Act would help businesses like New Balance, which makes shoes in Skowhegan, Norridgewock and Norway, and funnel money the Department of Defense gives personnel to buy foreign shoes into U.S. companies.

The shoe manufacturer, with three factories in Maine, is pushing the government to keep its promise to use U.S.-made athletic shoes in the military and speaking out against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, with support from Maine’s congressional delegation.

The U.S. government seeks damages from Kennebec Scrap Iron for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

Main Street Skowhegan hosts first public forum on the shape of things to come.