The Trump administration says it’s reviewing $7 billion in federal school funding, including $26 million for Maine, which 150 House Democrats decried as illegal in a Thursday letter to the Department of Education.
Politics
Local, statewide and national political news from the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Jared Golden introduces bill to increase penalties for crimes against law enforcement officers, judges
The Back the Blue Act proposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years for anyone who kills a federal law enforcement officer, a U.S. judge or a federally funded public safety officer.
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Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine again fails to establish a statewide system to track rape kits
Two bills to create a tracking system received support in the Legislature but weren’t funded. A similar bill also failed to make it into law last year.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation & World, News, Politics
New Hampshire judge to pause Trump’s birthright citizenship order
The ACLU of Maine is among several plaintiffs challenging the White House’s use of a phrase in the 14th Amendment in a bid to end an intrinsic part of US law for more than a century.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics, Schools and Education
How Trump’s big bill will reshape the affordability of Maine higher education
The newly signed law adds caps on federal graduate student loans, expands Pell grants to cover workforce training and changes the college endowment tax, potentially giving millions in relief to small Maine colleges.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Federal workers in Maine face uncertainty following court ruling allowing for mass layoffs
It’s unclear how federal workers in Maine might be impacted, but the ruling allowing the Trump administration to move forward with plans for staff reductions has prompted concerns.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Ban on untraceable firearms among dozens of bills Mills delays decisions on
Now that the 10-day window for the governor to sign bills has passed, she has the option to veto each bill or let it become law without her signature when the Legislature next meets.
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Local & State, News, Politics
Maine and Rep. Laurel Libby agree lawsuit is now moot
The Auburn Republican sued after being censured by the Democratic-controlled House, and blocked from voting or speaking, for violating ethics rules by identifying a transgender high school athlete in a social media post.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation & World, News, Politics
Donald Trump gave Susan Collins a pass, for now. Will Maine voters?
The Republican senator’s maneuvering on Trump’s tax and spending cuts bill shows she’s walking a tightrope ahead of her 2026 reelection bid.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation & World, Politics
Maine joins lawsuit alleging Trump administration shared Medicaid data for immigration enforcement
Federal officials say the data sharing is related to an effort to prevent abuse of the Medicaid program, but Maine and other states say it’s illegal and raises privacy concerns.