In one of the most publicized moments at Saturday’s March for Our Lives, 18-year-old Emma González stood on the stage in complete silence, weeping. She marked the six minutes and 20 seconds that claimed the lives of 17 people at her high school in Parkland, Fla. And on her olive-green jacket, she wore several sewn-on patches, including a Cuban flag. That flag, representing González’s Cuban heritage, […]
politics
Posted inNation / World
U.S. expels 60 Russian diplomats
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration expelled 60 Russian diplomats on Monday and ordered Russia’s consulate in Seattle to close, as the United States and European nations sought to jointly punish Moscow for its alleged role in poisoning an ex-spy in Britain. Senior Trump administration officials said all 60 Russians were spies working in the […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine races to implement ranked-choice voting before June primary
PORTLAND (AP) — Maine election officials are racing to implement a new voting system in time for the June primary, marking the first use of ranked-choice voting in statewide primary elections. Secretary of State Matt Dunlap plans to submit proposed rules governing the voting method by month’s end. “It is exciting to finally have a […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bruce Poliquin spars with Democrats over immigration
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin took aim at each of his four Democratic challengers Friday for their support of Maine’s immigrants. In a post on Facebook, the two-term 2nd District Republican from Maine said that “illegal immigration is still illegal. We are a country of immigrants, but we are also a Nation of Laws. People entering […]
Posted inNation / World
Donald Trump signs $1.3 trillion budget after veto threat
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending measure Friday averting a government shutdown at midnight, acting just hours after saying he was considering a veto. Trump complained that the legislation does not fully fund his plans for a border wall with Mexico and does not address some 800,000 “Dreamer” immigrants who […]
Posted inBusiness
Maine’s unemployment rate dips below 3 percent
Maine’s unemployment numbers in February dropped to the lowest rate in 42 years. The state’s preliminary rate of 2.9 percent hasn’t been seen since 1976, according to a release from the Maine Department of Labor. The number of unemployed Mainers dropped by 3,000 from January levels to 20,000 in February — also a level not […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Collins now says tax reform vote wasn’t contingent on support for her bills to boost ACA
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine appeared Thursday to contradict previous comments she made that her vote for the Republican tax reform proposal that passed in December was based on promises she secured from Republican leaders that Affordable Care Act stabilization measures would be approved. Collins said the ACA measures were among numerous issues that were […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Committee deadlocks on bill designed to protect Mainers’ internet privacy
AUGUSTA — A legislative committee deadlocked along party lines Thursday on a bill aimed at protecting privacy on the internet. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Shenna Bellows, D-Manchester, would prohibit internet service providers who receive state subsidies from selling customers’ data without notice or consent. The measure would also prohibit ISPs from charging customers an […]
Posted inMaine
Eric Brakey says Max Linn’s senate race nomination papers have signatures of dead people
The U.S. Senate campaign of Eric Brakey is challenging the validity of a Republican opponent’s paperwork to qualify for the primary ballot this June, saying the nomination petitions include signatures of dead voters and hundreds of duplicates. In a formal complaint, Brakey political director David Boyer alleged that candidate Max Linn’s petition sheets contain at […]
Posted inNation / World
Congress passes budget with little time to spare
WASHINGTON — Congress cleared a sweeping $1.3 trillion spending bill early Friday that doles out enormous increases to military and domestic programs alike, as Republicans and Democrats joined to block most of President Donald Trump’s proposed budget cuts and place obstacles in the way of his immigration agenda. The House passed the 2,232-page bill Thursday […]