TheRepublic.com - Maine News

Maine home sales jump 14 percent in April

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:37:33 -0400

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine - Sales of existing single-family homes in Maine jumped 14 percent in April compared to a year earlier, and the median sales price increased 4 percent, the Maine Association of Realtors said Wednesday.

Change of command at Maine shipyard Friday

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:56:25 -0400

KITTERY, Maine - The next commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is about to take charge.

Maine man appears in court in missing teen's death

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:25:35 -0400

BANGOR, Maine - A 15-year-old girl found dead in woods north of Bangor knew the man charged with killing her, her best friend said, contrary to a report from her mother that she left her Glenburn home to see someone she recently met on Facebook before she disappeared.

LePage to veto Maine hospital repayment bill

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:05 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. Paul LePage's office says he will veto a bill moving through the Legislature to pay off a $484 million debt to Maine hospitals because of an amendment Democrats attached to it that would expand Medicaid.

New England economy seen improving, but unevenly

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:40:48 -0400

HARTFORD, Connecticut - As New England recovers from the worst recession in decades, Massachusetts and Vermont are posting the strongest gains while Rhode Island and Maine lag, an economists' group said Wednesday.

Bill to tax political action committees killed

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:23:40 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - A bill in Maine that sought to raise state revenues by taxing political action committees is dead for this session.

Rule on lobbying for ex-Maine lawmakers enacted

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:41:54 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine lawmakers who look to take up lobbying after their state service would be subject to new rules in a bill approved by the Legislature is signed by the governor.

Maine lawmakers refuse to repeal health care law

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:10:36 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Legislature has said no to a move to bar enforcement of the national health care law.

Maine highway study law repeal voted

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:44:33 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Senate has given final approval to a bill that repeals a requirement for a feasibility study on the proposed east-west highway.

Maine casino sale awaits state approval

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:37:07 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine's Gambling Control Board has ruled that the Oxford Casino won't be asked to apply for a new operator's license if a sale to the company that owns the home of the Kentucky Derby is approved.

Somerset County sues state Corrections Board

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:04:54 -0400

SKOWHEGAN, Maine - Somerset County has sued the state prisons board in an attempt to get payment of more than $280,000 the county says it is owed for operations at the county jail.

Ex-chief of Maine nonprofit sentenced for stealing

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:47:33 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine - The former executive director of a Maine nonprofit that serves the poor has been sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison for stealing $900,000 from the organization.

Maine businesses to receive environmental awards

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:08:17 -0400

WINSLOW, Maine - Three businesses, a nonprofit and a new venture are being named as this year's winners of the Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence.

Maine municipalities deemed "business-friendly"

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:35:48 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - Two more Maine municipalities have been designated as "business-friendly" by the state.

Regulators postpone vote on Maine's eel fishery

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:21:58 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine - Regulators on Tuesday postponed making a decision on new rules concerning Maine's lucrative American eel fishery.

Maine gov. signs suicide prevention education bill

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:56:25 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. Paul R. LePage has signed a bill into law that will make sure staff at Maine schools are trained in suicide education and awareness.

NH's Shea-Porter introduces pipeline amendment

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:19:51 -0400

CONCORD, New Hampshire - New Hampshire U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter has introduced an amendment separating approval of the Keystone pipeline project from authorization of pipeline activity between Portland, Maine and Montreal, Canada.

Maine psychologist pleads guilty to fraud

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:40:18 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine - A Maine psychologist has pleaded guilty to defrauding insurance companies by submitting claims for counseling sessions that never happened.

2 lawsuits filed against Maine Catholic church

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:50:12 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine - Two brothers are suing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland on claims church officials knew a priest was sexually abusing them and other children but did nothing to stop it.

State determines OOB employee retaliated against

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:30:56 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Human Rights Commission has found that a former Old Orchard Beach town employee suffered discrimination and retaliation for reporting financial irregularities.

LePage: Eliminate Maine's income tax

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:50:05 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - Gov. Paul LePage says he wants to completely eliminate Maine's income tax.

Central Maine Power sued by contractor for $43M

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:05:34 -0400

PORTLAND, Maine - One of the lead contractors on Central Maine Power Co.'s transmission line upgrade has filed a lawsuit seeking at least $43 million from the utility for what it says are work changes that cost extra time and money.

Defendant in Lewiston fork stabbing freed

Tue, 21 May 2013 05:43:04 -0400

AUBURN, Maine - A Lewiston man facing up to 30 years in prison for allegedly stabbing his friend in the chest with a barbecue fork has been freed after the victim refused to testify against him in court.

3 indicted in Maine on meth lab charges

Tue, 21 May 2013 04:35:13 -0400

BANGOR, Maine - Three northern Maine residents have been indicted on charges of making the highly addictive drug methamphetamine.

Retailer LL Bean keeping it in the family

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:25:26 -0400

FREEPORT, Maine - L.L. Bean's grandson Leon Gorman is retiring as chairman of the outdoors retailer after more than a half-century as the company's chairman or CEO, but the privately held firm is keeping the position in the family.