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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Posted inMaine
Maine ride program still off target as passengers, drivers and agencies struggle
AUGUSTA — The state’s struggling non-emergency ride program has made some marginal improvements but is nowhere near where state officials or those who depend upon it and volunteer for it would like. Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday revisited issues that started with the $40 million program after the state […]
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Posted inLewiston-Auburn
River Views: Labor Day brings back memories of fair week
“Always Labor Day Weekend” was the Maine State Fair slogan when I was growing up. Those days may be gone, but to anyone who experienced its annual six days of excitement, along with a fair share of education, there were many lasting memories. I researched several years in which the fairgrounds next to the railroad […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine lobstermen’s union endorse Democrat in state Senate race
JONESPORT — The members of Maine’s largest union representing lobstermen endorsed Democratic state Senate candidate Eloise Vitelli in the upcoming special election for Senate District 19. Vitelli, of Arrowsic, is in a three-way race with Republican Paula Benoit, of Phippsburg and Green Independent Daniel Stromgren of Topsham. The International Association of Machinist—Maine Lobstering Union, Local […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bowen defends Maine school grading system in wake of Florida colleague’s ouster
AUGUSTA — The resignation in Florida of a close ally of Maine Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen and Gov. Paul LePage has prompted a new round of criticism of some of the administration’s initiatives, including a controversial A-through-F grading system for Maine’s public schools. According a Reuters news service report, Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett resigned […]
Posted inLocal Sports
Legion state tournament: Hyde overpowers The Red Barn
AUGUSTA — Corbin Hyde has been most comfortable pitching from the stretch this year. Whether or not he was willing to admit it before Wednesday’s American Legion state tournament opener, but he certainly couldn’t deny it after. Hyde struck out 16 while scattering six hits and two walks over eight innings to lead Past Club […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Greene man sentenced to 18 months for reselling prescription skin cream online
A Greene man was sentenced Monday in Portland on charges of theft, misbranding and giving a false statement. In a U.S. Department of Justice release, United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that United States District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Samuel Hall, 38, to 1 1/2 years in prison and three years of supervised […]
Posted inMaine
Maine Senate, House pass budget fix
AUGUSTA — The Legislature has passed a bill to fix a $6 million hole in Maine’s two-year $6.3 billion state budget. The Democratic-led House and Senate gave final approval to a bill to raise the service provider tax late Tuesday night. Its fate was uncertain after it failed in the House earlier Tuesday. But lawmakers […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Auburn budgets, government topic of informational meeting
AUBURN — City Manager Clinton Deschene discussed the rationale behind the city’s budget and philosophies for managing municipal government at a public meeting Monday in Auburn Hall. “What Auburn really has to do is figure out what we want, commit to it and stick to it,” Deschene said at the first of two public meetings […]