Maine News Archives

In this Oct. 22, 2009, file photo, Maine 's Republican Senators, Olympia Snowe , left, and Susan Collins walk on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Submitted by Mike Tipping on Wed, 11/18/2009 - 10:32am. Maine Politics With .0019% of the vote still outstanding , I'm finally ready to call the winners of the 2009 Maine Election Pool.

The land was gorgeous. Pastures bounded by forests and overlooked by the distant Dixmont hills.

Maine officials say wastewater treatment plants around the state are experiencing problems because residents continue flushing baby wipes and similar items down their toilets.

It may seem early for the 2010 congressional campaign to start, but not for Jason Levesque.

The Maine Department of Labor said letters are going out Friday to 2,000 unemployed Mainers notifying them that they may be eligible for extended unemployment benefits.

Share + Nov 26, 2009 1:18 pm US/Eastern KITTERY, Maine It takes Sgt. Charles Denault barely two minutes to spot a dozen cars with out-of-state license plates parked in driveways and outside houses and apartments.

Island residents including Patrick Trainor, center foreground, and his dog Kaiko gather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the three wind turbines of Fox Islands Wind on Vinalhaven, Maine, on Tuesday.

A 50-year-old Jay woman is facing a manslaughter charge that she was driving drunk when she was involved in a crash that killed her husband.

AUGUSTA, Maine a ' Two more deaths have been linked to swine flu in Maine, bringing the total to seven since August.

While most of us get ready for the holidays, hundreds of Maine National Guard soldiers are getting ready to go to war.

Some environmental groups in Maine are concerned a mega-power deal between Quebec and New Brunswick could jeopardize sustainable energy projects in the state.

Two more deaths in northern and eastern Maine have been linked to the swine flu, bringing the total to seven deaths in Maine since August.

Three escapes in less than three weeks have led the Maine Department of Corrections to launch a review of staffing at the Bolduc Minimum Security Facility in Warren.

No holiday celebration is more uniquely Maine than the ones that take place during the weeks after Thanksgiving in Camden and surrounding areas.

AUGUSTA – Governor John Baldacci announced today that Maine will apply to the U.S. Department of Education for Race to the Top funds during the second phase of the application process next spring.

Dr. Dora Ann Mills, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control, said Nov. 5 that H1N1, or swine flu, was more widespread than any influenza she had seen in the position she has held for the past 13 years.

LEWISTON, Maine a ' A Mechanic Falls native who won the Medal of Honor for leading a bayonet charge against an enemy position during the Korean War has died.

A 39-year-old Medway man has been arrested and charged with Arson in relation to a fire yesterday morning that destroyed an abandoned house.

Maine's public universities will offer more three-year bachelor's degrees, boost the number of students enrolled in online courses and health care-related programs, and try to price themselves right to attract more students.

Mainers who owe back taxes are taking advantage of a limited tax amnesty program, with $8.5 million already collected with two weeks to go before the program ends.

We didn't believe we were living through the golden age of Maine chocolate until more than a dozen boxes of sweets arrived at our offices from chocolatiers across the state.

AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci today issued an executive order directing State agencies to cut the rate of spending in the current fiscal year by $63.1 million.

This past week has been a challenging one in Maine for H1N1, since the disease has surged and vaccine supplies remain very limited.

Gov. John Baldacci ordered Maine state departments Friday to curtail spending by $63 million to make sure the budget is balanced.

Fire investigators are trying to determine if there's a connection between a fire that destroyed a house in Medway and three other intentionally set fires in the northern Maine town.

Leigh Saufley, Maine's chief justice says the judicial branch in the state is already bare bones, and it's about to get worse.

Ryan "Spose" Peters hasn't been shot nine times and doesn't boast about his street rep.

Maine utility regulators have set dates for another round of public hearings on Central Maine Power's $1.5 billion plan to expand its transmission network.

GREENWOOD, Maine a ' A volunteer firefighter has been charged with arson in connection with overnight fires that destroyed two vacant houses in western Maine.

Habib Dagher, director of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine in Orono, talks to Sjur Bratland , asset manager, and Knut Erik Steen , technical manager, both with Hywind from the Norwegian company Statoil, about research conducted at the facility.

A 19-year-old Augusta man wants to withdraw his guilty pleas in a vicious machete attack on a father and daughter in their rural Pittston home.

How safe are Mainers when it comes to gun crime in their home state? Very safe, according to studies and crime statistics compilations.

The race for governor is even more crowded. John Richardson, the commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development and former Speaker of the House, announced his candidacy Monday.

A year ago the Maine Community Foundation, one of the state's largest philanthropic enterprises, was preparing for hard times ahead.

Mort and Jean Strom of Camden enjoy breakfast at Maine Gold's Sugar House Cafe last weekend.

John Baldacci next year. The crowded mix of candidates includes seasoned State House insiders, business leaders who've been hitting the pavement hard for months, and candidates to match every ideological stripe.

Hundreds of Maine Boy Scouts are trying to keep Camp Gustin in Sabattus from being sold.

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With 87 percent of precincts reporting, gay-marriage foes had 53 percent of the vote in a referendum that asked Maine voters whether they wanted to repeal a law allowing same-sex marriage that had passed the Legislature and was signed by Democratic Gov.

ST. LOUIS a ' The Archdiocese of St. Louis says Archbishop Robert Carlson used $10,000 in discretionary funds to support the successful effort to prevent legalization of gay marriage in Maine.

Korean War veteran Clayton Lancaster, 78 of Dexter walks back to his car after visiting the Togus Mobile Healthcare Clinic for some lab work in Dover-Foxcroft Wednesday.

Down a rural road where wood smoke spirals from chimneys in the settling twilight, a five-acre lot thick with spruce trees is the unlikely site of a dream deferred.

Some folks looking to support the local economy and get some shopping done spent time at the Bangor Civic Center.

American and Maine flags are flying at half-staff in memory of Marine Maj. Samuel Leigh.

Voters in Maine rejected new marriage rights for same-sex couples 53 percent to 47 percent.

The growing season of 2009 will be remembered for its stark contrasts. An exceptionally wet ... Maple Lobster Salad By Maine Gold - 11/19 At our Customer Appreciation Weekend this past weekend, Maine Gold featured an interesting ... Offers By Maine Gold - 11/10 Maine Gold wishes to congratulate Michael Bibro for winning our My Weekly Special for ...

Over the governor's objections, the Massachusetts Air National Guard is moving forward with a proposal that would double the amount airspace in which screeching F-15 and F-16 fighter jets could conduct low-level training over western Maine.

Share + Nov 13, 2009 12:05 pm US/Eastern Maine revenues continue to fall far short of projections, with the shortfall now estimated at $300 million to $400 million for the state's current two-year budget.

Although same-sex marriage was approved by Mainea TMs state legislature in May, voters in the Pine Tree State sought fit to overturn the decision.

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It was in the air, almost infectious, particularly in the southern tip of Maine where our readers live and work.

A Maine man has been nominated to become the federal co-chairperson of a commission that aims to create jobs and boost the economy in the northern reaches of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.

Maine energy officials say the average price for home heating oil is unchanged from last week at $2.56 a gallon.

The defeat of pro-equality NJ Gov. Jon Corzine probably means that marriage equality in that state has to be approved swiftly--or delayed for years A Nov.

A coalition of business leaders, grocery and retail associations, government officials, and environmental advocates will announce their campaign to encourage increased reusable bag use with the launch of Got Your Bags, Maine? in the State House Hall of Flags at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 9, 2009.

Openly gay NYC City Council speaker Christine Quinn was asked at a press conference this morning about the potential for a vote on marriage equality by the State Senate tomorrow.

Conservative Christian group Focus on the Family donated just over $115,000 to the fight against gay marriage in Maine.

Ron Satrape of Christian Life Church in Eliot, Maine, left, and Kim Moulton from River of Life Church in Haverhill, Mass., right, hold a "Yes on 1" banner at the driveway of Marshwood Middle School in Eliot on Tuesday.

November 3, 2009 Off Year Elections, Surprise, Surprise Surprise. And the hits keep coming from yesterdays off year election The people of Maine have spoken and delivered a blow to the Gay Rights movement.

A Maine correctional officer has been fired and another demoted in connection with the April death of a wheelchair-bound sex offender after a beating at the state prison in Warren.

Two groups came to the State House on Monday to ask the state to slow down wind power development, which they say is gobbling up environmentally sensitive mountain ridges for questionable results.

An Amber Alert was issued in New York and Vermont on Monday evening for a missing 2-year-old girl who police said was taken by her father in Maine after a violent assault on the girl's mother.

The newly formed Citizens' Task Force on Wind Power is speaking out against the development of industrial wind power projects in Maine.

Tuesday's election has once again proven that the self-righteous Right-Wing of this nation are well-funded and pro-activist as their record for defeating state referendums recognizing same-sex marriages remains perfect at 31-and-0. The LGBT community in the State of Maine is the latest group of Americans who see themselves denied their bid for ...

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Tearful supporters of same-sex marriage vowed to continue their fight in Maine yesterday after voters narrowly shot it down, while newly energized opponents pledged to preserve traditional marriage here and nationwide.

Proponents of same-sex marriage vowed today to continue their fight in Maine a day after voters narrowly shot it down.

Here's a story you may have missed because it flies in the face of the dreary conventional wisdom: When advocates of public programs take on the right-wing anti-government crowd directly, the government-haters lose.

Question 1 [text], which read, "Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?" was projected to prevail by a margin of 53 percent to 47 percent with 87 percent of votes counted, according to unofficial results [WMTW report] as of Wednesday at 9:00 ...

Portland, Maine, Nov 4, 2009 .- In midterm elections on Tuesday the voters of Maine repealed a law that legalized same-sex 'marriage.' Scott Fish, Communications Director of Stand for Marriage Maine, told CNA that Catholic support was 'very crucial' to the outcome.

A Newcastle man convicted of killing his father and former girlfriend wants Maine's highest court to overturn his convictions.

AUGUSTA, Maine a ' Maine's governor says the judgment of voters must be respected following their decision this week on gay marriage and other questions on the ballot.

The medical marijuana law approved by Maine voters this week has prompted action by Gov.

In the aftermath of Maine voters having narrowly rescinded marriage equality rights for gay and lesbian families, GLBT equality advocates are looking to assign blame.

Mainers with signs and a clear message gathered outside the State House in Augusta Saturday.

So, some bad news and some good news. Here are the major races we were watching on the liveblog last night , which was a huge success.

Evan Wolfson, executive director of the national gay-rights group Freedom to Marry, said the loss in Maine underscores "the fact that we need to continue those conversations and make ourselves visible as families in communities." He added, "It shows we have just not done it long enough and deep enough, even in a place like Maine." But Maggie ...

Thursday, November 05, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Long thought of as a "liberal" state by national political observers, Maine, whose voters on Tuesday voted down gay marriage, proved that cultural conservatism is -- at least on this issue -- alive and well in the Northeast.

By Mark Pattison Source: Published: Thursday, November 05, 2009 Miriam Conners and her son Spencer of Stand for Marriage Maine canvass in Yarmouth, Maine.

A Penobscot County young adult is the second death linked to H1N1 influenza in Maine, and the first since August, reported the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, in a press release Friday morning, Nov.

Citizens Unified for Maine's Future, the coalition of municipal, business and citizen advocates who were opposed to TABOR, the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, were celebrating their victory last night.

Share + Nov 5, 2009 4:49 pm US/Eastern GLENN ADAMS, Associated Press Writer AUGUSTA, Maine A brief debate broke out among legislative leaders over a proposed bill declaring that vaccinations cannot be mandatory, on the same day that Maine's public health director announced that swine flu has been confirmed in all 16 of the state's counties.

The Democratic governor of New York, David Paterson, has issued a proclamation calling for an extraordinary session of both houses of the New York State Legislature to tackle a handful of issues.

WASHINGTON, D.C., NOV. 4, 2009 .- The U.S. bishops are praising Maine's voters for speaking out in favor of the truth of marriage and repealing a state law that would have allowed same-sex "marriage." Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville said this in a statement released today on behalf of the U.S. episcopal conference.

Supporters of a gay marriage law rejected by voters took heart Wednesday in the 47 percent they received in a referendum that drew a turnout close to what's seen in a presidential election year.

Jesse Connolly gives a grim yet unofficial announcement regarding the defeat on Question 1 at election night headquarters in Portland, Maine, early Wednesday morning, Nov.

Voters approved a referendum making Maine the fifth state to allow retail pot dispensaries, but medical marijuana advocates say it won't become like California, where hundreds of marijuana shops have popped up and come under critical scrutiny.

A narrowly leading "everything but marriage" ballot measure gave hope Wednesday to gay rights' activists that Washington might soon be the first state in which a measure dealing with equality for same-sex couples won voter affirmation.

Check out this photo of the "Yes on 1" people rejoicing after taking marriage rights away from millions of Mainers.

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Maine is thanking the state's voters for repealing the state's gay marriage law.

The polls have closed and the ballots are being counted for a full slate of referendums including gay marriage that Mainers voted on Tuesday.

This November 3 the people of Maine will decide whether to keep a law, passed just six months ago, that made Maine the fifth state to legalize gay marriage.

Residents casted votes on questions involving taxes, medical marijuana, schools and transportation funding.

One year after California's Proposition 8 struck down gay marriage in the largest state in the Union, Maine has become the latest battleground in the debate over the definition of marriage.

Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap is standing by his prediction of 35 percent voter turnout despite massive get-out-the-vote efforts on the same-sex marriage referendum.

"As Maine goes, so goes the nation" is a political clichA© long since out of use.

Bolstered by out-of-state money and volunteers, both sides jockeyed Monday to boost turnout for a Maine referendum that could give gay-rights activists in the U.S. their first victory at the ballot box on the deeply divisive issue of same-sex marriage.

Note: Political director Corey Johnson and I will be live-blogging election results tomorrow evening here on the site.

Announcing "Maine's Food Producer of the Year" Released 10/28/09 Portland, ME - The Maine Grocers Association recently named Waite Maclin, founder of specialty food company Pastor Chuck Orchards, 'Food Producer of the Year.' This award honors food manufacturers who have generated relationships with retailers to strengthen opportunities of Maine ...

Quebec Premier Jean Charest announced Thursday a $4.7-billion deal with New Brunswick that will see Hydro-Quebec take over most of the assets of NB Power in a move to get greater access to energy-hungry markets in the United States.

On Nov. 3 a landmark vote on same sex marriage will take place in Maine. There voters will cast ballots on a measure known as Question 1 . It will be the first time that voters can decide whether to affirm a same sex ballot measure that was approved by a state legislature and signed by a governor.

Gov. John Baldacci said Maine is facing more difficult budget choices in the months ahead.