Gov.-elect Janet Mills showed up at the Medicaid expansion lawsuit court hearing in Maine Superior Court on Wednesday, the morning after winning a decisive victory in the gubernatorial election. Mills said she was “here to listen” to the lawsuit, where activist group Maine Equal Justice Partners is suing the LePage administration for failing to implement Medicaid expansion. Mills, […]
Maine
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Maine’s first virtual charter school gets 5-year renewal
The Maine Charter School Commission unanimously approved a five-year charter renewal for Maine’s first virtual charter school on Tuesday, but denied the school’s request to expand into additional grades and lift its enrollment cap. “(We) feel the school has achieved the standards and targets stated in the charter contract, is organizationally and fiscally viable, and […]
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Mainers vote absentee in record numbers
Mainers are setting early voting records for a governor’s election, with 34 percent more absentee ballots submitted so far this year than in 2014, contributing to a projected turnout of 65 percent. Democrats continue to outpace Republicans in absentee voting, with 61,792 ballots — representing 18 percent of all registered Democrats — returned as of […]
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Supporters of assisted suicide to seek signatures on election day
Maine voters may find themselves facing a decision about whether to approve assisted suicide, an issue that has simmered in the last two sessions of the Legislature and could land on statewide ballots next year. A political action group seeking to get an “assisted dying” question on the November 2019 ballot will be fanning out […]
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With 1,500 at South Portland vigil, synagogue overflows with compassion for gunman’s victims in Pittsburgh
SOUTH PORTLAND — An overflow crowd estimated at 1,500 people filled the Congregation Bet Ha’am synagogue in South Portland on Tuesday evening for a vigil to commemorate the lives of the 11 people who were gunned down Saturday morning at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Speakers said the outpouring of love and compassion […]
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Brunswick Police Department ends 15-year K-9 void
BRUNSWICK — A furry, four-legged officer has been added to the Police Department. Jack, a German-Dutch shepherd, is set to become the department’s first K-9 in 15 years. And he’s only a year old. A few months ago, the department was awarded a $25,000 grant to help offset the start-up costs of establishing a K-9 […]
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Ukulele Russ: Maine native returns to uke it up
Russell Copelin was a 20-year-old at the University of Maine at Farmington walking down the sidewalk with $30 in his pocket, intending to ask a buddy to buy him beer, when he passed a music shop and saw a $30 ukulele in the window. The rest? Uke history. Copelin, 35, with long hair, a bushy beard, […]
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Hospitality entrepreneurs look to apprentices to fill labor shortages
Matt Chappell opened his restaurant, Gather, in a former Masonic hall on Main Street in Yarmouth about six years ago. He wanted to give the community an inviting place for a family brunch or an intimate evening out and serve dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant is successful, except for one thing […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Candidates for governor debate in Bangor
A panel of journalists spiced up Sunday night’s televised Maine gubernatorial debate by asking a “unique” set of questions that instead of focusing on broad policy issues targeted individual candidates. The hourlong debate, held at Gracie Theatre on Husson University’s campus in Bangor, also gave candidates the opportunity to ask questions of their opponents. And […]
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Gov. Paul LePage orders flags to be flown at half-staff for synagogue shooting victims
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage has ordered United States and state of Maine flags be flown at half-staff in respect for the eleven victims of the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. The Republican governor said Sunday that he and his wife are “deeply saddened by this tragedy, which occurred in a place of worship.” […]