The Maine Community College System and Associated General Contractors of Maine are establishing a pre-apprenticeship program to prepare adult Mainers for in-demand building trades.
Kelley Bouchard
Staff Writer
Kelley writes about Maine businesses large and small, focusing on economic development, workforce initiatives and the state’s leading business organizations. Her wider experience includes municipal and state government, immigration, education, transportation, 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, streaming foreign TV series and kayaking at camp.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Thrifting for Christmas helps shoppers save money, buy sustainably
Resale shops, thrift stores and antiques malls across Maine make it possible to find unique vintage and handcrafted holiday gifts at bargain prices.
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Posted inLocal & State, News
Border agents apprehend record number of people in Maine illegally
The individuals arrested in fiscal 2025 came from 46 countries, according to Houlton Sector Maine of the U.S. Border Patrol.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Holiday gatherings offer a chance to talk about scams
It’s a complicated subject, but having a frank discussion now could prevent heartbreak, trauma and serious financial losses in the future.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
How a Maine couple gave their $1.3 million retirement savings to bitcoin scammers
Larry and Barbara Cook are risking public embarrassment to spare others from a similar trauma. In the process, they’re helping to rewrite federal and state income tax laws related to fraud losses.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Maine will resettle only 50 refugees this year, all white South Africans
Reductions by the Trump administration continue after Maine was allowed to resettle about half of the 950 refugees allocated last year.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Maine travelers anxious over nationwide flight cancellations
At Portland International Jetport, at least 96% of flights are connected to 15 major airports directly impacted by FAA-required cancellations.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Portland jetport warns of flight cancellations after FAA cuts air traffic at 40 airports
The Federal Aviation Administration is reducing air traffic by 10% at 40 ‘high-volume’ airports across the country, including Boston’s Logan, potentially impacting thousands of flights.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
New business-based coalition forms to address Maine’s housing shortage
Build Homes Build Community is a statewide group of business leaders, nonprofits, trade associations and others that will advocate for pro-housing policies and encourage Mainers to support home construction in their communities.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Turnout strong as Mainers weigh in on state referendums, local races
Mainers on Tuesday braved high winds on a crisp fall day to make their voices heard on as Question 1, which would have required voter ID and made other changes to Maine’s elections, and Question 2, a so-called red flag law. Many towns also held municipal elections.