AUGUSTA — A plan within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to markedly increase timber harvesting limits on publicly owned lands has caused concern among environmentalists who say the increase is unsustainable. Department spokesman John Bott confirmed Monday that the department has internally agreed to increase the timber harvesting limit on public lands from […]
Maine
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine’s unemployment rate falls to 6.2 percent
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine’s unemployment fell slightly to 6.2 percent in January. Maine’s Department of Labor said Monday that the state’s jobless rate dropped from 6.4 percent in December. Officials originally estimated that December’s unemployment rate was 6.2 percent, but revised it. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics said roughly 43,900 Maine residents were […]
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Maine gas prices 12 cents above national average
AUGUSTA (AP) — The average retail cost of a gallon of gas in Maine is up by a little more than penny. Price-monitoring website GasBuddy.com reported Monday that the price at the pump has risen to an average of $3.62 per gallon in the past week, 12 cents above the national average. Even though prices […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Raymond woman faces impersonation charge
RAYMOND (AP) — The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office says a Raymond woman has been charged with impersonating a federal officer. Authorities told WGME-TV (http://bit.ly/1iv0qIi ) that Julie Sutherland posed as a federal animal welfare agent to trick a Casco woman into giving up her horse last month by claiming it was being neglected. When the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Multinational company to run Maine virtual charter school
PORTLAND (AP) — With the approval of a virtual charter school, some Maine educators worry the state will be outsourcing education to a multinational corporation. But supporters argue that large private companies can create better and less expensive virtual schools because costs are spread out over a large number of users. Starting next fall, the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine looks to boost American Legion membership
HERMON (AP) — As the American Legion celebrates its 95th anniversary, the organization’s leaders in Maine are trying to reach out to younger veterans. Thirty-seven-year-old Sam Canders joined the Hermon post two months ago and is now in a committee trying to connect with other veterans around his age. He told the Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1lFYCME) […]
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Maine radon testing office overwhelmed
AUGUSTA (AP) — State officials say it appears most landlords around Maine are trying to comply with a new requirement that they test for radon, but most waited until the last minute. Bob Stilwell, head of the radon program for the state, said his office was getting hundreds of calls per day in the days […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Maine schools on suicide watch
New law says all Maine school workers, from teachers to bus drivers, must train to spot the warning signs. There were 15 tragic reasons in 2013. “Bruce” knew his teenage son was stressed, over-scheduled with sports, extracurriculars and a girlfriend, busy sometimes five nights a week. He seemed to genuinely enjoy it all, and the […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Judge chastises Maine DEP head in overturning Vinalhaven wind power decree
AUGUSTA — A Superior Court judge has overturned a decision by the commissioner of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection concerning noise complaints against a Vinalhaven wind power project, saying the agency head’s action had no rational basis. Maine Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy’s ruling, issued Monday in Kennebec County Superior Court, criticized DEP Commissioner […]