The Maine Department of Health and Human Services is prohibiting the release of statistics compiled by a researcher that show how many people had contact with a doctor soon before dying of drug overdoses in 2016, a year that set a third consecutive all-time record for overdose deaths. The information, which would not identify individuals, […]
politics
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Pot tweaks: Lawmakers propose raising sales tax on recreational marijuana
More political coverage…. AUGUSTA — A 10 percent sales tax is out, a 20 percent sales tax is in and businesses looking to get into the recreational marijuana market have a few more months to wait under proposed revisions to the state’s Marijuana Legislation Act released Tuesday morning. For months, a group of lawmakers known […]
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Maine court to decide if worker's comp has to pay for medical marijuana
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court will decide if state law requires Workers’ Compensation Insurance to pay for a millworker’s medical marijuana or if the insurer could be charged as an accessory in a drug deal under federal law. Justices are set to hear arguments in the case Wednesday at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Tom Saviello to help Janet Mills raise funds for gubernatorial bid
Sen. Tom Saviello, R-Wilton, said Tuesday that he has not decided who he will endorse for governor in the 2018 election, but for now he’s helping raise campaign cash for Janet Mills, who is running as a Democrat. Saviello, who has been friends with Mills for more than 20 years, confirmed rumors that he and […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Susan Collins introduces amendment to allow transgender people serve in military
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, introduced an amendment Monday designed to stymie Republican President Donald Trump’s call to ban transgender people from serving in the U.S. armed forces. The move fulfills a commitment Collins and Gillibrand made in late July, after Trump issued his controversial call for the Pentagon to […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
President Donald Trump on 9/11: 'America cannot be intimidated'
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand as “Taps” is played during a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, at the Pentagon. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Leading his first commemoration of the solemn 9/11 anniversary, President Donald Trump said Monday that […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
New law bans lead fishing tackle to protect loons
AUGUSTA (AP) — A new Maine law bans lead fishing tackle in hopes of protecting loons. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says keeping lead fishing weights out of Maine waters will better the birds’ survival and spur population growth across the Northeast. Ingesting lead fishing tackle is the leading cause of death for […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine lawmakers want to know why deaths went uninvestigated
AUGUSTA (AP) — A legislative panel wants answers from Maine health officials about a federal audit that revealed the agency failed to investigate the deaths of 133 disabled adults. The Portland Press Herald reported (http://bit.ly/2vJEofW ) the Legislature’s health and human services committee sent the Aug. 31 letter to Department of Health and Human Services […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Hurricane aid measure grows to $15 billion as Irma bears down
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans have almost doubled the size of the disaster relief package for Harvey to more than $15 billion, a first installment to help communities in Texas rebuild from the storm — and stock reserves for looming damage from Hurricane Irma. The must-do legislation, paired with a short-term increase in the government’s […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Ex-Maine GOP Chair Rick Bennett backs Eric Brakey for U.S. Senate
Former chairman of the Maine Republican Party Rick Bennett on Thursday endorsed state Sen. Eric Brakey’s bid for a seat in the U.S. Senate. “Eric has demonstrated the kind of principled leadership and dedication to accountable governance that we need in Washington, D.C., and I am proud to endorse his campaign for U.S. Senate,” Bennett […]