AUGUSTA (AP) — The Maine House of Representatives has given the first nod to a bill that would remove or relocate dozens of informational signs along the state’s interstate highways. The Democratic-led House approved the bill 120-23 on Thursday. It faces further votes in both chambers. Supporters of the bill say removing signs for things […]
Maine
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GOP unlikely to back Medicaid expansion
AUGUSTA — An early-morning fix Wednesday to the state’s 2015 budget shortfall, which included a way to drastically reduce the numbers on a state waiting list for Medicaid coverage, may have little effect on the ongoing debate about whether Maine should expand MaineCare, its low-income health care program. Republican Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday afternoon […]
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Maine House passes bill to add drug agents; LePage threatens veto
AUGUSTA — The Maine House on Wednesday, with broad bipartisan support, passed an amended version of a Gov. Paul LePage bill that adds drug enforcement agents, judges and prosecutors to the state’s payroll in an effort to bring under control the state’s growing opiate drug problems. The measure also increases funding to the Maine Department […]
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LePage says, “Spinning makes me dizzy.”
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State’s top court rules CMP kept $2.6M too much in customer deposit money
PORTLAND — The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled on Tuesday that Central Maine Power Co. kept $2.6 million more in deposit payments than it should have, a move state regulators say threatened to inflate customers’ rates. In a ruling written by Chief Justice Leigh Saufley, the state’s highest court affirmed a decision by the Maine […]
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Displaying beer alcohol content now legal in Maine
AUGUSTA (AP) — It’s now legal for bars and breweries in Maine to publicly display the alcohol content of their beer. A new law that took effect Tuesday repeals a 1937 statute that banned the display of alcohol content, such as on signs or menus. The old law was aimed at advertisements selling beer based […]
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USDA asks for plan on Maine EBT card photos
AUGUSTA — A federal agency is asking Gov. Paul LePage’s administration to provide details on its efforts to pilot a new benefits card system that would include recipients’ photos. The state uses electronic benefits transfer cards to dispense a variety of public assistance, including the largely federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps, […]
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Health care access preserved for Portland homeless
PORTLAND (AP) — Officials in Portland expect a smooth transition as a city-run health care clinic for the homeless scales back operations, while another nonprofit clinic picks up the slack. The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/1jqc7Qk ) reported that there had been concerns about a coverage gap. But Sheila Hill-Christian, Portland’s deputy city manager, wrote in […]
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Unity Raceway may not open this year after dispute over lease
Unity Raceway is in limbo. The stock car racetrack, which was bought in 1980 by Ralph and Nancy Nason, is sitting idle while the Nasons hope someone will lease the track for the season, which usually begins in mid-May. Jere Humphrey had a two-year lease with the Nasons but they parted ways last fall after […]
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Senate Dems OK bill banning welfare spending on tobacco, liquor, lottery
AUGUSTA — A surreal reversal in the Maine Senate on Monday saw majority Democrats advance a bill to ban the use of welfare dollars for alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets, gambling and bail, while Republicans voted against the clampdown — despite having originally supported it. The move by Democrats, who narrowly approved the bill 18-17 Monday […]