LD 41 is part of ongoing effort to lower prescription drug prices for Mainers AUGUSTA — On  January 29, 2021, Rep. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, introduced LD 41, “Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 570: Uniform Reporting System for Prescription Drug Price Data Sets, a Major Substantive Rule of the Maine Health Data Organization,” before the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee. LD 41 is part of ongoing legislative efforts to make prescription drugs more affordable for Mainers. “Understanding the source of prescription drug price increases is a critical issue for helping policymakers to hold those increases in check,” said Rep. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham. “This bill aims to better inform our decisions about responsibility for drug price fluctuations, so we […]

Augusta, MAINE — Governor Janet Mills ended. early closing time for businesses, on Monday, February 1, 2021. The decision, she said, was the result of Maine’s improving public health metrics, including a decrease in Maine’s positivity rate and new COVID-19 cases per million. Starting February 1, those businesses that had been subject to the requirement may resume evening operating hours while continuing to follow other public health and safety requirements outlined in the COVID-19 Prevention Checklists. “We are beginning to round the corner on the post-holiday surge of COVID-19. With these improved public health metrics, and with the holidays behind us, it is appropriate to remove the early closing time requirement,” said Governor Janet Mills. “At the same time, this pandemic is far from […]

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 Approximately eight million Americans will receive their Economic Impact Payment by prepaid debit card instead of by direct deposit or paper check. The stimulus checks of up to $600 per individual were authorized through the most recent COVID-19 relief package. Taxpayers should note that the form of payment for the second mailed EIP may be different than the first mailed EIP. Some people who received a paper check last time might receive a prepaid debit card this time, and some people who received a prepaid debit card last time may receive a paper check. If Get My Payment on irs.gov shows a date that a payment was mailed, those expecting payments are urged to watch the […]

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 “Lemon Bowl and Pitcher” by 2020 Artist of the Year Lacey GoodrichBelfast’s 25th annual Arts in the Park will be held June 26 and 27 at Steamboat Landing Park on the Belfast waterfront. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will focus on local art and fine craft, and applications will only be open to Maine residents. Applications from Waldo County artists and Belfast Area Chamber members only may be submitted through Sunday, January 31. All Maine artists may apply from February 1 to March 1. Booths will be allotted to 50 artists, half the number of previous years. The event will be held following the recommendations and regulations of the state of Maine and the […]

Strategic planning for the proposed Maine Spaceport Complex is under way at Brunswick Landing, the former Navy base in Brunswick, Maine. Following a feasibility study last year, the Maine Space Grant Consortium was awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Maine Technology Institute and NASA to begin the initial planning process. Members of the Space Leadership Council include MRRA’s Steve Levesque and established Brunswick Landing NewSpace businesses bluShift Aerospace and VALT Enterprises. Because of its world-class airport assets and proven ability to support large aerospace projects, Brunswick Landing is envisioned to be the site of a mission control and research and development space center. Marketing has begun for the airport to both UAS- and NewSpace-focused companies. Brunswick Landing NewSpace […]

01/21/2021 Frey and Bellows Argue That Provision Removes Racial Barriers to Voting Without Infringing State Sovereignty AUGUSTA – Attorney General Aaron M. Frey and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows have joined amicus briefs urging the Supreme Court to uphold a robust test for applying Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA)-which prohibits policies and practices that deny or abridge citizens’ right to vote based on their race. Attorney General Frey joined an amicusbrief signed by 18 attorneys general, and Secretary Bellows joined an amicus briefsigned by nine secretaries of state as well as numerous state and local elections officials. These briefs were filed in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee and Arizona Republican Party v. Democratic National Committee, two consolidated cases […]

01/21/2021  AUGUSTA – Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Commissioner Amanda Beal announced at the virtual Agricultural Trades Show this week that the Commissioner’s Distinguished Service Award recipient for 2021 is Penelope (Penny) Jordan, a fourth-generation farmer in Cape Elizabeth, and local community organizer. Over three decades, Jordan has emerged as a leading voice in Maine Agriculture. She was instrumental in starting the Cape Farm Alliance and is a past president and 12-year member of the Maine Farm Bureau. Penny has served on the Cumberland County Farm Bureau board, is currently on the Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society board, and is a member of the New England Farmers Union. Besides her agricultural organization involvement, she serves on the Cape […]

By Ramona du Houx January 16, 2021 Russell Gauvin, the chief of the police force that provides security at the Maine State House apologized on January 15, 2021 for social media posts dating to last summer in which he criticized the Black Lives Matter movement and questioned the results of the November presidential election. Following the reports of concerning social media posts made by Capitol Police Chief Russell Gauvin, Senate President Troy Jackson of Allagash and House Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford released the following statement: “Like most Mainers, we have high expectations for the people in our communities who keep us safe and serve the public. We all want to know that we are being protected, no matter what […]

January 14, 2021 By Ramona du Houx The domestic terrorist attack of January 6, 2021 on the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. during the official ceremonial process of tallying the votes from the 2020 Presidential Election has heighten security across the nation at State Capitols. The counting of the states electoral votes had already become a mockery by Sen. Ted Cruz and other Senate and House Republicans who disrupted the proceedings insisting on an investigation into voter fraud in an attempt to invalidate the election, even though over 60 courts and numerous officials have declared the election for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Although the process was delayed by the riot, a brave Congress reconvened the same day to […]

Projects Will Help Achieve Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standard Goals January 15, 2021 By Ramona du Houx The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC)) issued a Request for Proposals on January 15, 2021 for the Sale of Energy or Renewable Energy Credits from Qualifying Renewable Resources. A bidder may also offer to sell capacity as part of its proposal. “The solicitation released today stems from bipartisan clean energy legislation I signed in 2019, which puts Maine on a trajectory to meet its nation-leading targets for curbing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and developing affordable, renewable energy resources right here in our state,” said Governor Mills. “As called for by Maine’s four-year Climate Action Plan, Maine Won’t Wait, I am committed to creating […]

In conjunction with DHHS & Maine CDC, Governor Mills focuses limited vaccine supply on older Mainers and those with high-risk medical conditions who are more likely to become seriously ill or die from COVID-19 Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills today announced updates to Maine’s strategy for distributing its limited allocation of COVID-19 vaccines targeted toward preventing serious illness and saving the lives of Maine people. The Governor, in consultation with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), is dedicating the limited vaccine supply to older Maine residents, beginning with those 70 and older; additional emergency service personnel such as police and firefighters; and people who support infrastructure critical to […]

01/13/2021 AUGUSTA, Maine – In response to growing interest in solar development in Maine, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) recently issued new technical guidance with additional online solar siting and energy efficiency resources to encourage solar development in ways that avoid or minimize impacts to agricultural and forested lands, as well as other ecologically sensitive natural lands. DACF’s Technical Guidance For Utility-Scale Solar Installation and Development on Agricultural, Forested, and Natural Lands provides practical information for landowners to utilize when considering solar development. The document also provides technical guidance for solar developers when designing, installing, and removing solar projects. “The Department fully supports the State’s goals for reducing reliance on fossil fuels and pursuing renewable energy generation. We […]

On Friday, January 22, at 1:00 pm, the Camden Public Library will host local poet Kristen Lindquist for a 90-minute Haiku Writing Workshop. This free online program is part of the library’s Jumpstart January series aimed at inspiring people to try something new in 2021. Email jpierce@librarycamden.org to request a Zoom link to participate. Originating in Japan over 500 years ago, the haiku is now the world’s most popular poetic form, written in many languages and shared internationally in journals, books, and online forums. “Anyone can learn to write this deceptively simple poem,” says Lindquist. “It’s just three short, unrhymed lines—but it can take a lifetime to master.” In this introductory workshop participants will learn a brief history of this intriguing form, as […]

“The Trump administration is kicking off the new year and its remaining weeks by finalizing its illegal bird-killer policy,” said Sarah Greenberger, senior vice president for conservation policy, National Audubon Society. “This brazen effort will most certainly be in vain as the administration already found out in court that it can’t unilaterally gut the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and its obligation to protect and conserve birds. On January 5, 2020, the Department of the Interior released its Record of Decision (ROD) in the last step to strip away critical protections in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The effort has received widespread and bipartisan opposition including from members of Congress, more than 25 states, numerous tribal governments, scientists, sportsmen, birdwatchers, and 250,000 […]

January 4, 2020 Dr. Clare E. Mundell filed a civil rights lawsuit against Acadia Hospital and Northern Light Health for unequal pay, sex discrimination, and unlawful retaliation for her opposition to her unequal pay. She filed her complaint in the Bangor federal district court. After nearly two years of working as a psychologist for Northern Light Acadia Hospital, Dr. Mundell discovered that she had been paid an hourly rate a little over half as much as her male counterparts. Dr. Mundell earned $50 per hour, and the men in her department made $90 and $95 per hour, respectively. When Dr. Mundell reported this glaring pay disparity to management, instead of apologizing and taking immediate corrective action, they refused to admit that this […]

January 4, 2021 By Ramona du Houx Shenna Bellows was sworn in January 4, with a formal acceptance ceremony in the House Chamber of the Maine State House. Secretary Bellows is the Maine’s first female Secretary of State and the 50th person elected to the office. The Secretary of State is one of Maines three constitutional officers, along with the State Treasurer and Attorney General. All three, as well as the statutory office of State Auditor, are elected by the Legislature. There is a movement gaining momentum to let all the people in Maine vote on their constitutional officers. Secretary Bellows previously served two terms in the Maine Senate from 2016-2020, representing 11 towns in southern Kennebec County. In the […]