Many Maine residents, even those with health insurance, struggle to afford their medical bills, a new statewide survey has found. While the poorest Mainers reported the most difficulty affording health services, more than a quarter of residents with health coverage ran into trouble paying medical bills, according to the survey released Wednesday by the Maine […]
economy
Posted insj-web
USM president proposes cutting four programs, 20-30 faculty positions
PORTLAND — University of Southern Maine President Theo Kalikow is proposing to cut four programs and between 20 and 30 faculty jobs as the school attempts to overcome a $14 million budget shortfall. Kalikow announced the spending gap, which represents nearly 10 percent of the school’s fiscal year 2015 budget, nearly two months ago and […]
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Posted inBusiness, Nation / World, sj-web
U.S. economy adds more jobs than expected
WASHINGTON — Employers added more workers than projected in February, indicating the U.S. economy is starting to bounce back from a weather-induced setback. The jobless rate unexpectedly climbed from a five-year low. The 175,000 gain in employment followed a revised 129,000 increase the prior month that was bigger than initially estimated, Labor Department figures showed […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Oxford Hills, River Valley
Andover hearing to start SAD 44 withdrawal process set for Saturday
ANDOVER — A public hearing on a proposal to begin steps to withdraw from SAD 44 will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Town Hall. Those who are not able to attend Saturday’s hearing are invited to attend the On Our Own Committee meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at the […]
Posted inMaine
Maine budget committee eases forward with fix ideas for 2014 and 2015
AUGUSTA — State lawmakers on the budget-writing Appropriations Committee are gaining steady ground as they work to create a supplemental budget that will balance spending and revenues for 2014 and 2015. The Maine Constitution requires a balanced budget, and without a supplemental budget offering from Republican Gov. Paul LePage, the committee has been left largely […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
U.S. economy adds 113,000 jobs in January
WASHINGTON — A surprisingly weak jobs report for a second straight month has renewed concern that the U.S. economy might be slowing after a strong finish last year. Employers added 113,000 jobs in January, far fewer than the average monthly gain of 194,000 last year. Job gains have averaged just 154,000 the past three months, […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage lays out major initiatives for job creation, lowering taxes in State of the State
The state’s chief executive discussed most major policy areas — from energy and education to welfare reform — and reiterated his opposition to Medicaid expansion and desire to reform welfare. But the most sweeping new policy proposals focused on economic development, lowering taxes and fighting drug abuse in Maine. As was the case in his […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
U.S. economy grew at 3.2 percent rate in last quarter of 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a 3.2 percent annual rate in the October-December quarter on the strength of the strongest consumer spending in three years, an encouraging sign for 2014. The fourth-quarter increase followed a 4.1 percent growth rate in the July-September quarter, when the economy benefited from a buildup in business […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Obama’s call for higher wages gets mixed reaction in Maine
AUBURN — President Barack Obama’s call in Tuesday’s State of the Union address for employers to pay workers a minimum of $10.10 per hour got a mixed reaction in Maine on Wednesday. Obama did not say he would propose legislation to boost the federal minimum wage. He did that last year and it was not […]
Posted inNation / World, sj-web
House passes $1.1 trillion bill to fund government
WASHINGTON (AP) — A $1.1 trillion spending bill for operating the government until just before next fall’s election steamed through the battle-weary House on Wednesday over tepid protests from tea party conservatives, driven by a bipartisan desire to restore painful cuts in domestic and defense programs and show disaffected voters that Congress can do its […]