AUGUSTA — The head of Maine’s alcohol bureau has wanted to take a swing at New Hampshire. He’s about to. Maine is weeks from putting its new, 10-year liquor contract out to bid, and unlike the current contract, it leaves the state with more money and more room to target liquor sales continually lost to […]
Maine
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, The Franklin Journal
Insurance public hearing Friday
The Maine Bureau of Insurance will hold a public hearing Friday at its headquarters in Gardiner to get comment on the new insurance plan proposed by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield for the upcoming Affordable Care Act health insurance exchange. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. The public will have the opportunity to […]
advertisement
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Litchfield ousts town manager
LITCHFIELD (AP) — The community of Litchfield has fired its town manager. Town manager Michael Byron, who is also a city councilor in Augusta, was fired by the board of selectman on Tuesday. Board chair Rayna Leibowitz told the Kennebuc Journal (http://bit.ly/122a5dr) that it was in the best interest of the town to fire Byron, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage signs bill to help veterans get civilian jobs
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage has signed a bill designed to make it easier for veterans and their spouses to get back into civilian work following military service. Under the new law, boards, commissions or agencies affiliated with the state’s professional and financial regulations department will develop a process to expedite professional licenses […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine House fails to override veto on background checks
AUGUSTA (AP) — A bill designed to encourage background checks for gun sales has failed in the Maine Legislature. The Democratic-controlled House on Wednesday voted to sustain Republican Gov. LePage’s veto of the bill. Under the bill, background checks would have been voluntary. But, sellers would get a $500 civil fine if they don’t do […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Unemployment benefits cut in Maine
AUGUSTA (AP) — Unemployment compensation is being cut in Maine because of the federal government’s automatic budget cuts as well as Maine’s improving economy. The Department of Labor says unemployment beneficiaries in the final weeks of their eligibility had their benefits end eight weeks early last month because of the series of automatic spending cuts […]
Posted inMaine
After deal on UMaine project, ‘historic’ energy bill passes into law
AUGUSTA — A bill that moves Maine toward ending its so-called “oil poverty” passed into law late Wednesday after the state Senate unanimously rejected Gov. Paul LePage’s veto. The measure is aimed at expanding New England’s natural gas infrastructure, boosting funding for energy efficiency, directly lowering businesses’ electricity costs and making it more affordable for […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Democrats say welcome mat still out for Norwegian energy giant
AUGUSTA — Democratic lawmakers and Republican Gov. Paul LePage exchanged jabs again Thursday over energy policy, a day after lawmakers overrode LePage’s veto of an energy bill that many praised as a bipartisan compromise. Part of the veto override depended on another bill that allows the University of Maine to bid on an offshore wind-power […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Convicted murderer dies after Maine prison attack
WARREN (AP) — A Maine State Prison inmate serving a life sentence for murder has died after being attacked by another inmate who’s in prison for murder. State police say 57-year-old Alan Powell died at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday after being attacked by 42-year-old Guy Hunnewell in an exercise area of the Maine State Prison […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Report says poor Maine kids aren’t getting dental care; dentists disagree
AUGUSTA — Maine is one of 10 states where low-income children are least likely to receive dental care, according to a national report released Tuesday that stands to reignite a months-long legislative debate that has pitted dentists against those who support allowing a new type of dental provider in the state. The report by the […]