AUGUSTA — The mayor of Lewiston is working with a pair of state senators from Auburn and Lisbon on a bill that would change the rules for dishing out city-controlled General Assistance, a state- and city-funded program for the poor facing financial hardships. Mayor Robert Macdonald said immigrants who are seeking asylum in his city […]
LePage
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
2014: A year of tragedies, triumphs and tribulations
At first glance, 2014 looks like a year of staying the course — of familiar faces and the unchanging Maine way of life. We elected a new governor who wasn’t new to us at all. We voted against a referendum that would have changed the way sportsmen hunt bears in the Maine woods. A popular […]
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Posted inFranklin
World War II veterans from New Vineyard receive war medals
NEW VINEYARD — For their sacrifices to protect American freedoms, Francis Bliss of New Vineyard and his late wife, 2nd Lt. Frances Bliss, were recently presented with their World War II medals in a ceremony at the New Vineyard Public Library. State Sen. Tom Saviello, R-Wilton, who gave Bliss his medals along with state Rep. […]
Posted inMaine
Speaker of Maine House and Gov. LePage disagree on state’s employment picture
AUGUSTA — Mark Eves, speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, said Friday the state is still lagging behind the rest of New England when it comes to job creation. Eves, D-North Berwick, was reacting to the last round of employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that shows employment levels for the […]
Posted inMaine
LePage approves funds for domestic violence electronic monitoring program
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage approved funding Thursday for a pilot program that will use electronic monitors to track those convicted of domestic violence crimes. “The programs are part of a pilot project that will research the use of electronic devices on offenders as a way to increase compliance, reduce recidivism and maintain public safety,” […]
Posted inMaine
Maine’s DHHS Commissioner urges AG action on welfare drug-test law
AUGUSTA — Maine’s commissioner for the state Department of Health and Human Services said Monday she is still waiting on the state’s top lawyer before moving forward on a law that’s nearly three years old. A federal law passed in 1996 prohibits distributing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to individuals who have been previously convicted […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
LePage holds Christmas party for military families
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage and first lady Anne LePage are hosting military families at their home for a Christmas party. The party at the Blaine House is being held Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The first lady says that many children in military families must deal with a parent leaving for deployment […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Jails board sends plea to LePage for appointments
LEWISTON — The state Board of Corrections has issued an “urgent” plea to Gov. Paul LePage to either fill two empty seats on its board or watch its work grind to a halt. “We need the appointments,” Chairman Joel Merry said. “Without them, I don’t see the impact as anything but devastating.” The board serves […]
Posted inMaine
On gas pipeline for New England, King agrees with LePage
LEWISTON — U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said Tuesday he agrees with newly re-elected Republican Gov. Paul LePage that New England should expand its natural gas pipeline. King, during a meeting at the Sun Journal, said LePage has been right to advocate for expanding the flow of natural gas from Pennsylvania and New York into […]
Posted insj-web
Report: LePage administration ousts 2 DHHS managers
AUGUSTA — Two directors of key programs in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services were dismissed Wednesday morning, according to an email provided to the Bangor Daily News. In the email, which reportedly was sent to all DHHS staff Wednesday afternoon, Ricker Hamilton, the agency’s deputy commissioner of programs, confirmed the two former […]