LEWISTON —Rising numbers of asylum seekers are putting such a strain on the city budget that Mayor Robert Macdonald spoke Friday with Gov. Paul LePage about what could be done to help. Macdonald, who could not be reached for comment, told Maine Public that the city has the number of asylum seekers more than double […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
With mayor’s race settled, Lewiston council looks to move on, cooperate
LEWISTON — City councilors say they are ready to put aside politics from a tough mayoral race and get down to business. “Now that the election is over, it’s time to do the work we were elected to do,” said Ward 5 Councilor Kristen Cloutier. “We are all adults. We were elected to serve the […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Ben Chin continues fundraising lead over Robert Macdonald for Lewiston mayor
LEWISTON — Fundraising in the Lewiston mayoral race continued to tilt lopsidedly in favor of challenger Ben Chin, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday. Mayor Robert Macdonald picked up another $4,245, adding to the $1,063 he had left from the Nov. 3 election, according to a mayoral runoff financial report filed with the city […]
Posted inMaine
Maine People’s Alliance plays new, aggressive role in elections
LEWISTON — The ink on the post-Election Day newspapers was barely dry and the ecstatic news releases declaring victory for Maine Republicans for the second year in a row were already streaming in. Maine GOP Chairman Rick Bennett declared the night’s events “historic.” It’s true, Republicans appeared to capture two seats in the Maine House […]
Posted inMaine
Religious attack creates rift within Maine GOP; bishop calls for respect
LEWISTON — A former communications director on the re-election campaign for U.S. Sen. Susan Collins denounced a Maine GOP-sponsored blog that’s provided fodder for attacks against Lewiston mayoral candidate Ben Chin. Lance Dutson, who was once the chief executive officer for the right-leaning Maine Heritage Policy Center, called a recent post questioning whether Chin is […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Lewiston mayor wants public listing of welfare recipients
LEWISTON — Mayor Robert Macdonald, who is seeking re-election to a third term, said he intends to submit a bill to the Legislature to require the creation of a website listing names of people on welfare, their addresses, length of time on welfare and types of benefits received. All of that information is shielded from […]
Posted inMaine
Lewiston’s state lawmakers urge congressional delegation to keep heat on VA
LEWISTON — State lawmakers from Lewiston are urging Maine’s U.S. congressional delegation to keep the heat on the federal Veterans Affairs Administration until vacant counseling positions at the city’s vet center are filled. “Failure to fill these positions with competent, qualified individuals is a serious health and safety concern for our veterans, not to mention […]
Posted inMaine
Local vet center counseling, leadership jobs unfilled
LEWISTON — A shortage of mental health counselors at the Veteran Center in Lewiston has Maine’s U.S. Congressional delegation pushing for answers and Lewiston Mayor Robert Macdonald warning that a desperate, untreated veteran might act violently. As a measure of the problem, veterans and counselors say the local center has been without a team leader […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Lewiston’s mayor supports change to tighten lead exposure laws in Maine
AUGUSTA — Lewiston Mayor Robert Macdonald said the poorest children in his city have enough obstacles to overcome in their lives and he hopes state lawmakers will work to make sure lead poisoning is no longer one of them. Testifying before the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee on Monday, Macdonald said he supports a […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Bill that funds passenger train study for Lewiston-Auburn line gets broad support
Read also: Maine DOT proposes investing $125 million in passenger and freight rail AUGUSTA — Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Transportation Committee heard Tuesday from a diverse lineup of speakers touting a bill that would complete a study examining the economic impacts of a passenger rail link between Portland and Lewiston-Auburn. The study would also develop a […]