Politics & Government

The debate over the proposed east-west highway in Maine is expected to heat up at the end of this month, as the legislature will be holding a hearing on six bills that range from ending the state funding to study the project to requiring the state to look at improving existing roads and...

A proposal to repeal the Cobscook Bay rockweed law and adopt a statewide plan for seaweed harvesting has stirred up opposition Downeast.

A well-rounded discussion about policy issues relating to gun rights, school safety, mental health and culture was in scarce supply at a February 12 public forum entitled Newtown Policy Issues Forum held at the University of Maine at Machias (UMM).

While the Democrats who control the Maine Legislature will be battling with Governor Paul LePage over his budget proposal that the Maine Municipal Association terms "a broadside attack on the property tax," the legislature also will be considering numerous other measures during this session.

In a historic vote in the November 6 election, Maine residents approved same-sex marriage, by the same margin that the state's voters had repealed a gay marriage law three years ago. Supporters of same-sex marriage won with 53% of the vote statewide and 47% against the measure.

Calais residents took to the polls on November 6 and favored withdrawing from AOS #77 by a margin of 62% to 38%. The vote in the local referendum question was 877 to 534.