AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry issued the following news: The Department of Marine Resources' Maine Coastal Program (MCP) and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestrys Municipal Planning Assistance Program (MPAP) are seeking applications for coastal planning grants totaling approximately $300,000. Funding for these planning grants comes from the Maine Coastal Programs annual grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheri  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The Maine Department of Education issued the following news release: Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide Maine students with hands-on experiences in programs like culinary arts, welding, auto, law enforcement, early childhood education, and so much more. On this month's What Holds Us Together podcast, Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin talks with three CTE leaders about this engaging learning pathway, Randy Crockett from Oxford Hills Technical  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 22 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2024: Governor Janet Mills announced today that 40 Maine businesses have been awarded $3.13 million in grants from her Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan to increase sales of Maine-made products across the United States. The Domestic Trade Program offers Maine businesses financial and technical support to develop new market opportunities across the United States. The $6 million Jobs Plan initiative is m  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 21 (TNSres) -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2024: Governor Janet Mills today announced that the State of Maine has selected a section of state-owned Sears Island that is reserved for port development as its preferred site for a port facility to support the floating offshore wind industry. The selection of the site follows an extensive public stakeholder process led by the Maine Department of Transportation and Maine Port Authorit  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 22 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following news release on Feb. 21, 2024: Governor Janet Mills today unveiled legislation that would enhance public safety and strengthen Maine's mental health system while respecting Maine's longstanding outdoor traditions. The legislation, first announced by the Governor during her State of the State Address, stems from conversations with lawmakers and with people and organizations across Maine in which she heard a common belief  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The Maine House Democrats issued the following news release on Feb. 21, 2024: The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Taxation voted unanimously of those present Wednesday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, that would help protect fishermen's access to Maine's working waterfront. As amended, LD 2162 would strengthen the working waterfront section of the Current Land Use tax program, which provides tax relief for owners of land designa  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The Maine House Democrats issued the following news release on Feb. 22, 2024: The Legislature's Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee voted Wednesday to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Lydia Crafts, D-Newcastle, that would improve access to social work services in Maine by enacting an interstate social work licensure compact. Currently, social workers must seek a separate license in each state and territory where they wish to practice, whi  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The Maine House Democrats issued the following news release on Feb. 22, 2024: The Legislature's Joint Select Committee on Housing unanimously advanced legislation on Tuesday sponsored by Rep. Cheryl Golek, D-Harpswell, that would establish a stakeholder group to examine systematic difficulties in obtaining and utilizing low-income affordable housing vouchers and provide further support for Section 8 housing voucher recipients. Amid the state's current housing crisis,  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The Maine House Democrats issued the following news release on Feb. 22, 2024: The Maine Legislature advanced a bill this week from Rep. Scott Landry, D-Farmington, to expand moose hunting opportunities for Maine kids experiencing a critical or terminal illness. Currently, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife gives just two moose permits per year to nonprofits that facilitate hunting and fishing adventures for children across the country facing a terminal i  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The Maine House Democrats issued the following news release on Feb. 22, 2024: Rep. Tiffany Roberts, D-South Berwick, was recognized Thursday as a Maine Business Champion by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce for her work on the Maine Dirigo Business Incentive Program and her continued commitment to strengthening Maine's small businesses. "Maine small businesses are the heart of our state's economy. In the Legislature, it is our duty to provide them with the tools th  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The Maine Secretary of State issued the following news release on Feb. 22, 2024: The citizen initiative petition effort "An Act to Limit Contributions to Political Action Committees That Make Independent Expenditures" has been found valid, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows confirmed today. The petitions for "An Act to Limit Contributions to Political Action Committees That Make Independent Expenditures" had been in circulation since Oct. 27, 2023. On Jan. 23, 2024 th  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The Maine Senate Democrats issued the following news on Feb. 22, 2024: On Wednesday, Feb. 21, the Maine Senate gave initial approval to a bill from Sen. Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick. LD 1284, "An Act to Require Personal Finance to be Taught as a Separate Course to Obtain a High School Diploma," would direct the Commissioner of Education to consider separating personal finance from social studies in school curriculum, as part of graduation requirements. "As a small bu  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The Maine Senate Democrats issued the following news on Feb. 21, 2024: Today, the Maine Senate voted to advance LD 1896, "An Act to Index Workers' Compensation Benefits to the Rate of Inflation," a bill introduced by Sen. Tim Nangle, D-Windham, that would direct a thorough analysis of Maine's Workers' Compensation benefits landscape. "The goal of LD 1896 is to ensure that our injured workers receive fair and adequate compensation that keeps pace with the cost of livi  more

FARMINGTON, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The University of Maine Farmington campus issued the following news: The University of Maine at Farmington's celebrated Visiting Writers Series is excited to present current poet laureate of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Diannely Antigua, as the popular program's fourth reader of the 2023/24 season. Antigua will read from her work at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 7, 2024, in The Landing in the UMF Olsen Student Center. The reading is free and open to the public and will  more

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The University of Maine's Presque Isle Campus issued the following news release: Local students from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Presque Isle High School have been able to take part in the experiential learning opportunity of a lifetime thanks to an anonymous donor and an island center off the coast of Maine focused on science and leadership-based activities. UMPI was initially contacted in Fall 2022 by John Van Dis from the Hurricane Island Cent  more