The legislation, which has divided the state’s farming community, was passed by the Senate on Monday after gaining approval in the House last week.
Penelope Overton
Staff Writer
Penny is excited to be the Portland Press Herald’s first climate reporter. Since joining the paper in 2016, she has written about Maine’s lobster and cannabis industries, covered state politics and spent a fellowship year exploring the impact of climate change on the lobster fishery with the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team. Before moving to Maine, she covered politics, environment, casino gambling and tribal issues in Florida, Connecticut and Arizona. Her favorite assignments allow her to introduce readers to unusual people, cultures, or subjects. When off the clock, Penny is usually getting lost in a new book at a local coffeehouse, watching foreign crime shows or planning her family’s next adventure.
Posted inLocal & State
Oversight panel members express frustration over hunt for ambitious child welfare reform
Suggestions ranged from creating a taskforce to review the circumstances of last year’s child deaths, to creating a whistleblower program to flush out government shortcomings.
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Posted inLocal & State, Uncategorized
Bill to ban sludge recycling and spreading divides farmers
While some farmers support a ban on sludge spreading to protect Maine farms from forever chemicals, a group that includes farmers and wastewater treatment operators want a ‘science based approach’ to monitoring PFAS levels to avoid increased fertilizer and sewer costs.
Posted inLocal & State, Uncategorized
Former Gov. Paul LePage courts new Mainer votes in Portland
Maine’s former governor takes his re-election campaign to the opening of the Maine Republican Party’s multicultural center in Portland.
Posted inLocal & State, Uncategorized
Republicans to open political multicultural center in Munjoy Hill
The center will focus on voter education and turnout, but also offer immigration help and job and language training.
Posted inLocal & State
Lawmakers vote to give more Maine children access to affordable healthcare
The bill would raise the income eligibility cap to 300 percent of the poverty level, waive the waiting period and premiums, and add 19- and 20-year-olds.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
Bill would double vehicle inspection fee across most of Maine
The extra revenue would help pay to convert the inspection system to a more efficient electronic one, but Gov. Janet Mills said Wednesday she would veto the bill if it reaches her desk.
Posted inLocal & State
State lawmakers want Maine courts to prioritize child murder cases
The Senate voted 33-0 to approve a bill that asks the court system to expedite child homicide cases so information about the child welfare system’s failings come to light sooner.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics, Uncategorized
Lawmakers may boost state reimbursement rates for family-planning care
A legislative panel approved a bill Friday to boost MaineCare reimbursement rates for family-planning providers.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
Senate approves bill to limit ‘dark store’ tax challenges
The bill would give municipalities a way to fight off big-box retailers’ efforts to reduce their municipal tax burden.