BANGOR — Most of the 406 Maine Army and Air National Guard employees and 1,500 workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery furloughed last Tuesday when the federal government shut down have returned to work, officials said Monday. Maj. Michael Steinbuchel, public affairs officer for both branches of the Maine National Guard, said employees […]
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Posted inNation / World, sj-web
White House would consider a short-term extension on debt limit
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House signaled on Monday that it would be open to a short-term increase in the nation’s borrowing authority as the United States moved a step closer to its first-ever default and a partial government shutdown entered its second week. Gene Sperling, a senior Obama economic adviser, was pressed on whether […]
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Shutdown creating delays in Maine federal courts
PORTLAND — Attorneys have started filing motions to delay federal court cases in Maine because of the federal government shutdown. The Portland Press Herald reports the U.S. attorney’s office has filed motions to delay at least two pending civil matters. One involves a Princeton resident who slipped on snow and fell outside the Indian Township […]
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Boehner to Obama: No debt hike without concessions
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States moved closer to the possibility of the first-ever default on the government’s debt Sunday as Speaker John Boehner adamantly ruled out a House vote on a straightforward bill to boost the borrowing authority without concessions from President Barack Obama. With no resolution in sight, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew warned […]
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U.S. government work is losing cachet for some
WASHINGTON (AP) — There was a time when being a federal employee meant a steady paycheck, great benefits and pride in serving the country. But these days, many federal workers are frustrated, anxious and growing tired of being pawns in a never-ending political struggle over government funding. “The pay has fallen behind, the uncertainty of […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Injured Maine woman rescued from closed park
BAR HARBOR (AP) — An injured Maine hiker has been rescued from a trail in Acadia National Park, which is closed during the federal government shutdown. A ranger says the 69-year-old Portland woman was hiking along the Flying Mountain when she fell and cut her knee and was unable to walk out. She called 911 […]
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Visitors determined to enjoy closed Acadia a real problem for park rangers
BAR HARBOR — Thanks to the partial government shutdown, Acadia National Park is closed. But try telling that to the crowds of people — tourists and locals alike — who took advantage of Saturday’s beautiful weather to bike on the carriage trails and hike the park’s mountains anyway. “It’s perfect weather, and there’s a zillion […]
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Congress likely to give shutdown workers back pay
WASHINGTON (AP) — A partial government shutdown enters its fifth day, with Congress convening for a session that promises no progress in breaking the impasse but will at least offer back pay to furloughed federal workers. The GOP House is scheduled Saturday to vote on legislation backed by the White House and congressional Democrats that […]
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Thousands of state employees could be furloughed next week if shutdown continues
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage has cleared his Friday schedule so he can meet with department heads to gauge the potential damage of a prolonged U.S. government shutdown. The shutdown has sent hundreds of state employees and National Guardsmen into temporary layoffs, and if it continues into next week, “thousands” more could be furloughed, according […]
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Shutdown Update: Obama calls for meeting with Congress
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama summoned congressional leaders to the White House on Wednesday as a partial government shutdown entered a second day with little sign of a breakthrough to get hundreds of thousands of people back to work. Some on Capitol Hill ominously suggested the impasse might last for weeks, but a few Republicans […]