AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage expressed his disapproval of a proposal to designate areas within the Gulf of Maine as a Marine National Monument. LePage on Friday sent two letters to President Barack Obama and Maine’s U.S. congressional delegation regarding separate proposals for monuments that LePage said will have a negative effect on Maine […]
politics
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Maine
Paul LePage says he may run against U.S. Sen. Angus King
AUGUSTA — During an afternoon appearance on a conservative talk radio show, Republican Gov. Paul LePage said he may run for the U.S. Senate in 2018. LePage made the comment during an appearance on the Boston-based Howie Carr radio show which was broadcasting from Augusta’s WVOM on Tuesday afternoon. LePage said he was specifically thinking […]
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Posted inMaine
Maine group seeks petition for 2016 gun background check ballot question
AUGUSTA — A group hoping to require criminal background checks for all gun sales in Maine has taken the first step toward launching a petition drive for a statewide ballot question in 2016. Maine Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense Fund submitted an application for a petition to collect signatures to the Maine Secretary of […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
National Organization for Marriage files 2009 donors list
AUGUSTA — The National Organization for Marriage has filed details of its financial activities related to a 2009 effort to repeal Maine’s same-sex marriage law following a more-than-five-year legal battle over Maine’s campaign finance laws. Jonathan Wayne, executive director of the Maine Ethics Commission, said in a written statement Monday morning that the list had been filed […]
Posted inMaine
King plans opoid abuse roundtable a day ahead of LePage’s summit
AUGUSTA – Just a day before Maine’s Republican Gov. Paul LePage will host a summit meeting on Maine’s ever-growing heroin abuse problem, U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, will host his own roundtable on a similar topic. LePage’s summit is planned for Wednesday, Aug. 26, and King has called his meeting for Tuesday, Aug. 25, in […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine jobless rate falls slightly to 4.6 percent
AUGUSTA — Maine officials say the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in July and was little changed from the month before. The Maine Department of Labor said Friday that the jobless rate last month was down from 4.7 percent in June. The July rate was down from 5.7 percent a year ago. The number of […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Paul LePage blames taxes, energy costs for Verso paper mill job loss
AUGUSTA — Republican Gov. Paul LePage says the elimination of 300 jobs at a Verso paper mill in Jay underscores the need to reduce the state’s taxes and energy costs. Verso Paper Corp. said Thursday that it will significantly scale back production in Maine and lay off 300 workers at its mill in Jay. The […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Auburn mayoral challenger jabs as November municipal ballot set
AUBURN — Mayoral candidate Peter Letourneau challenged incumbent Jonathan LaBonte Thursday, saying City Council meetings should be more open and inviting to residents. “Our current mayor is articulate, and he has fine qualities,” Letourneau said. “But he thinks he’s the king of Auburn, and he’s not. He’s the mayor and it’s a whole different thing. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legislative panel delays decision on expanding LePage investigation
AUGUSTA — A Maine legislative committee has delayed making a decision on whether the state’s watchdog agency should investigate allegations that Republican Gov. Paul LePage forced the president of the World Acadian Congress to step down. Democratic Reps. Ronald “Danny” Martin and Robert Saucier asked the Government Oversight Committee last month to initiate an investigation […]
Posted inFranklin, Livermore Falls Advertiser, Maine
Lawmakers: Mill slowdown, layoffs “devastating’ and ‘drastic’
AUGUSTA — State and federal lawmakers in Maine and Washington, D.C., reacted with frustration and concern Thursday at the news Verso will idle part of its mill in Jay — laying off about 300 employees permanently. “The news of the planned layoffs at the Jay mill is devastating for the community,” Sen. Tom Saviello, R-Wilton, […]