The rate reduction will save more than 17,500 Maine employers as much as $31 million in total workers’ comp costs, which are among the highest in the nation.
Kelley Bouchard
Staff Writer
Kelley writes about some of the most critical aspects of Maine’s economy and future growth, including transportation, immigration, retail and small business, commercial development and tourism, with emphasis on consumer issues, sustainability and minority ownership. Her wider experience includes municipal and state government, education, history, human rights, health and elder care, the environment and the housing crisis. A Maine native and University of Maine graduate, she was a college intern for two summers at the former Lewiston Evening Journal. She previously worked at the Ipswich Chronicle, Beverly Times and Salem Evening News in Massachusetts. Favorite pastimes include gardening, cooking for family and friends, streaming foreign TV series and kayaking at camp.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, Nation & World, News
Spike in road fatalities prompts Maine officials to urge driver safety
So far this year, 42 people have died on Maine roads, an increase over 29 deaths at this time in 2023, but the numbers have seesawed up and down since 2020.
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Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Promotion of Wabanaki cultural tourism gains momentum in Maine
Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, the welcome center at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, is slated to open this summer. Designed in collaboration with Wabanaki leaders, it is one of the first major efforts in the state to boost Indigenous tourism.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Portland Jetport anticipates 17% passenger increase this summer
Service expansions by Breeze, Frontier and other airlines could push summer passenger numbers to 2 million.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Advocates for ban on flavored tobacco decry lack of vote in Maine House
The legislation died Thursday, and proponents would have to introduce a new version next legislative session.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Maine unemployment rate holds steady at 3.3%
The Maine Department of Labor reports little change in job market conditions in March, with non-farm jobs reaching the second-highest number on record.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Portland’s Amtrak station may move from Thompson’s Point
To shorten trip times, the operator of the Amtrak Downeaster is considering relocating the Portland station to one of 3 sites along St. John Street.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Maine lawmakers kill 2 bills meant to protect privacy of residents’ online data
The state’s business leaders fiercely opposed the restrictions they said would have limited their ability to target ads to potential customers.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Maine House backs data privacy bill
The legislation aims to regulate the collection, use, processing, transfer, sale and deletion of non-publicly available personal data. Business groups say the bill would detach Maine’s businesses from the global online marketplace.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Veggie or grain? Maine’s congressional delegation acts to defend, promote potatoes
All 4 members have joined bipartisan efforts to prevent the potato’s reclassification from vegetable to grain under federal dietary guidelines, and to encourage Japan to drop barriers to buying more U.S. potatoes.