2017 Medicaid expansion and casino top November ballot questions Maine voters will face on the November 7 ballot four referendum questions, including citizen's initiatives for Medicaid expansion and a southern Maine casino.
2017 Senator hears healthcare fears Over 20 Downeast healthcare organization leaders and providers met with U.S. Senator Angus King at Eastport Health Care (EHC) on the morning of July 5 to voice their concerns about the Senate's proposed legislation that would replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
2017 Downeast prison fate depends on budget decisions The fate of the Downeast Correctional Facility (DCF) is still in limbo. Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias explains that there are three versions of the state budget and each with its own variation of funding the Washington County-based prison.
2017 Prison embroiled in political tug-of-war Six days after the sudden and unexpected news on May 19 from Governor Paul LePage and the Department of Corrections that the Downeast Correctional Facility (DCF) in Bucks Harbor would be closed on June 10, the legislature appears to be set on course to reassert its role in the budget
2017 Legislative panel opposes UT school choice, transparency bills Trescott and other area unorganized territory parents who were hanging their hats on a possible legislative remedy to the school choice issue will be disappointed in the votes taken by the legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee members on May 5.
2017 Immigration enforcement bills draw fire from diverse groups Three bills sponsored by Rep. Lawrence Lockman of Amherst about immigration and the intersection of local and federal law enforcement were rolled into one public hearing held by the legislature's Judiciary Committee on April 20 because of the large number of people present to testify.
2017 Legislative bill targets county for pilot project to fight opioids Public hearings held in Augusta on April 11 by the legislature's Health and Human Services Committee on a series of proposed bills to address the opioid crisis in the state brought home the "cry for help" coming from two of Maine's rural counties hit hardest.