Government + Politics
Pushing for information and accountability, Lewiston families and survivors go to Washington
Families of victims and one survivor of the October 25 mass shooting in Lewiston met with members of Maine’s congressional delegation on Thursday to ask the lawmakers to do more to stem the epidemic of gun violence and push for information regarding what the U.S. Army knew or what actions were taken regarding the mental […]
Child development workers report unwieldy caseloads, toxic culture as they push to oust director
When Colleen Brown writes Individualized Education Programs for children who need special education, she said it is as if she is writing a check she knows is going to bounce. Brown began working at Child Development Services (CDS) seven years ago. Currently, she is an IEP administrator but also has a small caseload because her […]
Divided over immigration, U.S. Senate blocks advancing aid for Ukraine, Israel
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate failed to move forward Wednesday with a $111 billion spending package that would have bolstered aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the Southern border amid deep disagreement about immigration policy. The 49-51 procedural vote, which needed at least 60 senators to advance the bill toward final passage, represents a significant […]
Biden meets with leaders of tribal nations, signs order easing access to federal funds
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday that would make it easier for tribal nations to access and invest federal funding on their own terms. “It’s hard work to heal the wrongs of the past and change the course and move forward,” Biden said. “But the actions we are taking today are […]
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy to exit Congress, along with a flock of other lawmakers
WASHINGTON — Former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Wednesday joined the growing list of Congress members heading for the U.S. Capitol exits. McCarthy’s planned departure by year’s end, following the expulsion of disgraced New York Republican Congressman George Santos, will leave the House GOP with a razor-thin majority in 2024. The California Republican’s announcement also […]
Maine death certificates don’t track housing status, but other states are starting to
Jim Fernald is a fifth-generation funeral director. His great-great grandfather started the family profession near Mount Desert Island, and now, Fernald has been working for more than 30 years in Bangor. Each case is different, Fernald said, but in the past few years, he’s seen an increase in the number of people who were homeless […]
Millions in debt, low-barrier shelters warn committee they are at risk of closing
Hope House Health and Living Center, a low-barrier homeless shelter in Bangor is searching for a new financial partner. Without it, the shelter will need to close come next October. Currently, the shelter has an $800,000 budget gap, according to remarks made by Lori Dwyer, president and CEO of Penobscot Community Healthcare, which runs the […]
Mills administration awards $1.3 million to support green energy and tech businesses in Maine
The administration of Governor Janet Mills on Tuesday announced that three organizations have been selected to receive a total of $1.3 million in funding to help advance the green energy economy in Maine. In a statement, Mills said the investments will “further establish our state’s leadership in developing forward-looking technologies to reduce our reliance on […]
Sen. Collins continues to reject more judicial nominees under Biden than previous administrations
Nearly three years into President Joe Biden’s term, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ rate of opposition to judicial nominees is notably higher than it was during the Trump, Obama, Bush and Clinton administrations — a shift that comes amid a push by Democrats to counter the conservative tilt of the federal bench. Of the 159 Biden […]
Other cities take note as New York City tells Airbnb: Fuhgeddaboudit
NEW YORK — As New York City’s busiest tourist season approaches — with travelers visiting holiday attractions across the city and the famed New Year’s Eve ball drop — the options of where to stay are shrinking. For years, it has been illegal for homes in New York City to be rented out for fewer […]
This is who will appear on Maine’s presidential primary ballots in March
The candidates on Maine’s primary ballot for the March 5 election have been finalized. For the Democratic primary, President Joseph Biden and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota will be on the ballot. For the Republican primary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (who on Monday dropped out of the race), pastor and entrepreneur Ryan Binkley, […]
‘Forever Chemicals’ in Thousands of Private Wells Near Military Sites, Study Finds
Water tests show nearly 3,000 private wells located near 63 active and former U.S. military bases are contaminated with “forever chemicals” at levels higher than what federal regulators consider safe for drinking. According to the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that analyzed Department of Defense testing data, 2,805 wells spread across 29 states […]