Maine

New Maine Initiative Helps Local Governments Prevent Workplace Injuries

March 8, 2005 -- Augusta- Maine Labor Commissioner, Laura Fortman, announced today the implementation of a new workplace safety and health campaign that aims to help local governments in the prevention of workplace injuries and illnesses. The Safety and Health Award for Public Employers (SHAPE) program offers incentives to public sector employers that take a proactive approach to workplace safety.    » read more »

Maine Governor Requests Federal Assistance for February Storm

February 15, 2005 -- AUGUSTA - Governor John Baldacci today requested snow emergency assistance from the federal government for last week’s storm that brought up to 32 inches of snow in a 24-hour period to Maine.    » read more »

Maine Governor Requests Federal Assistance for January Storm

February 11, 2005 -- AUGUSTA - Governor John Baldacci today requested snow emergency assistance from the federal government for the late January storm that brought up to 23 inches of snow and blizzard conditions to Maine.    » read more »

Maine Governor Unveils Bond Package

February 9, 2005 -- AUGUSTA – Governor Baldacci today unveiled the details of his $197 million bond package. The package for review by the Legislature includes critical investments for jobs, transportation infrastructure, clean water and the environment, education, and Land for Maine’s Future.    » read more »

Another Maine Prescription Drug Law Survives Industry Challenge

Magistrate Says State Can Cut Through PBM “Layer Of Fog.”

February 3, 2005 -- Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today that U.S. Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk has handed Maine a win in a recommended decision in the case challenging Maine’s Unfair Prescription Drug Practices Act (UPDPA).    » read more »

Maine Senior FarmShare Receives $801,665 From USDA

February 2, 2005 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Commissioner of Agriculture Robert W. Spear announced today that the Maine Department of Agriculture has been awarded an $801,665 grant from the USDA for the 2005 Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).    » read more »

Maine Governor Baldacci Announces Community Development Block Grants

January 31, 2005 -- AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci today announced the Department of Economic and Community Development has awarded more than $4.9 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). The monies fund Public Facility and Public Infrastructure programs.    » read more »

Maine Attorney General, Chief Medical Examiner Adopt New Policy On Organ And Tissue Donations In Medical Examiner Cases

January 28, 2005 -- Attorney General Steven Rowe and Chief Medical Examiner Margaret Greenwald today announced the adoption of a new policy on organ and tissue donations that will apply to medical examiner cases, which are usually suspicious or unattended deaths.    » read more »

Maine Unemployment Rate 4.7 Percent in December

January 25, 2005 -- State Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman announced that the seasonally-adjusted December unemployment rate for Maine was 4.7 percent, up from 4.5 percent in November and down from 5.2 percent in December 2003. The Maine unemployment rate remained well below the national December 2004 rate of 5.4 percent.    » read more »

Maine Governor Stresses Storm Safety

January 23, 2005 -- AUGUSTA, MAINE -- Governor Baldacci stated today that, “Although we are not bearing the major brunt of this current storm as our neighbors in Massachusetts are, it is still an extremely dangerous storm for residents of coastal and south-central Maine. We are seeing blizzard conditions in many areas, with high winds, hazardous wind chills, blowing and drifting snow and low visibility.”    » read more »

Maine Legislature Enacts Property Tax Relief Measure

House and Senate approve tax relief package by self-imposed Jan. 20 deadline

January 21, 2005 -- AUGUSTA – Just two months into the legislative session, the Maine House and Senate responded to calls for property tax reform by approving LD 1, the property tax relief proposal, on Thursday night by wide margins.    » read more »

Influenza Vaccine Restrictions Lifted

January 19, 2005 -- The Maine Department of Health and Human Services lifted all restrictions Wednesday on the use of influenza vaccine this winter.    » read more »

Governor Announces Native American Manufacturing Initiative

January 18, 2005 -- AUGUSTA – Governor John Baldacci and the five Native American Tribes in Maine today unveiled a new initiative that could result in long-term economic opportunities for Maine’s Native Americans and numerous small-and medium-sized manufacturers throughout the state. This initiative is made possible through the successful award of a $200,000 Cluster Enhancement Grant from the Maine Technology Institute. Key to the initiative is a partnership between the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township and the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point.    » read more »

State Plan to Combat Viral Hepatitis

January 18, 2005 -- Augusta—Although thousands of Mainers are affected by viral hepatitis, many are unaware that they are infected or at risk. With the potential for outcomes such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, or death, earlier rather than later intervention is essential.    » read more »

Governor’s Office Releases MaineCare Fact Book

January 10, 2005 -- Augusta – The Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance today released Understanding MaineCare: A Chartbook about Maine’s Medicaid Program produced for the Office by Rachel Garfield, a PhD candidate in Health Policy at Harvard University and former staff member to the nationally recognized Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.    » read more »