AUGUSTA — Fewer Mainers were living in poverty in 2013 compared to the year before, but family income dropped as well, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday. The number of Mainers living in poverty declined 0.7 percent, from 189,786 to 180,639, according to the American Community Survey that polled people […]
Maine
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston state Senate candidates share views during homelessness forum
LEWISTON — Two candidates running for Lewiston’s state Senate District 21 seat shared their views on several key issues during a short forum at the Pine Street Wellness and Recovery Center on Thursday. Republican Patti Gagne and Democrat Nate Libby split ways on most of the hot-button issues, including raising the state’s minimum wage and […]
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OSHA investigating death of Hope Elephants co-founder
AUGUSTA — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration office in Augusta on Thursday confirmed that the federal agency is investigating the Sept. 9 death of James Laurita, who was crushed by one of his elephants after he fell and hit his head on the concrete walkway around the animals’ pen. Though no more details were […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Norridgewock woman faces eviction over service dog
NORRIDGEWOCK (AP) — A Norridgewock woman faces eviction from her home for allowing her daughter’s service dog to visit the house for five days in August in what her landlord says was a violation of the lease. Dawn Zammuto has filed a complaint with the state Human Rights Commission over the eviction. According to Maine […]
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Oxford Networks unveils $6 million data center expansion in former Brunswick Navy communications hub
BRUNSWICK — There’s one nice thing about putting a data center in Maine: come winter, the harsh cold is an easy way to keep servers cool. That’s a key part of the $6 million expansion unveiled Wednesday in a 52,000-square-foot former Navy communications center at Brunswick Landing, the civilian redevelopment effort underway at the former […]
Posted inMaine
Shelter director: Old friends trumpet arrival of Hope elephants in Oklahoma
HOPE — A week after Hope Elephants co-founder Jim Laurita’s sudden, tragic death in his elephant pen, the two Asian elephants he always called “his girls” are settling in at the Endangered Ark Foundation in Hugo, Oklahoma. Rosie and Opal left Maine over the weekend and were transported by truck nearly 2,000 miles to their […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
California billionaire’s environmental PAC enters Maine race to try to defeat Gov. LePage
AUGUSTA — A California billionaire’s political operation is entering Maine’s three-way race for governor and will target 90,000 potential voters who it believes can help defeat Republican Gov. Paul LePage, the group’s chief strategist said on Wednesday. The political action committee NextGen Climate says said it’s launching a targeted program in Maine that will include […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Questions rasied about Waldo County lawmaker’s re-election bid after arrest, alleged sexual encounter
AUGUSTA — Questions over the shape of a legislative race in Waldo County have arisen after the Democratic candidate, incumbent Rep. Brian Jones of Freedom, was arrested Monday on an indecent conduct charge. Jones is seeking treatment for alcoholism. Jones was arrested Monday night after a state trooper allegedly found him having sex with a […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Political foes slam new LePage vacation policy
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s political foes in his re-election bid are criticizing a new policy that’s giving more vacation time to political appointees and staff. But LePage’s administration says the policy change is part of a larger effort to improve recruitment and retention in state government. Under it, 54 officials have been able […]
Posted inMaine
MMA interviews candidates for governor; LePage declines to participate
AUGUSTA — In a pair of more than hourlong interviews released on video Wednesday, two of the three candidates running for governor in Maine answered questions about the state’s relationship with its cities. Democrat Mike Michaud and independent Eliot Cutler sat for the interviews with members of the Maine Municipal Association, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization […]