Maine News for Friday, November 7, 2008

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Portland Press Herald
Democrats Mitchell, Pingree in line for legislative leadership posts
Both parties will choose their State House leaders over the next two weeks.

Maine House has glow of youth with six new members under 30
The lawmakers join two young re-elected colleagues, all from districts north of Augusta.

Surge in jobless claims signals recession taking hold in Maine
With new applications up 54 percent from a year ago, the negative trend in the job market appears to be accelerating.

Obama quickly aligns top staff
Hard-edged Rahm Emanuel accepts the chief of staff post, and more decisions are expected in the coming days.

Will Obama choose Mainers for federal posts?
Democrat Tom Allen and independent Angus King are in the running, experts say.

Financial crisis a test for Obama
The president-elect will have to weigh how to sway policy and Congress before he takes office.

Editorial

‘No’ means ‘try again’ to the gambling industry
The defeat of two ballot measures looking to expand legalized gambling won’t mean the end.

Voters in 12 towns made progress on school mergers
Tuesday's election results show that some towns still have a lot of work to do.

Bangor Daily News

Maine lawmakers to elect new leaders

AUGUSTA, Maine — Legislative Democrats, who appear to have strengthened their control of the State House, and Republicans mired deeper in minority status have one thing in common at the top of their to-do lists: Select leadership teams for the two-year session that opens on Dec. 3.

Youth Movement

BANGOR, Maine — Adam Goode won Maine’s House District 15 (Bangor) race on Tuesday with more than 70 percent of the vote. He’s 25, by the way.

Panel OKs $14M Penobscot County budget

BANGOR, Maine — The Penobscot County budget committee Wednesday night approved a $14.41 million budget for 2009, which is $36,360 less than this year’s budget.

Business owners in Brewer express project concerns

BREWER, Maine — The message from business owners along the North Main Street corridor, the stretch of roadway between Joshua Chamberlain Bridge and Penobscot Bridge, was loud and clear at Thursday’s public meeting about proposed traffic changes: Leave the downtown parking situation alone.

Editorial

Collins at the Center

Susan Collins not only won re-election Tuesday; she became the most important member of the Senate.

Campaign Finance Reform

The 2008 presidential election has provided more evidence of the need to reconsider campaign finance rules.

Kennebec Journal
Jail change aids women inmates
AUGUSTA -- After months of planning and construction, the Kennebec County Correctional Facility is prepared to move most woman inmates from different cell blocks throughout the jail into a single pod.

BAD NEWS ABOUT ECONOMY MOUNTS
WASHINGTON -- A fresh wave of bad economic news, including a half-million Americans newly out of work and the weakest October retail sales in nearly 40 years, pummeled the stock market Thursday, driving the Dow Jones industrials under 9,000 again with a stunning two-day decline of 10 percent.

Maine's U.S. senators disavow Cabinet talk
Maine's two moderate Republican Senators have been rumored as possible candidates for cabinet posts in the Democratic administration of president-elect Barack Obama.

Craigslist agrees to thwart inappropriate, illegal activity
Anyone advertising erotic services on the Web site Craigslist, in Maine or elsewhere, will now need to provide a working phone number and credit card, and that information would be shared with police, if subpoenaed.

Furnace debate heating up
RANDOLPH -- The Budget Committee wants to know why selectmen and the public-works director disregarded a directive by voters to install a new furnace in the town garage.

AUGUSTA: Conduct closes soup kitchen
AUGUSTA -- The bad language and bad behavior that caused a one-day closure of the soup kitchen in downtown Augusta was absent at lunch on Thursday.

'What an opportunity for women to grow professionally'
AUGUSTA -- Edie Benttinen spent much of her career as a truck welder and boat builder. But, she said, she did not find the work fulfilling.

AUGUSTA: City to change how it buys oil
AUGUSTA -- A few months removed from locking in a heating-oil price -- and then watching as prices plummeted -- the City Council approved a policy change which administrators think will help avoid future budget surprises.

Editorials:

Olympia Gaming loses its bet on Maine casino
You come into Maine, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a political and advertising campaign and leave empty-handed. Again.

Sun Journal
Legislators look to elect leaders
AUGUSTA (AP) - Legislative Democrats, who appear to have strengthened their majority control at the State House, and Republicans mired deeper in minority status have one thing in common at the top of their to-do lists: select leadership teams for the two-year session that opens on Dec. 3.

Disconnection rules begin Nov. 15
AUGUSTA (AP) - The Maine Public Utilities Commission's winter restrictions that bar electric utilities from disconnecting customers who try to pay their bills take effect Nov. 15.

Editorial
New county board should pursue charter
The two-thirds replacement of the Androscoggin County Commission, which too often put politics over public service, on Election Day was a mandate from voters to clean up the county's act.

Democrats must give up old ways, surge ahead
"What do we do now?"

MPBN
Allen Revisited

November 6, 2008 Reported By: A.J. Higgins

A late start, a reluctance to go for the jugular and a reliance on broad national themes are all being cited by political analysts as key reasons why Tom Allen suffered a stunning defeat in his U.S. Senate campaign Tuesday. Others say the Democratic congressman's reluctance to enthusiastically embrace voters in northern Maine's second congressional district may actually prove to be the reason why Republican Sen. Susan Collins led Allen by 22 points when the votes were counted.

A High-Powered Entepreneur To Operate Red Shield

November 6, 2008 Reported By: Anne Ravana

The woman who's taken over the reigns at the former Red Shield Environmental mill in Old Town may not be what workers expected. Lynn Tilton is the high-powered entrepreneur and CEO of a 6 billion dollar New York City-based investment and acquisitions firm with a fondness for jewelry and helicopters. But she says her company, Patriarch Partners, is excited about the ethanol fuel technology being developed at the mill and passionate about giving jobs to laid-off workers in the manufacturing industry.

Voters Weigh In On School Consolidation

November 6, 2008 Reported By: Keith McKeen

Maine voters approved 12 school consolidation plans on Tuesday, but another five were rejected. The Maine Department of Education is hailing the approvals, calling them steps toward streamlining school operations in the state. However, some communities whose voters rejected reorganization say the costs will out weigh the savings.

Stringent Salmon Protection Opposed By Industry

November 6, 2008 Reported By: Susan Sharon

Maine paper companies, water treatment plants and hydro-power producers are among those urging the federal government not to add Atlantic Salmon from the Androscoggin, Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers to the Endangered Species list. Salmon from eight downeast Maine rivers were listed eight years ago. But their recovery continues to be slow.

Portland Press Herald
Election gives Democrats firm control of state Senate
The party's margin over the Republicans rises from one seat to five -- the biggest since 1999.

Election 2008 briefs

Casino backers: Mainers have lost their chance
After Question 2's defeat, developers will turn to other states, the proposal's supporters say.

After defeat, harness track may relocate
The owner of Scarborough Downs may seek a place more receptive to slot machines.

Obama skips spotlight, gets down to work
The president-elect forms a transition team and courts U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel to be chief of staff.

Hope stays high after cheering fades
Barack Obama supporters Wednesday say his victory inspires the feeling that the U.S. has turned a corner.

New Congress turning much more Democratic
They capture GOP-held House seats in all regions, adding at least 19 to the 30 they took in 2006.

Results don't alter political landscape
Analysis: Obama's win laid the groundwork for a major shift, but he needs re-election to assure it.

Editorial

Charter commission opens a path for change
Electing a mayor would have a bigger impact than replacing the names on the City Council.

Scarborough glitch shows that the system worked
Clear paper ballots that can be optically scanned work well on Election Day.

PETER H. JOYWood-pellet purchases display not 'panic' but serious forethought
If buying stock when it is cheap is selfish behavior, then so is laying in fuel for the future.

Time to trust the kids on ways to create a greener world
With Barack Obama as president, there’s nothing that can’t be hoped for on their behalf.

Bangor Daily News

Bangor employer faces 'Fear of the unknown' in keeping workers healthy

Bangor restaurateur Peter Geaghan offers health insurance to 10 of his employees through DirigoChoice. But on Wednesday, the day after Maine’s voters resoundingly overturned the new beverage tax that would have helped fund the state’s health insurance program, Geaghan already was looking for other options to keep his workers healthy.

Dems gain: Party intensifies grip on Legislature

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Democrats touted Election Day results Wednesday that they said show them expanding an already large margin of control in the state House of Representatives and the bare one-vote edge they have held in the state Senate.

Tribes reject Oxford casino

Last November, Washington County residents were stinging over voters’ rejection of a Passamaquoddy petition to bring gambling — and therefore jobs and tourists — to their economically depressed corner of Maine.

5 consolidation plans rejected , 12 OK’d

Of the 18 school reorganization plans up for votes around the state during Tuesday’s balloting, voters in affected districts approved 12 plans and rejected five, including three in Aroostook.

Tobin faces new charges

PORTLAND, Maine — A former Republican strategist pleaded not guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland to charges that he lied to federal investigators five years ago about his role in jamming phone lines in New Hampshire Democrats’ get-out-the-vote effort in 2002.

Baldacci orders agencies to cut $150M

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. John Baldacci has told state agencies they have a week to come up with ways to cut $150 million from current state spending as state revenues fall further behind projections.

Knox County votes out veteran commissioners

ROCKLAND, Maine — Knox County residents Tuesday voted out two veteran county commissioners and elected their replacements.

Time for change: Canadians express hope

ST. STEPHEN, New Brunswick — Anyone but Bush seemed to be the consensus among Maine’s Canadian neighbors as they woke up Wednesday morning to learn that U.S. voters had elected Sen. Barack

Maine, nation hit record turnout

Maine election officials have declared a record voter turnout but it’ll be days before a final tally is released, the secretary of state’s office said Wednesday.

Editorial

A Faith Restored

At several points in his improbable, inspiring and historic run for the White House, Barack Obama told voters his faith in America was restored by the electoral success he saw along the way. Pundits

Hope in the White House

As monumental as Barack Obama’s resounding victory in Tuesday’s election were the large, cheering, crying crowds that gathered in cities across the country to celebrate his win.

Kennebec Journal

Democrats take firm control of Maine Senate
AUGUSTA -- Richmond selectman and attorney Seth Goodall defeated an incumbent Republican Tuesday to help give his party firm control of the state Senate, according to election- night results.

Obama's long journey to White House
President-elect started with little beyond true believers

Activist from area returns to Chicago
Local attorney and Statehouse lobbyist Severin Beliveau said watching Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech Tuesday in Chicago is now at the top of his list of awe-inspiring political memories.

Voters' choices emerge in aftermath of election
Sen. Earle McCormick, R-West Gardiner, won re-election to his state Senate seat by defeating Democrat Sharon Benoit, of Monmouth, according to unofficial results.

On Maine Politics

Election upsets

Sun Journal
Senate 15 race heads for recount
After nearly 20,000 votes were cast, merely 102 ballots separated candidates in the race for state Senate District 15. Democrat Deborah Simpson upset Republican incumbent Lois Snowe-Mello by 0.5 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.

Maine Democrats retain House, Senate
AUGUSTA (AP) - Maine Democrats touted Election Day results Wednesday that they said show them expanding an already large margin of control in the state House of Representatives and the bare one-vote edge they have held in the state Senate.

Mills keeps House seat

Saviello keeps House seat

Knight re-elected in District 81

Gilbert wins House District 87 seat

Editorial
A trend toward gambling
This may sound strange, but in defeating Question 2, voters signaled support for casino gambling in Maine.

Credibility of major media melts away like early snow
More than the economy has melted down. What remains of big media credibility has also liquefied and won't recover anytime soon, if it ever does.

GOP's Summers concedes defeat in 1st District race
PORTLAND (AP) - Republican Charlie Summers congratulated Democrat Chellie Pingree Wednesday for her victory in their race for the open congressional seat in Maine's 1st District.

What's next for casino?
AUGUSTA - Gambling opponents said Wednesday that voters' refusal to allow a casino in Oxford County should close the door to more legalized gaming in Maine. But it looks like a safe bet that Mainers haven't heard their last gaming pitch.

Voters reject plan to close airport
BIDDEFORD (AP) - Voters in Biddeford have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that would have closed the city's airport.

Obama victory inspires Jenkins
AUBURN - Mayor John Jenkins won't forget there was a time in the nation's history when a black man might have been lynched for whistling at a white woman.

Collins thanks Lewiston backers at hot dog stand
LEWISTON - When Republican Sen. Susan Collins learned she had beaten her Democratic opponent Tom Allen in the heavily Democratic city of Lewiston, she said it was the "highlight of the evening."

MPBN
Governor Prepares Sobering Revenue Message

November 5, 2008 Reported By: A.J. Higgins

While Democratic leaders in the Maine House and Senate were celebrating expanded majorities as the result of yesterday's election, Gov. John Baldacci was preparing a sobering congratulatory message. State revenues are expected to dip sharply below projections over the winter and the Governor is now signalling his intention to cut current state spending by $150 million dollars over the next eight months. The situation is so critical, Gov. Baldacci may have to call the current legislature back into session within the next 30 days.

Mill Workers Anxious To Get Back On The Job

November 5, 2008 Reported By: Anne Ravana

The New York-based firm that purchased the Red Shield Environmental pulp mill in Old Town has announced it will put the 160 laid-off Red Shield employees back to work starting next week. Almost two weeks after the court-approved sale of Red Shield, Patriarch Partners closed on the deal on Tuesday and its CEO paid a visit to Governor Baldacci and mill managers on Wednesday.

Small Tech Company Proud Of Employee Healthcare Coverage

November 5, 2008 Reported By: Josie Huang

Elizabeth Harvey runs a small technology company in Portland's Old Port. She helps clients boost the rankings of their web sites on search engines like Google. It's a small operation with just five employees, but Harvey takes pride in the fact that she offers health coverage through the state's DirigoChoice insurance program.

Casino Backers May Look Elsewhere For Opportunity

November 5, 2008 Reported By: Tom Porter

The defeat yesterday of Question 2 - the proposed casino in Oxford County - has left the project's supporters rueing what they describe as a missed economic opportunity. Pat LaMarche, spokeswoman for Olympia Group of Las Vegas, which is the company behind the casino, says backers could now turn their attention to Maine's neighboring New England states.

Three Women And A Man To Represent Maine On Capitol Hill

November 5, 2008 Reported By: Keith McKeen

Democrat Chellie Pingree's victory over Republican Charlie Summers means Democrats continue to control Maine's first district congressional seat. But it also means that three fourths of Maine's congressional delegation will soon be women. That's a rarity on Capitol Hill.

Question One Wins

November 5, 2008 Reported By: Josie Huang

Maine voters overwhelmingly supported Question One and repealed a beverage tax passed by the legislature earlier this year. According to unofficial returns, Question One nabbed 64% of the vote with 78% of precincts reporting. The beverage tax would have gone toward funding Dirigo, a state-sponsored health insurance program. But those who called for the repeal said the issue was not about health care, but about Mainers' high tax burden.

Question Two Defeated

November 5, 2008 Reported By: Tom Porter

Perhaps the most hotly contested issue on the Maine ballot yesterday was Question 2 - the referendum proposal to allow a casino resort in Oxford county. The question was headed for defeat by a margin of 8% with 479 of 613 precincts reporting.

Collins Wins

November 5, 2008 Reported By: A.J. Higgins

What was supposed to be a closely fought Senate race ended in lopsided win for Republican incumbent Susan Collins who dealt a stunning defeat to her Democratic challenger, Congressman Tom Allen. According to unofficial returns from the Bangor Daily News, Collins captured 61% of the vote with 479 of 613 precincts reporting. Collins told MPBN's A.J. Higgins that she's looking forward to six more years in the U.S. Senate.

Pingree Wins

November 5, 2008 Reported By: Susan Sharon

The decision of first district Congressman Tom Allen to try to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins set off a political chain reaction in southern Maine more than 18 months ago. But by the time the dust from the June primary had settled, the contest left two former state senators to battle it out: Democrat Chellie Pingree and Republican Charlie Summers. Both are former state senators. Both got their start in small business. Both had sought higher office before and lost. Now it appears that Pingree is headed for Washington.

Michaud Wins

November 5, 2008 Reported By: Anne Ravana

Democratic incumbent Mike Michaud is returning to Washington to represent Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, handily defeating Republican challenger John Frary. This will be Michaud's fourth consecutive term.

Ellsworth American

An Incumbent and A Newcomer
ELLSWORTH — In two of the more closely watched races for the state House, incumbent Democrat Rob Eaton won another term in District 34, and Republican newcomer Brian Langley won the battle for District 38.

Incumbent State Senators Re-elected

ELLSWORTH — Incumbent state senators serving Hancock County enjoyed strong voter support in their bids for re-election.

Record Turnout
ELLSWORTH — Hancock County voters came out in force, casting nearly 32,500 votes in Tuesday’s general election and establishing a record turnout as 72 percent of the county’s registered voters cast ballots.

Voters Cork Beverage Tax

This Week in Pictures
Sports Editorial The News Waterfront Community Arts & Leisure 01 Sports 02 Editorial 03 The News 04 Waterfront 05 Community 06 Arts & Leisure Pause

An Incumbent and A Newcomer Election 2008 ELLSWORTH — In two of the more closely watched races for the state House, incumbent Democrat Rob Eaton won another term in District 34, and Republican newcomer Brian Langley won the battle for District 38. Read more...

Incumbent State Senators Re-elected Election 2008 ELLSWORTH — Incumbent state senators serving Hancock County enjoyed strong voter support in their bids for re-election. Read more...

Record Turnout Election 2008 County Vote In Line with State, Nation ELLSWORTH — Hancock County voters came out in force, casting nearly 32,500 votes in Tuesday’s general election and establishing a record turnout as 72 percent of the county’s registered voters cast ballots. Read more...

Voters Cork Beverage Tax AUGUSTA — A new tax adopted in April by the Legislature was repealed by a vote of the people Tuesday, leaving the Dirigo Health insurance program to rely on its former funding method.

Democrats Control State Legislature
AUGUSTA — With votes still trickling in early Wednesday, Democratic and Republican leaders agreed that the majority of political power in the Maine House and Senate will remain with the Democrats.

City Sees Record Voter Turnout
ELLSWORTH — The city of Ellsworth mirrored Hancock County with a record number of residents voting in Tuesday’s election both by absentee ballot and at the polls.

Maine News for Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Real Clear Politics
RCP Average 10/21 - 10/28, Obama 50.2 to McCain 43.9

Pollster.com
Latest analysis

Portland Press Herald

An angry Allen says Collins crosses line with ads
Election 2008: He accuses her of distorting his voting record at times when family came first.

Sens. Snowe, Collins split on Stevens
Olympia Snowe wants him to resign; Susan Collins wants voters to decide.

Panel: Maine economy needs a few good ideas
A business forum talks of wind farms, biomedical research and the need for many ideas to toss around.

Dow leaps, but hopes for stability fail to follow
Investors are cheered by today's likely cut in interest rates, but they also are bracing for a recession.

Obama infomercial airs at 8 p.m. for half-hour
Obama is the first presidential candidate since Ross Perot in 1992 to purchase a half-hour of prime time.

Mainers gobbling lobster to keep industry afloat
Strong local sales help stabilize prices, but long-term changes are needed to expand the market.

Snow forecast jolts fall season
Ski resorts take notice as Maine's mountains were due to get 1 to 3 inches.

Airing out their differences
Rivals in 1st District spar on health care, taxes and economy

Editorial

Mermin, Suslovic for Portland City Council
Two moderate, articulate problem-solvers lead the field in this year's council races.

There's no clear path to unclogging credit markets
An infusion of capital into healthy banks hasn’t produced the desired result – yet.

GREG KESICHLooking for socialists in all the wrong places
'Socialist' has replaced 'liberal' as the meanest thing one candidate can say to another.

Bangor Daily News

Unemployment spurs state hiring

BANGOR, Maine — The current large number of unemployment claims in Maine means that people are pretty busy at the Maine Department of Labor.

State cuts may slice jobs

AUGUSTA, Maine — Hundreds of state jobs and some existing programs would be eliminated in order to meet Gov. John Baldacci’s goal of reducing state spending by at least 10 percent in the next two-year budget, documents indicate.

Mainers give Obama 19-point lead in poll; Collins ahead

PORTLAND, Maine — A new poll suggests a 19-point lead for Barack Obama over John McCain in the presidential race in Maine, while Republican Sen. Susan Collins maintains a 17-point lead over her Democratic challenger, Rep. Tom Allen.

Guidelines created to track graduation rates

WASHINGTON — High schools are coming under pressure from the federal government to improve the nation’s dismal dropout rate — one in four students.

Study: School consolidation partners report reluctance, pessimism

ORONO, Maine — Communities are doing what they have to do in order to comply with the state’s school consolidation law, but are doing so reluctantly, under compulsion and with little optimism about the final outcome.

Weak economy fails to deter arena panel

BANGOR, Maine — Even in the face of an unstable national economy, the city is not backing off its proposed timeline for a much-needed new arena and convention center.

Bangor housing project gaining ground

BANGOR, Maine — Demolition has begun on a rundown Harlow Street building, a site that soon will become home to a four-story, 55-unit apartment complex specifically marketed to the elderly.

Editorial
Oh, Canada

If you lived in Canada, your national elections would be over by now. And you …

An Unnecessary Ending

The McCain campaign’s descent into nastiness has elicited strong rebukes from …

Kennebec Journal

O'Brien blasted on dual roles
AUGUSTA -- The Maine Democratic Party filed a complaint with the ethics commission Tuesday that alleges a conflict of interest regarding an expenditure made by the Maine Republican Party to support House candidate and GOP Executive Director Julie O'Brien of Augusta.

Pingree, Summers spar about economy
Fixing the flailing economy was the hot topic in Tuesday's televised debate between the candidates in Maine's 1st Congressional District race.

Collins cites creation of jobs as top priority
NORRIDGEWOCK -- Republican Sen. Susan M. Collins said Tuesday that bringing jobs back to America is the key to a secure future as the nation and the state gear up for an historic election Nov. 4.

States team up vs. mercury
Officials in Maine and six other Northeastern states are hoping a never-before-used provision of the Clean Water Act will force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to control mercury emissions from power plants outside the region.

Snow, but little accumulation, gives area a preview of winter
The leaves are still changing color, Halloween is just around the corner and weather forecasters are predicting snow.

ATTENDANCE UNDER SCRUTINY
U.S. Rep. Tom Allen angrily defended his attendance record in Congress on Tuesday, accusing his Republican opponent in the U.S. Senate race, incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, of offending his family in a series of campaign advertisements that focus on Allen's missed votes.

Allen cites 'change' themes
WATERVILLE -- He might be down in the polls with a week to go, but Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Allen sees a path to victory in the Maine U.S. Senate race.

31/2 years for grandma who stole almost $1M from family business
AUGUSTA -- A Waterville grandmother will serve 3 1/2 years behind bars for embezzling almost $1 million from her family's business.

Panel: MaineHousing improperly nixed aid
AUGUSTA -- Failing to keep a clean, orderly house should not cost a disabled woman her public housing voucher, the Maine Human Rights Commission concluded Monday.

POLICE
AUGUSTA -- A Kennebec County jail inmate remained hospitalized Tuesday after swallowing pencils in an apparent suicide attempt.

Editorials:

Feds are too secretive about use of our $700B
We supported the $700 billion rescue program passed by Congress in early October. The idea behind it was to inject money into the financial system, which has been reeling from the toxic debt taken on by lenders in the subprime mortgage market.

New thinking about roads doesn't mean we should abandon them
The best transportation policy for Maine would be more efficient vehicles, cheaper fuel and less costly methods of construction and maintenance of roads and bridges.

Sun Journal
Allen lashes out at Collins over missed-votes TV ads
PORTLAND (AP) - Democrat Tom Allen lashed out Tuesday against Republican Susan Collins over campaign ads pointing out that he missed 157 votes in the House, calling them "petty, ugly and personal attacks." Collins said she stood by the ads.

Mainers favor Obama, Collins, according to poll
PORTLAND (AP) - A new poll suggests a 19-point lead for Barack Obama over John McCain in the presidential race in Maine, while Republican Sen. Susan Collins maintains a 17-point lead over her Democratic challenger, Rep. Tom Allen.

Voters ban election signs from traffic island

Editorial
Where does the invisible buck stop?
After Alan Greenspan testified before Congress recently, a question crossed our minds: In this failing economy, caused by a dearth of actual currency and a wealth of imaginary credit, where does the (real or invisible) buck stop?

Mugging claim provides a paradigm of paranoia
It smelled worse than rotting garbage in triple digit heat, but I'm not surprised some folks swallowed it anyway.

MPBN

Sex Offender Registry Revisions May Be Delayed

The Maine's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee's planned revisions to the state's controversial sex offender registry law may have to wait until Maine's highest court rules on several appeals. Earlier this year, the committee attempted to correct a retroactive amendment to the law that would remove the names of those who had committed crimes between 1982 and 1992. Gov. John Baldacci vetoed the bill and asked the panel to take another look at the issue next year. But as A.J. Higgins reports, by then, Maine may not have a sex offender registry law on the books.

Allen Defends Voting Record

Under attack by his opponent for his attendance record in Congress, Democratic Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Tom Allen held an unusual news conference at his home with his ailing wife and his daughter today. Although Allen attempted to point out that he has taken thousands of votes in Congress and only missed several dozen during his career, there were also more questions raised about his missed votes by the Collins campaign. Susan Sharon has more.

Ad Execs Say Obama Masters Web Campaigning

Morning Edition host Irwin Gratz talks with Sam Surprise of Surprise Advertising and Brenda Garrand of Garrand and Company about the success the Democratic Presidential candidate has had raising money on the web and how the technique will change both political and commercial advertising.

Maine News for Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Real Clear Politics
RCP Average 10/20 - 10/27 -- Obama 50.3 to McCain 44.1

Portland Press Herald
Fending off blight
Some Maine communities will get a share of federal funds to buy and resell homes lost to foreclosure.

Officers back before AG ruling
Police may change policies on reinstatements before a shooting decision is made.

One firm financing support for slots
The owner of Hollywood Slots in Bangor is behind the efforts to bring slot machines to Scarborough.

With week to go, Allen tries to cull momentum from Obama
Election 2008: Sen. Collins just needs to avoid errors, an expert says.

BILL NEMITZThis time, House 102 race isn't even close

State rejects plan for rebuilt dam
The DEP says the project to power historic Scribner's Mill would threaten Sebago Lake's landlocked salmon population.

Democrats fined $5,000 for late report
The party is accountable for a content change to mailers that required immediate disclosure.

Poll shows Palin hurting GOP ticket
The Republican base loves her, but others see Palin unfavorably and question John McCain's judgment.

DNC chairman Howard Dean to address UM-Farmington rally
The ex-Vermont governor also will campaign for Barack Obama in Orono and in Portland.

HOUSE DISTRICT 66: Brunswick voters will have three party options
A Democrat, Republican and Green vie to represent the town as it prepares for the base closing.

Editorial

Portland voters should start charter process
Introducing a popularly elected mayor is just one idea that is worthy of exploration.

State's high court got it right by protecting political speech
The government shouldn't be deciding which politicians are telling the truth.

RON BANCROFTIt will help a lot to send more moderates to Augusta
There are options in southern Maine for moving beyond partisan issues for the good of all.

Bangor Daily News

Early bird ballots

BANGOR, Maine — City voters hoping to avoid the usual hassles of Election Day by casting in-person absentee ballots may not experience the smooth sailing they expected.

The kindness of strangers

Air Force Master Sgt. Colette Beaulieu of Hermon had a lot on her mind as she prepared for her recent deployment. Because her future plans were unclear, she had a home to sell, household belongings to put into storage, and an 18-year-old son to settle into a new apartment.

Backers of beverage tax blast lawsuit

BANGOR, Maine — Supporters of the state’s DirigoChoice health insurance program have raised the alarm over a lawsuit filed last week that challenges the savings offset payment, the program’s primary but unpopular current source of funding.

Baldacci fiscal plan earns a 'B'

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. John Baldacci got a B on this year’s fiscal report card from the conservative, Washington, D.C.-based Cato Institute, up from the D he got from the group two years ago.

Maine Democrats fined $5,000

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s campaign watchdog agency has fined the state Democratic Party $5,000 for filing an expenditure report 20 days late with the state.

New poll on Maine casino indicates dead heat

PORTLAND, Maine — A new poll commissioned by the company that wants to build a resort casino in Oxford finds that likely voters are narrowly divided on the project in what amounts to a statistical

UM gets patent for waterfront technology

ORONO, Maine — Researchers at the University of Maine’s Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center have been awarded a patent for new technology that could change waterfront construction methods for both large companies and individuals.

Hermon to decide local issues at polls

HERMON, Maine — People who go to the elementary school gym next Tuesday to vote for president will find that they also have stumbled onto a special town meeting.

Editorial

Lobster for Dinner

Maine’s lobsters are clearly sustainable, through license limits, trap limits, V-notching of females and throwing back undersize and oversize lobsters. But what about the lobstermen and the lobster industry? Both are in bad shape these days.

Kennebec Journal
ANIMALS' FATE IN BALANCE
AUGUSTA -- The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Monday considered the fate of 66 dogs, four cats and one bird seized in January from the Somerville home of Fern Clark.

Students see how top court functions
AUGUSTA -- The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Monday literally moved to Cony High School.

AUGUSTA Tax foes raise $3.5M Group seeks to kill beverage tax, which helps pay for Dirigo
AUGUSTA -- Fed Up With Taxes, the group behind Question 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot, has raised $3.5 million to fund a campaign to overturn taxes on beer, wine, soda and other flavored drinks, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday.

Dems fined $5,000
AUGUSTA -- The ethics commission voted 5-0 Monday to impose a $5,000 fine on the Maine Democratic Party for filing an expenditure report 20 days late.

Crockett denied funds
AUGUSTA -- The ethics commission voted 4-1 Monday not to award Rep. Patsy Crockett, D-Augusta, more public money for her campaign, even though a write-in candidate is running against her.

Dean, of Vt., to visit UMF Wednesday
FARMINGTON -- Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will speak at the "A Vote for Change" rally Wednesday at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Editorial

Clean Elections law plagued by 'substantial' hole
In early June, the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics gave $4,144 to Rep. Patsy Crockett, who was running for re-election in a contested race for House District 57 in Augusta. Crockett was running as a Clean Elections candidate and that amount represented her allotment of Maine Clean Election Act funds from the state. The same amount was also paid to other House candidates in a contested general election.

MAROULLA GLEATON, M.D., OF PALERMO, PRACTICES OPHT : VOTE 'NO' ON QUESTION 1 Health coverage, quality care most important issues
As a local physician, I appreciate the opportunity to address concerns about Question 1. On Election Day, Maine voters will decide what is more important to them: preserving and expanding health coverage for Maine families, children and small businesses; lowering the current assessment on health claims; providing rate reform to 40,000 Mainers who pay for their own health insurance, or pennies on a glass of wine, a beer or soda.

DAVID B. OFFER : McCain, Palin should have seized moment
Serving as county sheriff used to be a family affair in Wisconsin.

Sun Journal
Casino election tight, poll suggests
PORTLAND - A new poll commissioned by the company that wants to build a $184 million resort casino in Oxford indicates that likely voters are narrowly divided on the project in what amounts to a statistical dead heat.

Bedbugs cause shelter to close
PORTLAND (AP) - An emergency shelter for drug addicts in Maine's largest city was closed because of a bedbug infestation, but officials hope they can reopen the facility Tuesday.

State opposes Crooked River dam
PORTLAND (AP) - The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a draft order that would block the restoration of the historic Scribner's Mill Dam on the Crooked River in Harrison.

Quoddy Bay withdraws request for state permits
AUGUSTA (AP) - Quoddy Bay LNG has withdrawn its request for state permits to build a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal and pipeline at the Passamaquoddy Indian reservation at Pleasant Point in eastern Maine.

Contrarian vs. incumbent in Maine's 2nd District
LEWISTON - Maine's sprawling 2nd Congressional District has produced such Republican luminaries as Bill Cohen, Olympia Snowe and the late Margaret Chase Smith, all of whom went on to the Senate and made names for themselves on the national stage.

Absentee ballots prove popular in Twin Cities
One in seven registered Twin Cities voters has already cast a ballot in November's presidential election, according to statistics from the offices of the city clerks.

Pair charged in plot to kill Obama, others
WASHINGTON - Two white supremacists allegedly plotted to go on a national killing spree, shooting and decapitating black people and ultimately targeting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, federal authorities said Monday.

Editorial
There's no defense for deception
As a newspaper, we vigorously defend the First Amendment right to free speech. It's the most potent freedom ever granted a human citizenry, and our most effective weapon against tyranny and oppression.

MPBN

Differences In Question One Debate Focus On The Numbers

On November 4, Maine voters will be asked Question One: whether they want to repeal a beverage tax that would fund the state's Dirigo Health program. It may be no surprise that those who want to dump the tax say it will cost more than those who support Dirigo, which provides insurance to Mainers based on their ability to pay. But the difference in the projected size of the tax is gaping. Josie Huang reports.

A Your Vote 2008 Candidate Profile: Chellie Pingree

s a young woman she never planned on running for the Maine Legislature or dreamed that she would head Common Cause or raise millions of dollars to mount a bid for Congress, twice. Those are just a few of the highlights of Democrat Chellie Pingree's resume. In legislative circles she's best-known for taking on the pharmaceutical lobby to spearhead the first-in-the-nation bill regulating prescription drug prices. Now she's hoping to be the first woman elected to Congress in Maine's first district. As part of our Your Vote 2008 Election coverage, Susan Sharon has this profile.

Maine Hopes To Tap Into Culinary Tourism As "The Next Napa Valley"

If asked to name two industries associated with the state of Maine, many of us would probably mention tourism and seafood. The combination of these two activities - vacations and dining - underscored a new three-day food wine festival in the Portland area, which wrapped up over the weekend. Harvest on the Harbor attracted thousands of visitors from Maine and across the country, featuring large scale, tastings, cooking demos, seminars and black tie dinners. Tom Porter was there.

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Maine News

Differences In Question One Debate Focus On The Numbers

On November 4, Maine voters will be asked Question One: whether they want to repeal a beverage tax that would fund the state's Dirigo Health program. It may be no surprise that those who want to dump the tax say it will cost more than those who support Dirigo, which provides insurance to Mainers based on their ability to pay. But the difference in the projected size of the tax is gaping. Josie Huang reports.

A Your Vote 2008 Candidate Profile: Chellie Pingree

s a young woman she never planned on running for the Maine Legislature or dreamed that she would head Common Cause or raise millions of dollars to mount a bid for Congress, twice. Those are just a few of the highlights of Democrat Chellie Pingree's resume. In legislative circles she's best-known for taking on the pharmaceutical lobby to spearhead the first-in-the-nation bill regulating prescription drug prices. Now she's hoping to be the first woman elected to Congress in Maine's first district. As part of our Your Vote 2008 Election coverage, Susan Sharon has this profile.

Maine Hopes To Tap Into Culinary Tourism As "The Next Napa Valley"

If asked to name two industries associated with the state of Maine, many of us would probably mention tourism and seafood. The combination of these two activities - vacations and dining - underscored a new three-day food wine festival in the Portland area, which wrapped up over the weekend. Harvest on the Harbor attracted thousands of visitors from Maine and across the country, featuring large scale, tastings, cooking demos, seminars and black tie dinners. Tom Porter was there.

For Now, Credit Available to Maine Small Business

How the economic crisis on Wall Street affects main streets across the state will depend, in part, on whether loans continue flowing from local banks to small business. Karen Mills, a venture capitalist and President of MMP Group, tells Morning Edition Host Irwin Gratz government may have to help in the months ahead. And she urges small business to lobby Congress to include small business aid in any new economic stimulus bill.

Listener Feedback: From Sears Island to "Scallops"

From time to time, we share our listener's thoughts about our recent work. We've heard from several people about things they didn't like, as reported by Tom Porter and Josie Huang.

Maine News for Monday, October 27, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Long-term state idea: Energy use 'clusters'
The strategy, plus an emphasis on renewable resources, is part of a draft plan that envisions an energy transformation in Maine.

1st District: Undecideds cloud race
Election 2008: Polls show Chellie Pingree has a lead, but large numbers of voters are still making up their minds.

State to scrutinize contracts with colleges
No-bid contracts, while legal, have little oversight and officials want to verify the money is spent wisely.

Wall Street turmoil cuts into Colby endowment

HOUSE DISTRICT 60: Energy, economy top campaign issues
Both rank as priorities for the candidates seeking the House District 60 seat that represents Topsham.

Editorial
County reform served best by Cloutier, Larsen
These experienced newcomers to county government can help make it better.

Leigh DonaldsonToo often contrary facts don't influence our beliefs
Our views of current events prove remarkably resistant to evidence or corrections.

Next Legislature should not knock out school merger law
School districts should still find partners
while the referendum process plays out.

[October 26, 2008]

Bangor Daily News

Rain, wind topple trees, spur floods

Gusty winds, hard rain and ocean swells of more than 9 feet caused damage in midcoast and Down East Maine on Sunday morning. Trees toppled, there was minor flooding and a lobster boat sank at the Searsport town wharf, but there were no reports of injury.

Why Maine splits its electoral votes

Does the Electoral College have you stumped, especially the part about Maine and Nebraska being the only two states that can divvy up their electoral votes among presidential candidates? Here’s a quick refresher course.

Rockland rallies to support state lobster industry

ROCKLAND, Maine — A day after the governor of Maine estab-lished a task force to review the sustainability of the state’s lobster industry, Rockland came together to rally the industry on its own.

Editorial

Houses and Homes

The next president and Congress have a rare opportunity to remake the way Americans build, buy and sell houses. The current economic downturn is linked in large part to the boom, bubble and bust cycle of the housing sector.

What’s the Rush?

There are good reasons for revising the Endangered Species Act — it is slow and cumbersome for some developers and landowners, for example — but any such rewrite must be thoughtful

Kennebec Journal

Mills eyes two state positions
FARMINGTON -- In November, a three-term representative in the Maine House, Democrat Janet T. Mills, hopes to be re-elected by voters in Farmington and Industry.

Major MaineGeneral donors express concerns
WATERVILLE -- Some area philanthropists have expressed concern about MaineGeneral Health's plan to consolidate operations in Augusta, with at least one saying the move will cost the medical center her financial support.

Auto dealers weathering the storm
Randy Miller has been selling cars for 35 years. He has seen the industry at its best and he has struggled through the worst, like the fear that gripped the nation as gasoline was rationed in the 1970s.

KENNEBEC COMMUTER: MTA tries to justify toll hike
A little bird (better known as our colleague Susan Cover) had a story in the newspaper not too long ago about the Maine Turnpike Authority raising the tolls next year.

Editorials

Political speech, other tall tales still protected
After a two-year-long presidential race, we hardly need to remind our readers that election campaigns practically invented lies, distortions, untruths, half-truths, falsehoods, misrepresentations and fairy tales.

Sun Journal
Collins: I want Lewiston
That Susan Collins wants to win her race for re-election should come as no surprise; that the incumbent Republican U.S. senator has a goal of winning the city of Lewiston, might.

Political campaigns flooding mailboxes
WASHINGTON (AP) - Mailboxes stuffed and it's not even the holidays? It must be election season.

Editorial
Cleaning out the inbox …
Cheers and jeers from around the news:

Next president should support Israel-Syria talks
The next president will inherit a depressing litany of Mideast problems. But there is a chance to change that negative dynamic by zeroing in on a promising Mideast peace track that was never supported by the Bush team.

MPBN

Chamber Challenges Dirigo Health Funding

The state Chamber of Commerce has a filed a lawsuit challenging the funding for Dirigo Health. Details from Josie Huang.

AG Candidate Addresses Past Lapse In Attorney License Status

With less than two weeks to go until Election Day, candidates for the Maine Legislature are actively courting voters. But behind the scenes, the candidates themselves are being courted by three legislators who are vying to become Maine's next Attorney General. Maine is the only state that elects its Attorney General by a popular vote of the Legislature. In the first of a two-part series on the contest, A.J. Higgins reports that one of the leading candidates for the job has not held an active license to practice law in Maine for five of the last seven years.

'Climate Change 21' Focuses on Current Research

Some of the nation's most current scientific research in the field of climate change was presented at the University of Maine this week. The Orono campus hosted a conference titled Climate Change 21: Choices for the 21 Century. As Anne Ravana reports, more than 500 scientists, students and others gathered to discuss issues ranging from the Ice Age to fuel cell technology.