after” Maine income taxes in his next two-year budget. LePage’s 2016-17 spending plan for state government includes sweeping reforms to Maine’s tax policy, dramatically changing the sources of state revenue from the income tax to a broader and higher sales tax. The […]
Posted inMaine
Democrats leery of LePage’s proposal to cut income taxes
AUGUSTA — Legislative Democrats were hesitant Thursday to embrace a proposal to eliminate Maine’s income tax, which could be a key pillar in the next budget proposal from Republican Gov. Paul LePage. LePage’s next two-year budget is due to lawmakers Friday. On Wednesday, the governor was clear that the state’s income tax was in his […]
Posted inNew England, sj-web
Maine had coldest temp in U.S. Thursday
Maine had the lowest temperature in the nation Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. It was minus 38 at Estcourt Station, which is in Aroostook County on the Canadian border. It is at the top of maps of Maine. The warmest place in the nation Thursday? Fillmore, Calif., which had a high of 87 […]
Posted inMaine
LePage launches second term with promises of job growth and a stronger economy
AUGUSTA — Paul LePage launched his second term as Maine’s governor Wednesday with robust promises to create jobs and improve the state’s long-flagging economy. He also vowed to tackle the state’s income tax, saying his vision was a Maine without an income tax. “We want Mainers to know prosperity and not poverty,” LePage said. He […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Lewiston mayor wants legislation to change General Assistance rules
AUGUSTA — The mayor of Lewiston is working with a pair of state senators from Auburn and Lisbon on a bill that would change the rules for dishing out city-controlled General Assistance, a state- and city-funded program for the poor facing financial hardships. Mayor Robert Macdonald said immigrants who are seeking asylum in his city […]
Posted inBusiness
Maine casinos report a bit more revenue, chip in $45 million in taxes
Maine casino-goers might have hit the wall in 2014. Early figures from the Maine Gambling Control Board released this week show slot machine revenue nearly flat last year at the state’s two casinos. In Bangor, Hollywood Casino saw slot players gamble $459.6 million last year compared to $468.9 million in 2013, an almost 2 percent […]
Posted inMaine
Maine gas prices continue drop, but why do stations charge different prices?
PORTLAND — The average gallon of regular gas in Maine is about $1.18 cheaper than one year ago, dropping about 12 cents in the last week to $2.35 per gallon, compared with a national average that dropped about 8 cents, to $2.19 in the last week. That follows a drop in crude oil to about […]
Posted inMaine
LePage inauguration to draw thousands to the Augusta Civic Center
AUGUSTA — Wednesday is shaping up to be a busy day in Augusta with the 127th Legislature returning for Gov. Paul LePage’s second-term inauguration. Inauguration festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Augusta Civic Center, where thousands of well-wishers and the entire Legislature will convene for one of the biggest political events of the year. […]