NEW YORK — President Donald Trump was barely in office when he signed an executive order restricting immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations. There was not a moment to waste, he said, because any delay would allow the “bad dudes” to rush into the U.S. Then federal courts struck down his ban. The White House said […]
politics
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Sessions' recusal warns of continued pressure on Russia meddling
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Jeff Sessions may not have been clear about his contacts with Russian officials during the 2016 election, but this much is: The controversy over any Kremlin involvement in American politics is not going to fade away anytime soon. Sessions on Thursday became the second high-ranking member of the Trump administration […]
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President Trump says no reason for Jeff Sessions to leave Russia probe
President Donald Trump, accompanied by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, and others, waves to a small crowd of supporters upon his arrival at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia, on Thursday, March 2, 2017. WASHINGTON — A growing number of Republicans joined Democratic leaders Thursday in calling for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to step aside […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislators approve $29 million spending package
AUGUSTA — The Legislature has enacted a $29 million spending package that would increase the rainy day fund and expand access to drug treatment. Legislators in the House and Senate on Thursday approved the supplementary budget and sent it to Republican Gov. Paul LePage. Lawmakers will continue to hold hearings on the governor’s separate $6.8 […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine House votes against investigating Ryan Tipping
AUGUSTA — Lawmakers in Maine voted against an effort to investigate a Democratic legislator’s employment for a ballot campaign committee. Assistant House Republican Leader Ellie Espling said the House Ethics Committee should investigate whether Rep. Ryan Tipping’s employment violated legislative ethics rules. The House voted 77-64 against Espling’s motion. Tipping is the taxation committee’s House […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Sen. Amy Volk introduces bill to boost engineering education
AUGUSTA — A Maine state senator says the southern part of her state might face a shortage of engineers and the Legislature should consider opportunities to reverse the trend. Sen. Amy Volk, a Republican from Cumberland, has introduced a proposal to tackle the issue. Her bill would require the University of Maine System to study […]
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Senate confirms Ben Carson as HUD chief
WASHINGTON — Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who challenged Donald Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, won Senate confirmation Thursday to join Trump’s Cabinet as housing secretary. Six Democrats and one independent joined 51 Republicans in voting for Carson to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Carson is the 17th of 22 of […]
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Donald Trump to push Pentagon upgrade aboard U.S. aircraft carrier
President Donald Trump, flanked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., hosts a meeting with House and Senate leadership, Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) — Embracing a stronger defense, President Donald Trump intends […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Higher education leaders to address Legislature
AUGUSTA (AP) — The leaders of Maine’s higher education institutions are set to address the Legislature. Maine Maritime Academy President William Brennan is scheduled to speak first during a joint session of the Legislature on Thursday. The heads of the University of Maine System and the state’s community college system will speak afterward. The University […]
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Jeff Sessions spoke twice with Russian ambassador during campaign
Sessions spoke twice with Russian ambassador during Trump’s presidential campaign Then-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) spoke twice in 2016 with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, but did not mention this during his confirmation hearing to become U.S. attorney general. Sessions was asked about possible contacts between President Trump’s campaign and the Russian government. (Victoria […]