Polling places across Maine opened Tuesday to allow voters to weigh in on school budget proposals and, in many communities, elect local officials.
Politics
Local, statewide and national political news from the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics, Schools and Education
Bill to support later high school start times passes in House, Senate
The measure, which originally mandated a statewide 8:30 a.m. or later high school start time, was amended to create funding for districts to pilot a later start time.
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Posted inBusiness, Local & State, Politics
Worker safety program for Maine’s heritage industries gets funding restored
Maine AgrAbility, part of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, has regained access to nearly $200,000 in federal funding that was abruptly frozen last month.
Posted inLocal & State, Maine Crime, News, Politics
How a former lawmaker grew weed with alleged Chinese crime groups in rural Maine
A web of shell companies and illegal grows allegedly linked to Chinese organized crime traces its start to one former Democratic legislator, his cannabis consulting business, and his chain of central Maine dispensaries.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Farmworker minimum wage on track to become Maine law
A bill to extend the state minimum wage to agricultural employees has now been approved by the Senate and House of Representatives.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Proposed roll back of Maine’s new paid family and medical leave program rejected
Initial votes Monday indicated lawmakers are unlikely to pass changes Republicans had sought to repeal the program or make it voluntary.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News, Politics
Gov. Mills warns that federal Medicaid cuts would directly harm Mainers
As the Trump administration’s sweeping budget and policy bill moves to the Senate this week, Gov. Janet Mills used a radio address to repeat her concerns about the budget cuts’ potential impacts on health care in Maine.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Maine Republicans say Democrats broke law by denying hearing on ‘red flag’ gun initiative
The proposal, which is headed toward a statewide referendum this fall, would make it easier to take guns from people believed to pose a danger to themselves or others.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
Gov. Mills signs law designating Jan. 6 as ‘day to remember’
The new law will require the governor to sign a proclamation each year honoring the resilience of democracy during the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
New law lets Maine prescribers keep their names off abortion pill labels
The bill allows health care providers to not have their name on prescribing labels over concerns about threats and harassment for prescribing abortion medication.