10 months ago

Woman accused of sending threatening letter to Collins held without bail

The Burlington woman accused of mailing a threatening letter to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins waived a probable cause hearing on Tuesday and agreed to be held without bail while her case is pending in federal court in Bangor.

10 months ago

What the biggest Maine state employees union wants from Janet Mills

Good morning from Augusta. Bargaining between Maine’s new chief executive and the largest state employees union over a new two-year contract began in earnest at the end of February and has largely been kept confidential since then, but there are plenty of hints about what employees are seeking.

11 months ago

Maine House Democrats again rebuff GOP efforts to alter minimum wage law

Democrats in the Maine House of Representatives effectively killed a handful of Republican-backed bills on Thursday that were designed to slow the state’s voter-approved minimum wage hikes or offset its impact on employers.

11 months ago

Bill to strip Maine vaccination exemptions moves ahead despite GOP opposition

A bill that would repeal nonmedical exemptions to Maine school immunization requirements won a split legislative committee’s backing on Wednesday, putting the measure supported by Gov. Janet Mills’ administration on track to pass.

11 months ago

Weekly call with politicians rings of democracy in action

Each week, the Aroostook Partnership, a regional advocacy group, facilitates a legislative conference call between political leaders that represent the interest of Aroostook County and business constituents.

11 months ago

Democrats’ bid to have MaineCare cover abortion clears legislative committee hurdle

Democrats on a legislative committee on Tuesday advanced a bill backed by Gov. Janet Mills’ administration that would supplant a federal ban on abortion funding by using state money to cover abortions under Maine’s Medicaid program.

11 months ago

Maine lawmakers again explore letting doctors help terminally ill patients die

For the third time in four years, Maine lawmakers will consider a bill that would allow some terminally ill patients to request life-ending medication.

11 months ago

Angus King says IRS should not be focused on auditing taxpayers in poor Maine counties

Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine said he’s upset by a report that found lower-income counties, including two in Maine, are subject to more tax audits by the IRS.

11 months ago

Maine unveils new driver’s license design that will include Real ID compliant marking

Your driver’s license will be getting a makeover when it comes up for renewal. The Maine secretary of state’s office unveiled a new design for it on Monday that will also include a marking meant to signal compliance with a controversial federal law regulating state-issued identification.

11 months ago

Out-of-state donors position Susan Collins to break campaign cash record

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has turbo-charged her fundraising on the backs of large, out-of-state donors and raised more money for her 2020 campaign by March’s end than she had to this point in her last three re-election races combined.

11 months ago

Maine woman accused of sending threatening letter to Susan Collins’ home

A Burlington woman has been charged in federal court with mailing threatening communications to Sen. Susan Collins’ Bangor home in October.

11 months ago

How lawmakers are splitting on key parts of Janet Mills’ budget proposal

Some legislative committees have finished their recommendations on Gov. Janet Mills’ $8 billion, two-year budget proposal, with Democrats asking for more education funding and Republicans splitting with them on many key initiatives.

11 months ago

Kushner identified as White House official denied security clearance

The senior White House official whose security clearance was denied last year because of concerns about foreign influence, private business interests and personal conduct is presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner, according to people familiar with documents and testimony provided to the House Oversight Committee.

11 months ago

Mills administration to place overdose reversal drug in public spaces

Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ administration has announced a plan to place the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone in “NaloxBoxes” around the state.

11 months ago

Joe Biden is ‘a warm, affectionate person,’ Susan Collins says

It’s simply a “human touch.” He’s a “warm, affectionate person.” ”He hugs everybody.”

11 months ago

Former US Rep. Poliquin: Ranked-choice voting a ‘scam’

Former Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin says ranked voting is a “scam” introduced by Democratic activists to ensure that liberals are elected.

11 months ago

House panel votes to subpoena former White House official over security clearances

A House panel voted Tuesday to subpoena a former White House official accused of overturning denials for security clearances after a whistleblower complained that the Trump administration had put the nation’s most guarded secrets in jeopardy.

11 months ago

Jared Kushner dismisses concerns raised by Maine native about White House security clearances

Presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner on Monday dismissed concerns raised by a whistleblower about the White House’s security clearance process, saying President Donald Trump’s administration has faced “a lot of crazy accusations” during the past two years.