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PublishedJanuary 30, 2012
Retiring state fire marshal spent 41 years in fire safety career
John Dean of Winthrop, who retired Jan. 31 as Maine state fire marshal, served 41 years in the field of fire protection and fire investigation. The Old Town native spent two tours of duty as an Army medic in Vietnam and then 18 years, from 1971 to 1989, on Old Town Fire Department where he rose to the rank of deputy chief. From 1989 to 1998, Dean served as fire chief for the town of Wells. Then he was named state …
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PublishedApril 4, 2011
Second protest waged over removal of labor mural
More than 300 feisty workers and artists packed the Statehouse Hall of Flags on Monday, April 4, in back-to-back protests. The first rally was aimed at leaders in Washington and demanded that they “bring our war dollars home” by ending our military involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. The second rally was aimed at Republican Gov. Paul R. LePage, who was vacationing in Jamaica. Protesters excoriated …
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PublishedMarch 24, 2011
Enthusiastic rally-goers urge passage of Gov. LePage’s budget
More than 100 enthusiastic partisans cheered and chanted and raised hand-printed signs Wednesday, March 23, in a Statehouse rally to urge Maine lawmakers to vote for Gov. Paul R. LePage’s budget proposal. “Pass this budget! Now! Pass this budget! Now!” chanted the crowd at the end of the pro-LePage rally in the Statehouse Hall of Flags. They signed a petition for lawmakers stating they are in favor of …
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PublishedMarch 9, 2011
Bruce Poliquin: Challenge to balance honoring benefits, not running out of money
Maine State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin warned Tuesday, March 8, that several “high-risk strategies” suggested as solutions to Maine’s $4.3 billion unfunded pension liability could make the problem worse. At a Statehouse news conference, Poliquin endorsed Gov. Paul LePage’s proposals to raise the retirement contributions of active teachers and state employees from 7.65 percent of salaries to 9.65 percent, while …
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PublishedMarch 5, 2011
Dr. Dora Anne Mills eager to start next chapter
Dr. Dora Anne Mills, the new medical director of the MaineCare program who was fired Wednesday, Feb. 23 by the administration of Gov. Paul R. LePage, said she plans to enjoy her free time and weigh her options.Asked what the future holds, Mills hinted she’s already had some job offers. “I’m looking forward to taking some time off,” she said. “I’ve had several possible opportunities presented to me already. I’m …
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PublishedMarch 5, 2011
Economic Growth Council: Maine’s international exports soaring
Maine’s international exports rebounded last year to outpace the national growth in exports, but the cost of doing business in Maine was still higher than average, and two-thirds of Maine adults are overweight or obese. Those were some of the findings of the 17th annual report of the Maine Economic Growth Council prepared by the Maine Development Foundation. Titled, “Measures of Growth in Focus — 2011,” it was …
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PublishedFebruary 9, 2011
Optimistic charter school supporters rally at Statehouse
Maine is one of 10 states in the nation that does not permit the creation of public charter schools. “There’s a huge opposition because it changes the status quo,” said Judith Jones, chairperson of the board of the Maine Association for Charter Schools. Jones and other charter-school supporters gathered Monday, Feb. 7, in the Statehouse Hall of Flags to show their enthusiasm for bringing charter schools to …
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PublishedJanuary 26, 2011
Advocates: TANF debate must be based on facts, not fiction
Advocates for women and the poor said Wednesday, Jan. 26, that the debate over welfare programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families must be based on facts, not on hearsay or anecdotes. Gov. Paul R. LePage response statement said there should be a five-tier system and a five-year limit on programs such as TANF. LePage’s spokesman, Dan Demeritt, said, “The governor believes we have to make the whole …
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PublishedJanuary 25, 2011
Logistical challenges include turbine transport, transmission of energy
Maine has plenty of energy in its offshore winds, but building the turbines and their platforms for offshore electricity generation presents a number of logistical challenges. The parts of an offshore wind platform need to be so big they ought to be assembled at the nearest port, and shipped by sea, not transported by rail or highway. Paul Williamson, director of the Maine Wind Industry Initiative, told a …
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PublishedJanuary 19, 2011
LePage taps Mary Mayhew to head DHHS, Walt Whitcomb as agriculture chief
Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday, Jan. 19, made two more Cabinet nominations and nominated a director for the Maine Workers’ Compensaton Board. All of the nominees face legislative scrutiny at public hearings then votes of confirmation by the full Senate. Mary Mayhew of South China was picked as commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services. Dairy farmer Walter Whitcomb of Waldo was nominated as …
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