Tax help available Saturday

SANFORD — Tax preparation can be a headache for many, but York County Community Action Corp. is poised to help with a Super Saturday session to help people file and take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit.

The event, which is part of the organization’s York County CA$H program, takes place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at YCCAC headquarters, 6 Spruce St.

Families and individuals who earn less than $52,000 are eligible for the tax preparation. There is no fee.

To schedule an appointment, call 324-5762, ext. 2718.

Gov. LePage stops transgender protections

AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage is stopping the Maine Human Rights Commission and the Department of Education from issuing rules protecting transgender students. Schools instead are being given guidelines that lack the force of law.

A lead Democrat on the issue said LePage is putting vulnerable teens at risk.

Rep. Matthea Daughtry of Brunswick says the rules are required by the 2013 Maine Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in favor of Nicole Maines, a transgender student in Orono who was barred from using a bathroom appropriate for her gender.

LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said LePage has read the court decision and believes it requires the Legislature to take action, and that new rules are not required.

Lawmakers spar over extension of tax breaks

AUGUSTA (AP) — State legislators in Maine are debating whether residents and businesses will be able to claim a group of tax breaks offered by the federal government on their 2015 filings.

The Portland Press Herald reports that Democrats on the budget-writing committee voted 6-5 Wednesday to support a $16.8 million proposal that would allow residents to claim the tax breaks on their 2015 returns.

Presidential leadership topic of essay contest

The Margaret Chase Smith Library recently announced the topic of its 20th annual essay contest: presidential leadership. The competition is open to Maine high school seniors. Entries are due by April 1 and decisions will be announced on May 1. Prizes are $50 for five honorable mentions, $250 for third place, $500 for second place and $1,000 for first place. For more information, visit www.mcslibrary.org/program/ edu/essay.htm or contact John Taylor at 474-7133.

CASA training to be held March 8-11

Those interested in assisting foster children should consider becoming a courtappointed special advocate, or CASA. The CASA program is holding its spring training for volunteer advocates from March 8-11 in the Augusta area. The four-day training is free. Attendees learn about all aspects of child advocacy work in order to be certified as a volunteer guardian ad litem for the Maine District Court. Maine CASAs are community volunteers who are appointed to serve as advocates, called guardians ad litem, or GALs, for children whose parents are involved in a child protection court case. CASAs conduct an investigation and then advise the judge in writing of what they believe is in the child’s best interest.To find out more about the Maine CASA Program, visit the website at www.casaofmaine.org or the Facebook page. For more information about becoming a volunteer, contact Maine CASA Legal Services Advisor Darren Defoe by phone at 213-2864, or by e-mail at Darren.Defoe@ courts.maine.gov.