Maine News for Thursday, August 21, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Panel eyes ways to help Mainers stay warm
State House: Lawmakers examine options such as energy audits, changes in regulations and more aid.

Maine Senate OKs Baldacci's nominees

Governor withdraws pesticides nominee
The decision follows a committee's rejection of Deborah Aldridge, an organic blueberry grower.

Unionization bill gets high profile in state
Election 2008: Sides form over a labor measure to let employees form a union without secret-ballot votes.

Opponents hoping to sink Saco's shark tournament
The Humane Society calls such events cruel and wasteful, but local organizers cite the benefits, including fundraising.

Editorial

Voting system flaws hurt where it counts
Eight years after the debacle in Florida, doubts remain at American polling places.

Lower drinking age a solution only for colleges
Some higher education leaders want to push this problem off their campuses.

Letters

Another CMP customer cites baffling meter reading

California attorney general stops Nestle in its tracks

'Success' of surge in Iraq misleading, disturbing term

Stories with Internet links useless without computers

Bangor Daily News
Bangor: Hollywood Slots celebrates hotel grand opening
Thursday, August 21, 2008
BANGOR, Maine - Hollywood Slots on Wednesday unveiled the final component of its $132 million-plus gambling and entertainment complex.

Quebec onstage: Folk fest to spotlight our northern neighbor
Thursday, August 21, 2008
This year, thousands of tourists have flooded Quebec City as it celebrates the 400th anniversary of its founding. Can't make it to Quebec this year? Don't worry. The American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront is bringing a bit of Quebec to you when Bangor's summer event opens this Friday.

Ex-Mainer pleads not guilty to Bush, Obama threat
Thursday, August 21, 2008
MIAMI - A man formerly from Maine who authorities said kept an arsenal of weaponry and military gear pleaded not guilty Wednesday to threatening to assassinate both President Bush and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Wet summer weather boosts Maine's wild blueberry crop
Thursday, August 21, 2008
ELLSWORTH, Maine - The stretch of wet weather this summer may have put a damper on a few vacation plans, but it has boosted the prospects for the state's wild blueberry crop.

Northern Maine cancer rate studied
Thursday, August 21, 2008
FREDERICTON, New Brunswick - A medical researcher from Maine is in New Brunswick this week hunting for clues about why people living in counties along the border have higher than average rates of cancer.

'Grandfamily' summit focus on law, kinship
Thursday, August 21, 2008
There are about 11,000 children in Maine being raised by family members other than their parents - aunts and uncles, grandparents, older siblings and others.

Gambling board lifts gaming expansion hiatus
Thursday, August 21, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine- Noting that everyone was ignoring it anyway, the Maine Gambling Control Board has opted not to extend its request for an intermission before any more casino-style gambling venues are authorized.

Lincoln wind farm gets mixed reviews
Thursday, August 21, 2008
LINCOLN, Maine - Al Roy gets a lovely view of the sun rising over Rollins Mountain and glinting off Egg Pond. So do fellow Egg Pond Road residents Harry Washburn and Donald Smith.

Old Town: Red Shield financing delayed
Thursday, August 21, 2008
OLD TOWN, Maine - Employees at Red Shield Environmental will have to wait until September to learn the fate of the mill that they were hoping would be restarted by the end of this month.
Editorial

Weatherization Day
Thursday, August 21, 2008
With heightened concern over expected high heating bills this winter, many have looked to government for solutions. While increased funding from Washington for LIHEAP and state support for energy efficiency is important, community groups and individuals can step in now to help.

Unnecessary ESA Re-write
Thursday, August 21, 2008
The Endangered Species Act has rightly been criticized for being slow and cumbersome. Eliminating a key provision of the act - which requires agencies that promote development, such as the Department of Transportation and the Bureau of Reclamation, to consult with agencies charged with protecting wildlife - is not the solution.

August 21 Letters to the Editor

Kennebec Journal
SEEKING WINTER AID
AUGUSTA -- Lawmakers serving on a special panel on energy issues met for the first time Wednesday to talk about what the state can do to help thousands of people heat their homes this winter.

Community leaders to meet today on heating
AUGUSTA -- Social service groups, local government officials and oil fuel dealers will convene today to target issues that could affect Maine residents when the bitter winter months set in.

Focus on union voting method
Legislation that would allow organizers to unionize workplaces without secret-ballot elections has the potential to significantly shift the balance of power in the workplace, a fact being highlighted in Maine this summer by television ads and other marketing initiatives.

CHELSEA Town to mull new school
CHELSEA -- An initiative to erect a new building to house Chelsea Elementary School advances to its next step early next week.

Organic farmer shot down as board choice
Gov. John Baldacci on Wednesday withdrew his nomination of an organic blueberry grower to the Board of Pesticides Control after intense lobbying against her by groups that represent conventional farmers.

Allen postpones, Dems gear up for convention

Editorials:

Agencies, groups mobilize forces on energy front
It's going to take a lot of work to help Mainers cope with high energy prices.

LIZ SOARES OF AUGUSTA : Car-free days help you help environment
I was going to write an entire column detailing how I spent a car-free day, but I realized that would be too boring.

GORDON L. WEIL, A CONSULTANT, PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR : Political conventions are scripted, boring ... maybe
The 2008 Democratic National Convention may achieve something that for more than a quarter of a century has been lacking in such gatherings.

Letters

Ammons' departure from paper 'a terrible loss'
I was very disappointed to read in this morning's newspaper (Aug. 12) that Patty Ammons was leaving the paper. What a terrible loss this will be to her many readers.

U.S. needs to return to sound monetary system
The American people were given a bill of goods by the international bankers. The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 created a central private bank, the sole purpose of which was to destroy the dollar that was once backed by gold and silver.

Democrats should make national debt major issue
The Democratic party has an opportunity to become the party of fiscal responsibility, taking from Republicans a perception that contributed greatly to the election of Ronald Reagan.

Sun Journal

Panel opens review of Maine energy issues
AUGUSTA (AP) - House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, convening a new legislative task force, isn't ruling out action by the lame-duck Legislature on heat and energy issues later this year.

Governors, premiers to meet
BAR HARBOR (AP) - Maine will be the host when New England governors and premiers from eastern Canada meet next month to talk about energy, transportation and economic development.

Barge strikes bridge, but no major damage
SOUTH PORTLAND (AP) - A barge that was being towed out of Portland Harbor struck the Casco Bay Bridge on Wednesday. No injuries were reported and the Coast Guard said there appeared to be no major damage.

Rating cardiac care in Maine State's hospitals fall within range of national average
Nearly everyone gave an aspirin to patients coming through the door with a heart attack. Were they sent home with instructions on how to take care of themselves? Not always.

Editorial
Passengers are a costly proposition
The Lewiston and Auburn city councils have approved $20,000 to study whether passenger flights should fly from A-L airport.

Debate reminds faith should be in God, not government
The "civil forum" featuring presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain may not have been as exciting as Michael Phelps winning his eighth Olympic gold medal, but it was civil and it was a forum from which emerged useful information.

Letters
Beware Obama
His father and grandfather were both born in the Muslim faith. He was enrolled in a public school and called the prayer by the imam, according to a column by Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times, "one of the most beautiful sounds at sunset."

College knowledge
After reading the article on Aug. 19 stating college presidents say lowering the drinking age could help, I couldn't even finish reading the paper without stopping to write this letter while the details were fresh in my mind.


MPBN
OTB Facility Being Investigated

All bets could be off for a Waterville off-track betting facility which is under investigation by the Maine State Harness Racing Commission for alleged unidentified violations of its OTB license. The commission has scheduled a hearing next month to determine whether Autotote, a subsidiary of Scientific Games, is properly licensed as an OTB at John Martin's Manor and in compliance with any associated requirements involving the serving of food and alcohol. Pending their findings, commissioners could suspend or even revoke the facility's OTB license.

Anti-Plastic Bottle Campaign Launched in Portland

"Take Back The Tap" is the name of a new initiative aimed at convincing the public to drink more tap water and less from plastic bottles. In Portland, the anti-bottle campaign comes on the heels of a city council resolution urging the state's congressional delegation to support a federal clean water trust fund to insure that municipalities have clean, safe tap water. But the fledgling pro-tap water campaign goes a step further. It urges local restaurants to take bottled water off their menus. Keith McKeen reports.

Task Force Developing Energy Plan

A special legislative task force formed to develop a plan to help Mainers with heating costs this winter met at the State House today to gather information on the resources available through state agencies and what they may be lacking. As Anne Ravana reports, House and Senate leaders are still in the very early stages of putting together a bipartisan plan to help Mainers get through what promises to be a very expensive -- if not disastrous -- heating season.

PolitickerME
Breaking: Allen to address Democratic National Convention

Hoffman decision denied by U.S. Justice Souter

McKane considers year-round daylight savings for state

Senate coasts through nomination process

Ellsworth American
Here Comes the Sun
EASTPORT — As Maine grapples with its addiction to fossil fuels, some alternative energy visionaries are looking to the sun and moon as renewable sources of energy.

In East Blue Hill, A Solar Subdivision
BLUE HILL — The next time Maine endures a catastrophic ice storm, the lights will be burning brightly within the 11 homes being planned for Pond House Trail.

Harnessing the Tides
EASTPORT — You don’t need a graduate degree in fluid dynamics or hydrokinetics to appreciate the energy inherent in the sea.

State Financial Services Commissioner Tapped for University Post
AUGUSTA — The Governor’s commissioner of financial services, Becky Wyke, has been tapped to be the vice chancellor for finance and administration at the University of Maine System — the second job she’s been offered in less than a month.

Veto Question on Tax Hikes To Appear on Nov. Ballot
AUGUSTA — Taxes on beer, wine, soda and health insurance passed at the end of the legislative session to fund the state’s subsidized insurance plan known as DirigoChoice will be challenged on the November ballot.

Forecasters Trying to Gauge Impact of Oil Prices on State Revenue
AUGUSTA — State revenue forecasters are working to determine how much worse an already bad situation can get if oil prices don’t come down.

Average Heating Oil Price Down to $4 a Gallon
AUGUSTA — The average price of heating oil has dropped this week to $4 per gallon — down 42 cents from last week — along with the price of a barrel of crude.

Food License Hikes Intended to Help Pay for Health Inspections
AUGUSTA — The state is increasing license fees on places that sell and make food — from convenience stores to maple syrup producers — to raise money to help pay for health inspections.

Maine News for Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Nominees endorsed; final votes are today
State House: Lawmakers work to fill seats on the Dirigo, corrections boards.

Baxter Building may be sold
The Maine College of Art has lined up a buyer who intends to restore the historic Portland building.

Union asks judge to deny ruling request

Oil fuels boom in West Texas
Real estate, jobs and other segments that are struggling nationally are thriving here.

Navy's shipbuilding compromise aims to please all sides
But a House panel that has opposed it before controls the fate of a third Zumwalt.

Editorial

City should be careful when regulating prayer
If there are parking concerns during a Saturday prayer gathering, then address those narrowly.

Third DDG-1000 good news for 5,900 BIW workers
The Navy's change of heart removes any uncertainty over the shipyard's future.

Letters
Explore options for winter heat

Writer entirely off base on Barack Obama's views

Republicans have forgotten what they used to profess

Bangor Daily News

The reasons energy costs are high in Maine
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
According to Richard Davies, head of the Maine Public Advocate office, there are three reasons energy prices in Maine are higher than in other regions of the country, even though they are lower than those in other New England states.

Rising energy costs challenge remote Monhegan, Matinicus
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Of all the residential power users in the state of Maine, the ones that pay the highest rates may be the ones that live farthest from land.

St. Agatha residents invited to join municipal tax club
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
ST. AGATHA, Maine - Residents and property owners in this northern Maine lakeside town have until Aug. 22 to sign up for a municipal tax club and participate in a monthly tax-payment plan.

Study: Maine fattest in New England
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Maine ranks a respectable 34th among the 50 states in its rate of adult obesity, according to a new report, but it has the highest rate of adult obesity among the six New England states.

Maine praised for efforts to curb substance abuse
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, chairman of a national study commission on substance abuse, met with Gov. John Baldacci on Tuesday and praised Maine’s prevention efforts.

Hiker in Acadia says ranger assaulted him
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, Maine - Just by looking at Tim Wild, it’s easy to tell that something happened to him.

Truck spills load of crabs in Brewer
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
BREWER, Maine - A pile of live crabs was served up to residents Saturday morning when the truck carrying them spilled the crustaceans across North Main Street, Sgt. Rich Smith said Tuesday.

Diplomat hopeful, sees Iraqi progress
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The situation in Iraq has improved in the past several months, according to a career diplomat with ties to Maine.

Editorial

After Musharraf
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The excitement over Monday's resignation of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was short-lived. Just a day after he announced he was stepping down, the leaders of the country's two main parties are already disagreeing and issuing ultimatums as violence continues.

Frary's Follies
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
John Frary's colorful campaign for the 2nd Congressional District seat now held by Mike Michaud has been, by turns, amusing, confusing, frustrating -and finally, disappointing.

Michael A. Nissenbaum: Canada, not wind, is energy solution
'What we love about Maine - trees, lakes, mountains, our history - is also our chief economic advantage. Investing in new ways in our traditional industries - such as tourism - will reap greater economic rewards.' Gov. John Baldacci

Judith Lewis: Fuel solutions, stuck in muck
It seemed, at the time, like such a good thing for the planet: In the winter of 2005, I turned in my red, gas-hungry Jeep Wrangler for a near-new, diesel-burning Volkswagen Beetle. Inspired by a number of pioneering friends, I would fill my little green slug bug with a nontoxic, sweet-smelling fuel made from vegetable matter called biodiesel.

Kennebec Journal

Baldacci's picks seek Senate nod
AUGUSTA -- The Maine Senate will meet today for a confirmation session in which members will consider nominees for everything from the state's top finance position to the Board of Pesticides Control.

U.S. HAS FUNDS FOR MILL SITE
AUGUSTA -- The city is getting up to $100,000 in federal help to determine what, if anything, is lurking in old, underground fuel storage tanks at the abandoned American Tissue Mill site.

AUGUSTA Charter panel nears report
AUGUSTA -- The system of electing four city councilors by ward and four at-large is still in.

MOTORCYCLIST DEATH RATE FALLS
Motorcycle fatalities across the nation continue to steadily climb, government safety officials announced, but although more motorcyclists in Maine are perishing in accidents, the number is fewer per registered motorcycle than last year.

Super merger meeting Thursday
A simultaneous meeting of seven school boards on Thursday could offer some clarity for six towns whose school systems are merging into one regional district.

Destroyer decision pleases BIW, others
The Navy's decision to build a third Zumwalt-class destroyer seemingly satisfies almost everyone.

Opinion
GEORGE SMITH : Returning to GOP after 90 days as Democrat not as easy as expected
Confession time. On Thursday, I will have been a Democrat for 90 days. It'll be an important day of decision for me.

Letters

Life in prison too good for some criminals
After reading "Attack survivor's battle" (July 23) with sadness, I remember the letter to the editor from Doug Jenkins of Chelsea, "We all need to step up to prevent home invasions" (June 4).

Sex offender's hearing sends the wrong message
I have great concern regarding the message given in the hearing of the sex offender, conditions of probation and contact with the victim, "Letters to a sex offender" (Aug. 8).

Sun Journal
Maine health board nominees OK'd
AUGUSTA (AP) - A former House Republican leader was virtually assured of membership on the newly expanded board that oversees the state's 5-year-old Dirigo health insurance program on Tuesday as he won a solid committee endorsement for Senate confirmation.

LaMarche says she won't 'lie' for casino
The campaign to bring a privately run casino to Oxford County was dealt a blow Tuesday when Pat LaMarche said she would no longer serve as the effort's spokesperson.

'It's only been a few kids'
AUBURN - A jury listened Tuesday as a former Park Avenue Elementary School music teacher confessed his urges for touching the buttocks of little girls.

Editorial
Throwing money in the furnace
Today, the next committee to tackle energy issues convenes its first of five meetings in Augusta. This is the aptly-named HEETForce, or Heat and Energy Emergency Task Force, assembled by the leadership of the Legislature.

MPBN
LaMarche Leaves Casino Campaign

The spokesperson for the campaign to bring a casino resort to Oxford County has resigned, citing moral failings and disreputable conduct within the campaign. Pat LaMarche, a former candidate for Governor in 2006 for the Maine Green-Independent Party, released a statement today saying she will no longer speak - or work in any capacity - on behalf of Evergreen Mountain Enterprises, LLC., which has secured a statewide referendum on the November ballot. The campaign's leader, Rumford attorney Seth Carey, faces misconduct charges related to his legal practice. The campaign's advocacy efforts remain uncertain.

Lawmakers Say Dirigo Health Faces Uncertain Future

Three new nominees to the Dirigo Health Board received the approval of a legislative policy committee today as they prepare for a pending Senate confirmation hearing. But the program they hope to guide is facing one of the most critical junctures in its five-year-old history. Yesterday, the Maine Secretary of State's office validated a petition to allow a November referendum on new taxes devised to fund the insurance program. Some lawmakers now fear the Dirigo program's future is anything but certain.

Portland Rabbi Appeals Zoning Decision

Support is building in the Jewish Community for a Hasidic Rabbi whose traditional weekly prayer meetings are in jeopardy of being quashed by the city of Portland. For decades, Rabbi Moshe Wilansky has been conducting religious services at his home in Portland, but concerns about possible traffic bottlenecks and a zoning violation prompted the city's zoning administrator to issue an order for the worship services to cease. Supporters of the Rabbi, including the Maine Civil Liberties Union, say shutting down the worship services would be a violation of religious liberty.

PolitickerME
Commission questions $2K in MCEA purchases by state Senate candidate

Supreme Court Justice Souter mulls stay of Hoffman court decision

Oxford County casino project loses member

The Bush Loyalty Score: U.S. House

Maine News for Monday, August, 18, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Pre-buying your heating oil? State, industry urge caution
Customers are being told to ask dealers to explain how they will provide oil.

Task force to tackle high cost of heating
The legislative panel will hold at least five public meetings before issuing a report in November.

State committees to hold confirmation hearings
On Wednesday, the full Senate will be in session to make final decisions on the nominees.

College-bound Maine students find loans are available here
They apparently escape problems with loans that students in states such as Massachusetts have faced.

Analog TV shutdown kills free cell-phone TV

Editorial
Council should accept Maine State Pier deal
The framework does a good job of limiting the city's risk in an important development.

Energy plan offers substantial response
Without precluding a special session, the governor may have made one unnecessary.

[August 17, 2008]

Community colleges in right place at right time
Foresight in creating the system is paying off big as economic times get tougher.

[August 17, 2008]

Leigh DonaldsonThere are many reasons why we still need print journalism
Where else will people find the solid reporting on events near and far that no other outlet creates?

Letters
Collins should turn attention elsewhere

By resigning, D'Andrea makes honorable decision

Criticism of Maine bottler cites questionable 'facts'

Bangor Daily News

Back-to-school tax holiday lacking panel support
Monday, August 18, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Twenty states have a "sales tax holiday" during the summer months to help ease the burden of families buying back-to-school clothes and supplies, but similar proposals have not made it out of committee in Maine.

Special Report: Welfare in Maine after '96 reform act
It's been more than 10 years since then-President Bill Clinton signed into law a piece of legislation that became known as the Welfare Reform Act.

Hoffman: 'I'm going to be on the ballot'
Monday, August 18, 2008
BELFAST, Maine - Herbert Hoffman, the retired psychologist who is running as an independent in the U.S. Senate race against Rep. Tom Allen and Sen. Susan Collins, told a small group of supporters Saturday that he believes the United States Constitution is on his side in his effort to get his name on the statewide ballot this November.

Keeping the heat in
Saturday, August 16, 2008
With the public's heightened concern about energy - especially its cost - and high expectation for government solutions, Gov. John Baldacci has proposed a modest short-term plan that sets the appropriate tone of using state resources wisely before moving to spend money the state isn't likely to have.

Tax reform challenges
Saturday, August 16, 2008
While it is welcome news that Gov. John Baldacci wants to lower the state's income taxes, many more details are needed before this becomes realistic. One of the biggest problems is that with the state already predicted to face a large shortfall in its next budget cycle, revenue reductions will only worsen the budget gap.

August 18 Letters to the editor

Kennebec Journal

New energy panel will meet
AUGUSTA -- A new legislative panel meets for the first time Wednesday to begin work on setting an agenda to help Mainers cope with the high cost of heating their homes.

Several legislative committees to meet this week
AUGUSTA -- Several legislative committees will be back at the Statehouse this week to hold confirmation hearings on nominees for various councils and commissions.

Students dodge lending worries
While college-bound students in Massachusetts and elsewhere have struggled to secure private loans for the coming school year, Maine students have largely been able to escape those worries, lending and college officials say.

Editorials:

Governor works within limits to design energy aid
Gov. John Baldacci has devised a series of short-term actions to help Mainers meet the difficult challenge of high energy prices through the end of 2008. From heating oil aid to an optional four-day work week for some state workers, the governor's plan is an appropriate and thoughtful response to the growing crisis in the state.

Nader's 'bid' not valid enough for debate or ballot
Seventy-four-year-old Ralph Nader, once the scourge of corporate America, is becoming the laughing stock of democratic America.

I-295 repaving effort belied early fears
The repaving of Interstate 295 from Gardiner to Topsham, formally finished last week, could have been a mess. Instead, it was an example of how to do things right.

Sun Journal
College applications rise
PORTLAND (AP) ­- School officials say applications to Maine's universities and community colleges have increased this year due to greater marketing efforts and a flagging economy.

Festival draws 145,000
LEWISTON - Rhythm, blues and propane burners blended with applause while a near-perfect sunset provided the backdrop for one final ride into the skyline high above the Twin Cities as the 16th Annual Great Falls Balloon Festival drew to a close Sunday evening.

Auburn police test out Segways
AUBURN - Gliding through the city at a brisk 12 mph, standing tall and going places no cruiser can go, Auburn police are one step closer to the reality of Robocop.

Noel Madore: Delegate, political intern, senior in high school
At first, he liked Republican Congressman Ron Paul for president.

Letters
Working for oil
John McCain's energy policy is to sacrifice the lives of a few Mainers for oil company profits.

MPBN
Governor Proposes $12.6 Million Energy Plan As GOP Repeats Call For Special Session

Governor John Baldacci today said that he will not call a special session of the legislature to deal with looming energy concerns this winter. Instead, he unveiled a multi-million dollar plan that he says includes investments in weatherization, fuel assistance, and transportation. GOP leaders, meanwhile, are repeating their call for a special session next week, as well as a short-term infusion of state funds into a federal heating assitance program.

Allen Ties Collins to "Misleading" Ad

Maine union leaders and the Tom Allen for Senate campaign are demanding that Republican Senator Susan Collins condemn an ad that depicts union members and the 1st District Democratic congressman as tools of organized crime mobsters. The ad is misleading according to critics who claim it distorts the intent of federal legislation crafted to make it easier for workers to organize a union. But, as A.J. Higgins reports, one Maine business advocate is convinced the so-called card check bill will encouarge union bosses to intimidate workers into joining.

Maine News for Friday, August 15, 2008

Portland Press Herald
GOP pushing special session on heating aid
Republican leaders say legislators should convene without compensation.

Collins questions Edwards' baby denial
The Maine Republican says during a radio interview: 'Don't you think he is the father?'

Prime land part of newspaper package
But two members of the group negotiating to buy Blethen Maine Newspapers downplay the deal’s real estate element.

Editorials

State should speed up rules for electric cars
Maine law should stay current, as people look for transportation alternatives.

Workers still at risk at the former DeCoster Egg Farms
Multimillion-dollar penalties have not yet stopped the violations at the farm in Turner.

M.D. HARMONIf we're not at the top in tax rates, where else could we be?
A recent drop in the state's ranking has led some to leap to entirely too-rosy conclusions.

Letters

Hard-working teachers merit our thanks

Weighing in on what's causing newspaper's woes

Specialty plate proposals need not present problem

Expedite political solutions by voting out incumbents

Bangor Daily News

Energy-conservation forums slated for Bangor, Hermon
Friday, August 15, 2008
BANGOR, Maine - A group of Bangor area state lawmakers will hold two energy-conservation workshops next week in Bangor and Hermon.

Brewer, Cianbro sharing spotlight
Friday, August 15, 2008
BREWER, Maine - A video production company on Thursday was at Cianbro's Eastern Manufacturing Facility, and at other spots around town, filming for a documentary on what will be the largest oil refinery in United States history.

Reducing agencies on state's agenda
Friday, August 15, 2008
State officials are asking for the public's comments on ways to eliminate duplication in the agencies that oversee Maine's woods, waters, farms and overall environmental health.

Republican legislators press for special LIHEAP session
Friday, August 15, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Republican lawmakers are pressing their call for a special legislative session to transfer $10 million in surplus funds to Maine's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Maine to Cameroon: Yes, he's monogamous
Friday, August 15, 2008
MILLINOCKET, Maine - With all the power invested in him as Town Council chairman, Wallace Paul swears that Ben Clark is not and never has been a polygamist.

Maine food stamp benefits to rise
Friday, August 15, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Federal officials have granted the state's request to adjust food stamp benefit levels to reflect higher home heating and other utility costs, which will result in an estimated 59,000 households in Maine getting about $23 a month more beginning next month.

Bells, clappers stolen from coastal buoys
Friday, August 15, 2008
PORTLAND, Maine - The U.S. Coast Guard and the Maine Marine Patrol are investigating the theft of bells and clappers from navigational buoys along the Maine coast. Investigators believe the brass or bronze bells are being sold as scrap metal.

Mitchell to receive public service award
Friday, August 15, 2008
BANGOR, Maine - Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell will receive the Scales of Justice Award from Equal Justice Works. The award will be presented on Oct. 16 in at a banquet in Washington, D.C.

Editorial

Maine's Water Wars
Friday, August 15, 2008
When he was governor, Angus King often lamented the lack of value-added components in Maine's economy. Wood chips and pulp should not be exported, he argued; instead, Maine should lead in paper, lumber and furniture making.

August 15 Letters to the Editor

Kennebec Journal

Collins joins speculation on father of Edwards mistress's baby
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins speculated on a live radio broadcast this week that former Democratic U.S. Sen. John Edwards is the likely father of a child born to a woman with whom he recently admitted having an affair.

GOP hot to start session
AUGUSTA -- Republican lawmakers are pressing their call for a special legislative session to transfer $10 million in surplus funds to Maine's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Cianbro opens new plant in Brewer
A Pittsfield construction company today celebrates a landmark: The grand opening of a mammoth new facility in Brewer.

Baldaccis invite public to mansion
AUGUSTA -- Gov. John Baldacci and first lady Karen Baldacci will celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Maine governor's mansion -- the Blaine House -- this weekend.

Editorial

Rural workers need high-tech education, skills
By passing a $50 million bond in 2007 to fund state investments in technology, Maine voters placed their bets on that sector's future as the state's traditional, natural-resource based economy faltered.

DENIS THOET : Farmers aim to make a living, grow good food
Profit: It's as American as apple pie. Corporations, companies, commercial farms and small businesses make a profit or go out of business. Swim or die, as the sharks say.

DANA MURCH : Fort Halifax Dam a victim of economics: Cons outweighed pros
The removal of the Fort Halifax Dam in Winslow has stirred passions and led to many questions regarding the interplay between state energy and fisheries policies and the regulatory role of the Department of Environmental Protection. I want to address these questions from my perspective of 25 years regulating dams and hydropower in Maine.

L. SANDY MAISEL : McCain, Obama shouldn't use old weapons in new battle
We never seem to learn the right lessons from history.

Letters

More than a 'few' don't like what's going on
Contrary to what our illustrious Mayor Roger Katz would have you believe in his "community compass" in the Kennebec Journal, more than a "few" citizens don't like what has been going on in city hall.

Does Katz believe his defense appeases public?
Does he truly believe (his) defending the current Augusta City Council's spending frenzy really appeases the continuing public dissatisfaction with the questionable behavior of city administrators? (i.e. Augusta residents should stop fighting old battles, KJ, Aug. 7.)

'Metal theft' case should have been handled better
I wish that it were within my power to erase the piece that appeared in the Wednesday, July 30 edition of the Kennebec Journal under "Local and State" headed: "Winthrop: 2 disciplined in metal theft."

Sun Journal
Senate candidate seeks court stay
AUGUSTA (AP) - Independent U.S. Senate hopeful Herbert Hoffman is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block a state high court ruling that effectively removed his name from Maine's November ballot.

Lake survey to expand
BANGOR (AP) - Additional milfoil surveying is planned for parts of Salmon Lake and Great Pond near Belgrade.

GOP renews call for special session
AUGUSTA (AP) - Republican lawmakers are pressing their call for a special legislative session to transfer $10 million in surplus funds to Maine's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Maine curbs fuel-saving vehicle by restricting three-wheelers
PORTLAND (AP) - Maine motor vehicle officials are curbing electric, three-wheeled vehicles that have appeared on some roads because they don't qualify as motorcycles.

Collins gossips about Edwards
PORTLAND - U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told a radio audience this week that she believes U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina fathered a love child with his mistress, according to published reports.

Obama team says book just a 'piece of garbage'
HONOLULU (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama hit back Thursday with a 40-page rebuttal to the best-selling book "The Obama Nation," arguing the author is a fringe bigot peddling rehashed lies.

Editorial
There must be more to this tax story
The amorphous idea of cutting Maine's income taxes - as floated by Gov. John Baldacci - is out of character for an administration that has tightly guarded its major policy goals and proposals.

Picking Bayh could cost Obama the election
If you believe the chatter, Barack Obama is desperately seeking a white guy - any white guy - to be his running mate. Democratic sources have floated vice-presidential trial balloons for every pale-faced stiff in the D.C. region - from Delaware Sen. Joe Biden to Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. But with Obama needing his "change" brand to overshadow his recent flip-flops, no pick would be more self-defeating than Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh - the career politician who best personifies "more of the same."

News businesses must work together
As one of the two major news organizations in Lewiston, the Maine Public Broadcasting Network has always enjoyed a close working relationship with one of Maine's finest newspapers, the Sun Journal. Thus it was particularly painful to read a column published Friday, Aug. 8 which uncharacteristically attacked MPBN for comments made by a volunteer during one of our fundraising drives.


MPBN
Senate Candidate Takes Case To Highest Court

The Hoffman for Senate campaign has filed a formal appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in an ongoing legal battle over qualifying ballot signatures. Herbert Hoffman is asking the justices to stay a decision by Maine's highest court that effectively removed the Ogunquit psychologist from the ballot last month. The U.S. Supreme Court is in recess, and not scheduled to reconvene until Oct. 6, but Hoffman says he must win a stay to be included on the November 4th ballot.

PolitickerME
Jacobsen: In presidential race, ME-2 a toss-up

Maine News for Thursday, August 14, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Gas prices driving motorists off road, especially in Maine
The state's traffic decline in June - 7 percent - was almost the sharpest in the nation.

State puts brakes on electric vehicle
Maine tells the owner of a ZAP Xebra three-wheeler the he must pull over.

Elderly, disabled riders save their bus stop
The city drops its plan to scrap a downtown bus route after residents at 100 State Street oppose it.

School choice plays role in districts' merger plan
Windham and Raymond officials are expected to vote next month on a consolidation plan.

Baldacci pick wins bipartisan backing
The appropriations panel endorses Ryan Low to take over the state agency responsible for budgeting.

Asphalt prices put road work on hold
A sharp increase leads the state to suspend work on several projects, including many in the Portland area.

Asphalt prices put road work on hold
A sharp increase leads the state to suspend work on several projects, including many in the Portland area.

Opinion
HILARY SCHNEIDEREmergency department task force needs consumer representation
Without ordinary Mainers on the panel, any results or recommendations will inevitably miss the mark.

Letters

Prosecution would be severe response to alleged drinking

Race official, participant laud coverage, community

Politicians focus on trivia, ignore country's troubles

Candidate looks forward to November's balloting

Bangor Daily News

DEP to broaden scope of milfoil survey
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Divers plan to survey additional areas of Salmon Lake and Great Pond near Belgrade for signs of a particularly aggressive type of the invasive plant known as milfoil.

Task force reviews pros and cons of wood heat
Thursday, August 14, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - Converting a large number of Maine homes from oil heat to wood heat would save consumers money but could have implications for both the environment and other forest product industries, members of a task force were told Wednesday.

Academy signs deal for schools in China
Thursday, August 14, 2008
LEE, Maine - Agreements have been signed for three more Lee Academy satellite schools in China, and plans are in the works for possibly five in South Korea, Headmaster Bruce Lindberg said Wednesday.

Council 'fine jar' targets bad cell phone manners
Thursday, August 14, 2008
BANGOR, Maine - Many Americans of a certain age are familiar with the 'fine jar' concept.

Asphalt prices delay roadwork
Thursday, August 14, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - The skyrocketing price of liquid asphalt is causing the Maine Department of Transportation to suspend the paving of about 85 miles of state roads that was scheduled to begin this fall.

DOT projects affected by high fuel costs.
Thursday, August 14, 2008

Editorial

Guantanamo Justice
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The fact that the trial of Osama bin Laden's former driver appears to have resulted in an appropriate verdict and sentence will be meaningless if the Bush administration does not release the Yemeni man after his sentence is served.

UMS Financial Gain
Thursday, August 14, 2008
With the University of Maine System in the midst of an effort to reduce costs, especially by reducing administration and increasing collaboration, it has hired the right person to oversee this work.

Richard K. Dimond: National debt about to sink us
Only 9 percent in the country approve of the job Congress is doing and 80 percent do not like the direction their country is going.

August 14 Letters to the Editor

Kennebec Journal
GROWING DISASTER
Spencer Aitel is usually well into his second crop of hay come mid-August.

CENTRAL MAINE State delays some area paving projects
Roads in need of paving this construction season -- including those in Gardiner, Monmouth and Litchfield -- will not get the attention they need until next spring, Maine Department of Transportation officials said.

AUGUSTA School board OKs new hires Advisor program at Cony approved
AUGUSTA -- Hodgkins Middle School has a new principal, Farrington Elementary a new assistant principal, and all the city's public school students have a new person overseeing their curriculum.

State 'zaps' electric cycle
Tom Joyal couldn't be happier with his new ride: an electric, three-wheel vehicle that saves him plenty at the pump and draws an uncommon amount of attention from passers-by.

Low likely in finance job
AUGUSTA -- A legislative committee gave its unanimous backing Tuesday to Gov. John Baldacci's new nominee to fill the top post at the state's Department of Administrative and Financial Services.

Collection set for home toxics
AUGUSTA -- Maine residents with banned or unusable pesticides lurking in their basements, garages or back sheds will have a chance this fall to get rid of the stuff -- legally and safely.

Costs halt paving on 4 Litchfield roads
LITCHFIELD -- Residents will have to wait until at least next year for paving work on four town roads.

Editorial

Income tax level too high for those earning little
We have consistently stated that when it comes to Maine's taxes, the tax on income is the one most in need of fixing.

KAY RAND : Natural resources consolidation should be handled prudently
I grew up in Aroostook County as the daughter of a potato farmer and pulp cutter. My father's notion of heaven is prime farmland.

ALEC CAMPBELL : GEORGIA Conflict reveals U.S. to be bad, maybe even dangerous ally
Many people will see a double standard in the American response to the Russian invasion of Georgia given our current involvement in Iraq. This is a problem for the United States, and the Russians have exploited it in their public statements.

MIKHAIL GORBACHEV WAS THE LAST PRESIDENT OF THE SO : GEORGIA Lasting peace possible, needed in the Caucasus
MOSCOW -- The past week's events in South Ossetia are bound to shock and pain anyone. Already, thousands of people have died, tens of thousands have been turned into refugees, and towns and villages lie in ruins. Nothing can justify this loss of life and destruction. It is a warning to all.

Letters

Some voters expect more from candidates
David Offer states that "For the first time in many elections, I think the parties have selected two very qualified candidates." What?

Fee increase double-taxes those with vanity plates
The stated purpose for the increased fees for vehicle registration, according to Maine secretary of state's office, is "to generate revenue to support bridge and road maintenance." Certainly a fair way to raise much needed revenue.

Katz lets hypocrisy show in KJ column
This letter comments on Roger Katz's Aug. 7, Kennebec Journal, Community Compass column.

President close to an agreement to end war
With all of the media coverage of the John Edwards affair, did anyone notice that Iraq has asked us to set a date for withdrawal? President Bush is now close to an agreement that calls for U.S. combat forces to be out of Iraqi cities within a year and entirely out of the country by the end of 2010.

Sun Journal
Towns pay for state's error
LEWISTON - State revenue officials have admitted to making an error when calculating a specific tax reimbursement payment to Maine towns, resulting in overpayments to more than 100 towns and underpayments to more than 300 others.

Maine jail guard placed on leave
BELFAST (AP) - Officials say a Knox County jail guard is on leave following his arrest for alleged sex crimes involving girls.

Asphalt prices pinch projects
With the price of liquid asphalt more than doubling since January, the Maine Department of Transportation announced Tuesday it is suspending $14.3 million worth of road paving projects scheduled for later this summer.

Report: Edwards' wife in anguish after affair
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Elizabeth Edwards' cancer diagnosis forced her to decide quickly whether she would leave her husband after he confessed to having an affair, her brother and a friend told People magazine.

Wood-pellet silo hinges on FAA OK

Editorial
Put a stop to notion of moratorium
A development moratorium in downtown Lewiston is the opposite of what's needed, which are more thoughtful efforts to identify what downtown should have, rather than what it should not.

The lies and coverup are worst part for Edwards
There is something familiar about the storyline: woman has more than one sex partner; woman becomes pregnant; no father's name on the birth certificate; paternity questioned.

Letter
Corporate spin
Are Maine's media outlets so hard up that they have to accept bogus ads such as the ones being produced by the so-called "Coalition for a Democratic Workplace?"

MPBN
Maine Lobster Industry Says Its Product Deserves Seal of Approval

An effort to have Maine's lobster industry certified as sustainable is moving forward with the release of a preliminary review of the state's lobster fishing practices. The Governor's Working Group on Maine Lobster Sustainability is pushing to have Maine's signature seafood certified as sustainable by the international Marine Stewardship Council. Fisheries that are certified can use a seal that assures consumers that the seafood was not overfished or harvested in a harmful way. As Anne Ravana reports, task force members say the lobster industry could lose valuable markets if it doesn't obtain certification.

Petitioners Call For Limits On Global Warming Pollution

An environmental advocacy group arrived at the governor's office today to present petitions carrying the signatures of more than 10,000 Mainers calling for mandatory limits on Maine's global warming pollution. David Littell, commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, accepted the petitions on behalf of Gov. John Baldacci. Littell says the administration is prepared to expand its leadership role in tackling global warming which, left unchecked, could mean rising sea levels, severe weather and fewer sugar maples.

Catholic Author Urges Flexibility On Abortion

More than one in four Americans are Roman Catholic, and as one of the most important US elections in decades approaches, many assume that those 60 million plus Americans are going to stick to a fairly narrow political agenda, based on opposition to abortion and gay marriage. Not so, says Portland-based author and practicing Catholic Chris Korzen, who argues the Catholic faith has more flexibility than you may think. Korzen is co-author of "A Nation For All: How The Catholic Vision for the Common Good Can Save American from the Politics of Division." He's also director of Catholics United - a non-partisan, online advocacy group dedicated to promoting social justice. MPBN's Tom Porter asked Korzen what inspired him to write the book.

PolitickerME
Confirmation hearing turned toast to Ryan Low

Allen tours state to tout economic plan

Collins gossips about Edwards on radio show

Ellsworth American
Maybe the Answer Is Blowing in the Wind
NORTHPORT — Willie Sutton had a very good reason for robbing banks.

In Winter Harbor Wind Turbine’s Effect Has Been Electrifying
WINTER HARBOR — A once-controversial wind turbine is now humming away with the help of the shoreline breezes along Schoodic Point.

Cheap Firewood Program Is Too Popular
AUGUSTA — A program that allows Mainers to cut wood on state land for $25 a cord, which in recent years has had three or four dozen participants, is now attracting 10 times that many applicants.

Editorial
The Nuclear Option
Several of Maine’s past and present political leaders are quick to say that the state must consider a variety of energy options as it faces the most serious challenge in its nearly 200-year history. But they are just as quick to reject any notion that nuclear energy might be a part of the mix. Among five politicos interviewed for the “Re-energizing Maine” series that began in last week’s issue of The Ellsworth American, only State Sen. Dennis Damon (D-Hancock County) showed an open mind where nuclear power is concerned. “There are those who have quickly dismissed nuclear power as not being appropriate for Maine, but I’m not among them,” said Damon. “I think nuclear power does have a role and that it ought not be off the table. It ought to be talked about as a serious way to fill some of Maine’s power needs and not just dismissed hysterically.”

Weeklies Are Holding Their Own
Weekly newspapers have been living by their wits for years while providing the kinds of information their readers want and have come to expect.
The doom-and-gloom that surrounds daily newspapers these days — most especially a group of Maine dailies — might lead many observers to believe that the very survival of the newspaper as an institution is at risk. Last week, the president of Blethen Maine Newspapers, which publishes the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, the Kennebec Journal in Augusta and the Morning Sentinel in Waterville, was reported as saying in a court document that severe financial problems facing the parent company could force a shutdown of those newspapers. And indeed, daily newspapers across the country have been struggling with increased production costs and from circulation and advertising revenue declines.

Maine News for Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Baldacci aims to lower income tax rate
The governor says lowering the change is a priority as he works on the state budget.

Egg farm faces fines for safety violations
OSHA: Employees worked in a collapsed building and shoveled roofs with no protection.

Panel takes new tack on school construction
Meetings will be held in each voting district to present renovation and rebuilding options.

Economy fuels rise in school interest
Maine Community Colleges report a record number of applications for the coming year.

Consumers unwilling to give up life's little pleasures
Alcohol, cigarette and candy makers all report healthy sales despite the looming global recession.

Commuters go online for rides
High gas prices spur more drivers to try carpooling to get back and forth to work each day and save.

Editorial

Russia's attack on Georgia highly ominous
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has now proved he will deploy troops to fight his neighbors.

Senator is giving her party a little space this year
The Republican brand could make this election tougher than expected for an incumbent like Collins

Letters:

In time of crisis, Allen votes for R&R

Young fan feels let down after Sea Dogs cancel game

Obama has dazzling style but offers little substance

Inspiring cancer fundraiser deserved more attention

Backer of turnpike's actions didn't refute foes' findings

Bangor Daily News

Baldacci may call summer session on fuel funding
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - There’s still no word about a special session of the Legislature to take up fuel assistance funding.

Beleaguered Pinkham Sawmill to close
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
NASHVILLE PLANTATION, Maine - An Aroostook County mill that has sputtered along in the past few months has finally run out of steam.

Bangor officials debate limits on methadone clinics
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
BANGOR, Maine - Though the issue doesn't draw the large crowds it used to when The Acadia Hospital was gearing up to open the first methadone clinic in the city almost eight years ago, the controversial treatment still generates debate.

Brewer enacts 180-day methadone moratorium
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
BREWER, Maine - City Council members on Tuesday unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on the opening of methadone clinics or other drug treatment facilities.

Fort Kent: UMFK in Princeton Review for fourth year
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
FORT KENT, Maine - Who says you have to stop at a threepeat? Not officials at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, who again are celebrating a 'Best Northeastern College' ranking for 2009 by the Princeton Review.

Helicopter pilots from Maine break world speed record
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
BANGOR, Maine - Helicopter pilot Scott Kasprowicz and co-pilot Steve Sheik set the world speed record for a helicopter trip from New York to London, a journey that included a refueling stop at Bangor International Airport on Aug. 6.

Editorial
'Fogust' v. The Maples
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
This month of rain, mist, humidity and fog is so miserable that one Maine lobsterman has coined the term 'Fogust.' It has spoiled a lot of picnics, ball games and hikes, but one of its worst visible consequences is what it has done to the maple trees.

Iraq's Budget Surplus
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The revelation that Iraq's government may enjoy a $79 billion surplus by the end of the year, while the U.S. government expects a $482 billion deficit, is a classic good news, bad news development.

Matthew Warner: U.S. must not ignore Southern Sudan
Southern Sudan is one of the worst places on earth. As I walked its rutted streets, I experienced firsthand the chaos that defines this place. Daily, property and tribal disputes end in violence.

Letters for Vladimir
From President George W. Bush:
Dear Vlad:
Beijing is weird. First of all, you can't breathe the air. Second, how 'bout those drummers?

Kennebec Journal
STATEHOUSE TAX CUT STILL ON AGENDA
AUGUSTA -- Gov. John Baldacci said this week that lowering the state income tax is a priority heading into the next legislative session.

INTEREST IN COLLEGES EXPLODES
Attributing it to a slowing economy and reduced job prospects, Maine's community colleges say they are seeing a record number of applications for the coming academic year.

Wyke abandons FAME nomination for university position
AUGUSTA -- Rebecca Wyke, the state's top finance official, has accepted a position with the University of Maine System, system Chancellor Richard Pattenaude announced Tuesday.

'This is absolutely ludicrous'
RICHMOND -- Betty Moody's mobile home sits on a slab in a reclaimed gully.

Consolidation plan approved
LITCHFIELD -- More than two-thirds of voters in three towns Tuesday endorsed a proposal to redesign their schools' administrative structure to comply with the state's school district consolidation mandate.

Editorials

We live in one of nation's best micropolises
Did you know that you live in more than one place?

GEORGE SMITH : Maine knows very little about moose population, mortality
Eat a lobster. See a moose. Those are the goals of nearly every Maine tourist.

KAREN BALDACCI, WIFE OF MAINE GOV. JOHN BALDACCI, : Curious first lady finds plan, recreates original garden
My family has proudly called the Blaine House our home for more than five years. We feel blessed to reside in what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful public homes in New England.

Letters

I-295 repaving project went well, few problems
As an early skeptic of the proposal to close two miles of I-295 this summer for rebuilding, I could not be more pleased with this project's early completion and perfect safety record.

Obama has one quality that will get him elected
Barack Obama is going to win in a landslide because as I always said: voters in Maine are just like voters everywhere. They carefully weigh all the political issues and then go in and vote for the best-looking candidate.

Taking reality check of blue, red colors
Bruce Hanson checks in (letter, Aug. 11) voicing displeasure over the decision to oust Herbert Hoffman's bid to be on the ballot. He thinks Tom Allen needs a new career and declares that the Hoffman "debacle" reinforces the Democrats' choice of a donkey as a political mascot. OK ... got that one. But then he says this explains "quite clearly" why states controlled by the Democrats are "blue" -- and asks if there are any questions.

Sun Journal
Baldacci continues summer planning at Maine State House
AUGUSTA (AP) - There's still no word about a special session of the Maine Legislature to take up fuel assistance funding.

Deering baseball coach resigns
PORTLAND (AP) - The coach of Deering High School's state championship baseball team has resigned.

Maine food stamp use up 7.2 percent
PORTLAND (AP) - More people in Maine are turning to food stamps during a time of economic stresses including high fuel and food costs.

Opinion
John Edwards' behavior was staggering arrogance
There is obviously no way to quantify this, but I regard Bill Clinton as the most thoroughly humiliated person in all of human history. Who else even comes close?

Letters
A big factor
Like many folks in my area, I commute 15 miles or more to my job, and heat my house with oil. This election, energy costs and renewable energy are big factors when choosing candidates. That's why David Van Wie will get my vote for Maine House of Representatives for District 105.

A broken system
There is a revolt brewing in public education. There are many very unhappy customers, vividly illustrated by far too many students leaving the system without knowing how to spell, read, or how to make change. This is from the kids themselves, not the parents.

MPBN
Task Force to Focus on Consolidating Five State Agencies

As a thirty-member task force prepares for a two-day retreat next month to probe the merits of consolidating the state's five natural resource agencies, the governor's office is inviting suggestions from the public. Originally proposed in the state's supplemental budget as a plan to merge two or more of the departments, the consolidation effort has now assumed a broader mission of simply finding efficiencies and reducing costs.

PolitickerME
Parties exchange jabs over oil company contributions

Pingree, Summers claim new endorsements

Wyke abandons FAME nomination, takes position at UMS