PORTLAND — U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, will host a roundtable discussion on prescription painkillers and the role they play in heroin and other opioid addictions in Maine on Tuesday. King is taking the conversation to the state’s largest city, which has also been hit hard by heroin overdoses and drug-related crimes. The roundtable will […]
politics
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine to try another soda, candy ban for food stamps
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage’s administration said Monday that it has asked the federal government to allow it to ban the purchase of soda and candy with food stamps. It’s a longstanding goal of the Republican governor that is virtually assured to fail: States can’t regulate purchases under the federal and state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Maine lawmakers want a closer look at state lottery
Lawmakers from both parties are calling for closer scrutiny of Maine’s $230 million-a-year state-run lottery, including determining if its advertising targets Maine’s poor, who are the state’s most avid players. “All the legislators I’ve spoken to said if we were directing advertising toward poor communities in Maine, then there would be a big problem, and […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
2016 campaigns targeting Maine rural districts already
AUGUSTA — A handful of prominent Democrats are teasing runs for the Maine Senate in 2016, setting up a slate of potential battleground races in the party’s bid to win back the majority it lost in 2014. Among them are former Maine Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash and House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe, […]
Posted inOp-Eds
DHHS a no-show for hearings
Lawmakers reviewing the Fund for a Healthy Maine have been frustrated that staffers from the Department of Health and Human Services have refused to appear before their committee. Rep. Roberta Beavers, a South Berwick Democrat, was among those annoyed that DHHS staffers are not willing to discuss the fund with the Health and Human Services […]
Posted inMaine
How refugees make their way to Maine
Refugees from Syria have dominated the news this week following terrorist attacks in Paris and declarations by more than half the nation’s governors that they won’t allow Syrian refugees to settle in their states (even though they have no power to stop resettlement). Hundreds of refugees have made their way to Maine in recent years […]
Posted inMaine
Poliquin, Collins and King take differing views on blocking Syrian refugees
A coalition of Maine immigrants is urging Maine’s 2nd District congressman and Republican Gov. Paul LePage to “check their facts” and reconsider their support for efforts to block Syrian and Iraqi refugees from entering the U.S. In a statement issued earlier this week, the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition said it was deeply saddened by the […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
U.S. Senate approves Mike Michaud for Department of Labor post
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate has approved Mike Michaud for an administration post to help veterans seeking training and jobs. President Barack Obama announced in July the nomination of Michaud to be assistant secretary for veterans’ employment and training at the U.S. Department of Labor. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King on Thursday announced he […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Ben Chin, Robert Macdonald debate on Lewiston’s reputation, housing
LEWISTON — During a standing-room-only debate between the two mayoral runoff candidates, incumbent Robert Macdonald was asked what he would do to improve headlines that have shown a divisive city. “I’m not going to do anything,” Macdonald said. If he were to start treating certain people special, “you start having friction.” Macdonald said his words […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Live Lewiston Mayoral Debate: Ben Chin vs. Robert Macdonald
Live Blog Lewiston Mayoral Runoff Debate