AUGUSTA — Maine Attorney General Janet Mills said overdose deaths related to illegal drugs, including heroin and fentanyl, continue to climb. Since January, 105 people have died from an overdose in Maine, according to a release issued by Mills’ office. “These numbers are terribly distressing,” Mills said. “The first six months of 2015 show that […]
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Posted inMaine
Maine jails continue to collect EBT cards that don’t belong to inmates
AUBURN — County jail administrators said this week that they continue to confiscate Electronic Benefit Transfer cards from inmates during intake when the card is not in the name of the person who has it. The cards, used for the distribution of state and federal welfare benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known […]
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Handgun sales spike in advance of Maine permit change
AUBURN — An upcoming change in Maine law that allows adults to carry a concealed handgun without a permit is triggering a spike in gun sales at some local shops. John Reid, owner of J.T. Reid’s Gun Shop in Auburn, said Tuesday that sales of handguns are up and he’s ordered more firearms to keep […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Paul LePage announces participants in drug abuse prevention summit
The LePage administration has released the list of participants at a drug abuse prevention summit Gov. Paul LePage will host Aug. 26 in Augusta. The governor has been planning the summit in response to a significant spike in heroin coming into Maine and a rash of recent overdoses. On the list are a mix of […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
White House wants to fight heroin by uniting public health, police forces
WASHINGTON — As heroin overdoses and deaths soar in many parts of the nation, the White House plans to announce on Monday an initiative that will for the first time pair public health and law enforcement in an effort to shift the emphasis from punishment to the treatment of addicts. The experiment, initially funded for […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Androscoggin commissioners to begin budget talks
AUBURN — The Androscoggin County Commission will begin discussing the proposed 2016 county budget during Wednesday’s workshop. The workshop is the first of three planned for the next three weeks to review the budget for every department. Commissioners will meet with department heads, who will present their budget proposals for consideration. The largest budget to […]
Posted inMaine
Group faces uphill climb on citizens’ veto on GA for immigrants
LEWISTON — The organizer of a people’s veto referendum aimed at repealing a law that allows cities and towns to pay General Assistance benefits to asylum-seeking immigrants for up to two years said he hopes to start collecting signatures soon. But the question could face competition from another proposal for a ballot measure being sought […]
Posted inOp-Eds
Rating candidates: Hillary challenged; Trump can’t win
WASHINGTON — Both presidential nomination contests having been scrambled by recent events — the FBI taking control of Hillary Clinton’s private email server and a raucous, roiling GOP debate — the third edition of the Racing Form is herewith rushed into print. Legal disclaimer: This column is for betting purposes only. What follows is analysis […]
Posted inMaine
Maine benefit bartering. Growing form of fraud: EBT cards to buy drugs
But also in Robinson’s possession that day were six state-issued electronic benefit transfer cards — essentially debit cards loaded with welfare benefits, with some benefits available as cash — from state and federal programs meant to help poor families and children. Those cards had been reported lost or stolen by their owners 114 times and re-issued […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine cancels funding for drug abuse treatment groups
AUGUSTA — The Maine Association of Substance Abuse Programs has been notified its contract with the state, which has stood for more than 13 years, will be canceled Dec. 31. Ruth Blauer, the association’s executive director, said cancellation of the $573,000 contract will essentially eliminate the services provided by her program and two others it […]