AUGUSTA — The Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee has approved the scope of an investigation into the Maine Center for Disease Control, including whether CDC workers unfairly distributed program funding or destroyed public documents. The committee also decided to let the federal government finish its investigation into concerns over a meeting between Gov. Paul LePage and […]
Maine
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4-year-old boy brings loaded gun to Hallowell preschool
HALLOWELL (AP) — Authorities in Maine are investigating after a 4-year-old boy brought a loaded handgun to his Hallowell preschool. The district attorney’s office has asked for more information to determine whether to bring charges. Police Chief Eric Nason said a staff member found the loaded .380 caliber, semi-automatic handgun in a bag the boy […]
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Maine Legislative Council approves $30,000 to help victims of Lewiston fires
AUGUSTA — The 10-member Legislative Council voted unanimously Thursday to send the city of Lewiston $30,000 to help some of the nearly 200 people left homeless by three downtown fires last week. Gov. Paul LePage said earlier this week he would match the $30,000, meaning Lewiston will get $60,000, but it wasn’t to be done […]
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Maine wardens, DOT warn of moose on highways
AUGUSTA (AP) — It’s high season for moose on Maine highways. The Maine departments of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Transportation are asking drivers to take extra precautions in May and June. May and June are the most common months for moose collisions due to a combination of factors, including calving time, weather and salt. […]
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Bill seeks to make hospital costs and finances more transparent in Maine
AUGUSTA — A bill that creates a special commission and an annual study of financial data for tax-subsidized hospitals in Maine could be the first step toward a more transparent health care system, according to proponents of the measure. Simply finding out how much any given medical procedure costs is nearly impossible, said the bill’s […]
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House approves bill that allows sale of ethanol-free gas in Maine
AUGUSTA — Chalk one up for the little guy, and his small engines, too. That was the sentiment of the Maine House on Wednesday as it voted 109-32 in favor of a bill that would allow the sale of ethanol-free gasoline in Maine. A pair of bills, offered by Rep. Jeff Timberlake, R-Turner, that came […]
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Teen girl hit with portable toilet while driving to school
THORNDIKE — A teenage girl had an unhappy surprise first thing Monday morning when a portable toilet fell onto her Jeep as she was driving to Mount View High School. A man who had just made a portable toilet delivery to the school forgot to lash a second one down and it fell off his […]
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State employees union seeks government shutdown talks
AUGUSTA (AP) — The union representing Maine state employees has requested a meeting with the administration of Gov. Paul LePage to discuss preparations for an “inevitable” shutdown of state government. The Maine State Employees Association on Monday invoked a statutory requirement that the administration meet with union leaders within 10 days to bargain the terms […]
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Largest cruise ship to visit Portland coming in 2015
Portland officials say the city will welcome Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas, for the 2015 season. It’ll be about 10 feet longer than the Queen Mary and will have passenger capacity for 4,180 people when it sets sail in the winter of 2014. This year’s cruise season already has kicked off […]
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Maine committee eyes moratorium on ‘tar sands’ oil
AUGUSTA — A bill creating a two-year moratorium on the transportation of so-called “tar sands” oil in Maine pit environmental groups against those who say the ban would have far-reaching negative impacts on the economy during testimony before the Legislature’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Monday. The bill, LD 1363, calls for a legislative resolve […]