More than 340 Mainers have written open letters to members of the Electoral College, most of them pleading for electors to nullify Republican Donald Trump’s Election Day victory. Typical is one from Gracia Holt of Freeport who told electors, “You must not elect Donald Trump! He is mentally unbalanced, inexperienced, incapable of governing, guilty of […]
politics
Posted inLivermore Falls Advertiser, Maine
State says it won’t enforce tip credit wage hike next month
AUGUSTA — In a move that critics immediately denounced, the state Department of Labor said Thursday it won’t enforce a provision against employers who don’t comply with a change in the tip credit for workers for at least the first few weeks after it takes effect on Jan. 7. It is only a temporary move […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Group wants to put Medicaid expansion on Maine ballot
PORTLAND — An Augusta advocacy group says its signature drive to get Medicaid expansion on Maine’s ballot has been “hugely successful.” The Portland Press Herald reports the organization, Maine Equal Justice Partners, expects to make an announcement Thursday. Expanding Medicaid would insure about 80,000 people. The group says many of the signatures needed to put […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Obama signs Sen. Susan Collins bill to help young researchers
PORTLAND — A bill co-written by Maine Sen. Susan Collins that seeks to support young researchers has been signed into law. Collins, a Republican, authored the bill along with Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. The goal of the Next Generation Researchers Act is to grow opportunities for young people in research, science and innovation. […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Donald Trump poised to assemble Cabinet faster than anyone in 40 years
Energy secretary is generally one of the last Cabinet positions to be filled by presidents-elect, or so it’s been since Ronald Reagan was staffing up in 1980. Energy, Interior, Transportation: For the last five people headed to the White House for the first time, these were low on the priority list. On average, they came […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
Michael Flynn shared classified info without permission, files show
WASHINGTON — A secret U.S. military investigation in 2010 determined that Michael T. Flynn, the retired Army general tapped to serve as national security adviser in the Trump White House, “inappropriately shared” classified information with foreign military officers in Afghanistan, newly released documents show. Although Flynn lacked authorization to share the classified material, he was […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
William Beardsley resigns from Department of Education
AUGUSTA — William Beardsley, the de facto leader of Gov. Paul LePage’s Department of Education, has resigned for personal reasons, LePage announced Wednesday. Beardsley’s last day will be Dec. 23, 2016. He will be replaced by Robert G. Hasson, who will serve as acting commissioner. “Bill Beardsley is a man of tremendous integrity, intellect and […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage meets with Democratic legislators
A meeting between Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Senate Democrats on Tuesday left the leader of the Democratic caucus hopeful that a new era of cooperation with LePage has begun. Senate Minority Leader Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, said he invited a representative from LePage’s office to Tuesday’s meeting to answer questions about the upcoming session but […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
EPA report does not deliver verdict on fracking, drinking water
WASHINGTON — Hydraulic fracturing to drill for oil and natural gas poses a risk to drinking water in some circumstances, but a lack of information precludes a definitive statement on how severe the risk is, the Environmental Protection Agency says in a new report that raises more questions than answers. The report removes a finding […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage says he will keep looking for psychiatric unit site
Gov. Paul LePage said Tuesday that his administration will continue to look for a location for a state-run psychiatric unit outside Augusta despite a meeting last week that House Speaker Sara Gideon said produced progress toward a compromise. The prospect of building a step-down facility for state-held forensic patients — such as those who are […]