BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request to order the State of Maine to return a mural to the Department of Labor office where it was removed in late March. U.S. District Judge John Woodcock ruled that the mural represents government speech because the state commissioned, approved, paid for and owned […]
Paul LePage
Posted inMaine, sj-web
BPA ban to become law without LePage’s signature
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s ban against products made with the chemical bisphenol-A, or BPA, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2012. Because Gov. Paul LePage has neither signed nor vetoed the measure in the ten days since it garnered near-unanimous support from Maine lawmakers, it will become law 90 days after the legislative session adjourns […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Whoopie pie to become Maine state ‘treat’
A bill that also makes the blueberry pie Maine’s official dessert became law on Wednesday. The bill, which drew widespread attention along with criticism, became law without Gov. Paul LePage’s signature. It’ll take effect 90 days after the close of this year’s session. The original bill to make whoopies the official state dessert was amended […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage signs $65 M Maine supplemental budget
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A revised Maine state budget that covers a $65 million gap between revenues and spending is now law. Gov. Paul LePage signed the bill last Thursday. The House and Senate approved it after the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee revised the governor’s proposal and gave its unanimous, bipartisan support. Most of […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Demeritt resigns as LePage top aide, due to “unresolved business issues”
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage’s communications director resigned Saturday, a day after a newspaper reported he was facing possible foreclosure on five buildings, including an apartment house destroyed by arson. Dan Demeritt announced his resignation in a statement from the governor’s office. The resignation takes effect immediately. “I have several unresolved business […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Governor’s communications director faces foreclosures on 5 buildings
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage’s communications director is facing possible foreclosure on five buildings he owns including an apartment house destroyed by arson last week. The Kennebec Journal says Savings Bank of Maine wants a default judgment against Dan Demeritt. Demeritt says he’s working directly with the bank and that he’s “not […]
Posted inMaine
‘We have nothing to do’: LePage slams Legislature for lack of progress
LEWISTON — On his 100th day in office, Gov. Paul LePage gave his administration an “F.” And his comments before business leaders here Thursday indicated he was assigning a similar grade to the Republican-controlled Legislature. Speaking to a crowd of more than 400 at an Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce breakfast, LePage doubled down on […]
Posted inOur View
Prosperity runs north and south in New England
Take a map of Northern New England and stick a pin right in the heart of Boston, say the financial district. Now, tie a thread to it. It’s uncanny, but the further you stretch that string the poorer people get. In the counties just north of Boston, per capita family income is well over $60,000. […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Oxford Hills, River Valley
Staff retirement deadline extended
DIXFIELD — The Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10 board agreed unanimously Monday night to extend the deadline for staff to submit retirement resignations until May 1. If Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed budget doesn’t pass by then, the board could extend that deadline even longer, they said. Staff eligible for retirement had until April 15 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine AG says mural removal is ‘government speech’
PORTLAND — Gov. Paul LePage’s administration was exercising its right to “government speech” when it removed a labor history mural from the state Labor Department headquarters, the Maine attorney general said Monday. In a document filed in U.S. District Court, Attorney General William Schneider said a lawsuit seeking to have the mural returned to its […]