HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A group of economists says New England is recovering from the worst recession in decades, with the strongest gains in Massachusetts and Vermont, while Rhode Island and Maine lag. The New England Economic Partnership said Wednesday that external factors such as Europe’s recession and federal spending cuts made in Washington are […]
Maine
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Somerset County sues state Corrections Board
SKOWHEGAN (AP) — Somerset County has sued the state prisons board in an attempt to get payment of more than $280,000 the county says it is owed for operations at the county jail. The petition for review filed Tuesday seeks to reverse a unanimous vote by the Board of Corrections in April to withhold the […]
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Maine businesses to receive environmental awards
WINSLOW (AP) — Three businesses, a nonprofit and a new venture are being named as this year’s winners of the Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence. Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Patricia Aho and an adviser to Gov. Paul LePage are announcing the winners Wednesday at Mid-Maine Machine Products, a manufacturer in Winslow. Four businesses and […]
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Maine House approves bill to expand Medicaid, pay hospitals
AUGUSTA — After a four-hour debate Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved a bill that would pay off Maine’s $484 million debt to the state’s hospitals, agreeing to go along with a Democrat-backed amendment calling for the state to accept federal money to expand Medicaid to roughly 70,000 people. The bill won approval by an […]
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It’s time to phase out ethanol gas
Say we had a product that consumers hated, that drove up food and gasoline prices and that caused as much or more environmental damage than a similar, less costly product. What would our government do about it? Force us to use more, of course. That’s the illogical direction we are headed since the U.S. Environmental […]
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New law requires suicide prevention training for Maine schools
AUGUSTA — A bill that state Rep. Paul Gilbert has called the most important of his legislative career was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Paul LePage. The bill, LD 609, is aimed at increasing suicide awareness and prevention in the state’s public schools by requiring training for all school employees. LePage on Tuesday also […]
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Lawmakers get first look at bill that overhauls Maine’s tax system
AUGUSTA — A bill that would make sweeping changes to the way Maine collects taxes on income, sales and property received a mixed reaction from members of the Legislature’s Taxation Committee Tuesday. The bill, LD 1496, is the effort of a panel of 11 lawmakers who have been dubbed the “Gang of 11” at the […]
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LePage says in veto message that tobacco opponents should seek total ban
AUGUSTA — A bill to “simply outlaw tobacco altogether” would make more sense than piecemeal bans on smoking, Gov. Paul LePage said Monday as he vetoed a bill to outlaw smoking on public college campuses. “I firmly believe Maine people are responsible enough to make their own decisions concerning tobacco,” LePage wrote in his veto […]
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No tuition increase for in-state students at UMaine for 2013-14 school year
BANGOR (AP) — University of Maine System trustees voted Monday to freeze tuition rates for the upcoming school year at 2012 levels for in-state undergraduate students. Trustees voted in Bangor on the system’s operating budget for fiscal year 2014, which begins July 1. As part of the budget vote, trustees set tuition rates. Tuition was […]
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Central Maine Power sued by contractor for $43M
PORTLAND (AP) — One of the lead contractors on Central Maine Power Co.’s transmission line upgrade has filed a lawsuit seeking at least $43 million from the utility for what it says are work changes that cost extra time and money. Hawkeye LLC of Hauppauge, N.Y., charges in the suit filed in federal court in […]