Maine

March 3, 2008 -- Calling the funding essential to the operation of state crime and drug enforcement efforts, Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe, joined by the 55 other Attorneys General from all jurisdictions of the United States today issued a letter calling on Congressional leaders to restore funding to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne-JAG).    » read more »

February 29, 2008 -- Today, Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe announced the filing of a lawsuit against the United States Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS) and Michael Leavitt in his capacity as Secretary of US DHHS. The Complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges a certain agency rule that would adversely impact many of Maine’s Medicaid recipients and cost the State’s general fund more than 16 million dollars in fiscal years 2008 and 2009.    » read more »

New England continues trend of lower releases to air, land and water

Boston, Mass., Feb. 21, 2008 – EPA’s most recent Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data is now available for the reporting year of 2006. This year, due to continued increases in electronic reporting by industry, TRI data is available earlier than ever for both local communities and national analysis.    » read more »

February 13, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci has signed an Emergency Declaration allowing power crews from other states to come to Maine and to help restore electricity.

The Emergency Declaration was signed around 8 p.m. today to expedite power restoration for the approximately 66,900 households in the State currently without electricity. Lewiston, Augusta and Alfred are the hardest hit areas.    » read more »

February 12, 2008 -- With yet another winter storm looming, with the potential for power outages, MEMA and the Maine Center for Disease Control warn Maine citizens to be very careful using gas-powered generators, kerosene heaters or other heating or power sources. If not used safely, these devices can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas formed when burning most types of fuels. Using gas-powered generators, kerosene heaters, charcoal grills, and gas grills can cause poisoning if CO gas builds-up in closed in spaces.    » read more »

February 11, 2008 -- Augusta, ME – The Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced today that Maine is one of three states selected to receive federal technical assistance over the next year to protecting drinking water resources amid the challenges posed by growth.    » read more »

February 11, 2008 -- “Today the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck down Bush Administration regulations that exempted coal and oil fired power plants, including some of this country’s worst polluters, from their obligation to sharply decrease their mercury pollution. This ruling represents a significant victory for both the health of Maine people and our natural environment.    » read more »

February 8, 2008 -- (AUGUSTA) -- On Wednesday, February 13, 2008, The Department of Environmental Protection will honor the accomplishments of 20 business, organizations, and institutions during an awards ceremony at the Senator Inn located in Augusta. The "Governor's Carbon Challenge Networking and Expo Forum” begins at 8:30 AM. DEP Commissioner David Littell will begin the awards ceremony at 2:00 P.M. Companies and organizations will be receiving Governor’s Awards for their significant efforts in reducing their carbon emissions and energy consumption and include:    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe today announced that Maine’s Medicaid program will receive approximately $2.2 million as part of two separate global settlements with Merck & Co., Inc.. The settlements involve 49 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government, totaling $649 million.

“This is a significant recovery for Maine’s Medicaid program,” Attorney General Rowe said.    » read more »

February 5, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci was joined today by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Field Office Director Bill Burney to announce that the State of Maine has received more than $10 million in federal grants to provide housing opportunities for people who are homeless. Maine’s funding this year is an increase of $700,000 more than last year’s grant.    » read more »

In the race for delegates, Ron Paul appears to closely trail Romney for first place

February 4, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – While most reports about this past weekend’s Maine Caucus focused on the purely symbolic presidential preference poll, in the meaningful race to secure delegates to the state convention Ron Paul is primed to finish second with likely 35 percent of the total delegates.    » read more »

February 1, 2008 -- With an approaching storm bringing freezing rain to parts of the State, the Maine Center for Disease Control warns Maine citizens to be very careful using gas-powered generators, kerosene heaters or other heating or power sources during power outages. If not used safely, they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas formed when burning most types of fuels. Using gas-powered generators, kerosene heaters, charcoal grills, and gas grills can cause poisoning if CO gas builds-up in closed in spaces.    » read more »

January 31, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced its Maine leadership team. U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins will serve as co-chairs, former Governor John McKernan as Honorary Chair, and State Representative Josh Tardy as Vice-Chair of John McCain's growing grassroots organization in the Pine Tree state. In addition to the statewide leadership team, 22 state legislators have endorsed John McCain.    » read more »

January 31, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reminds the traveling public that U.S. and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older should no longer expect that they will be able to prove identity and citizenship by relying on an oral declaration alone. Instead, travelers will be asked to present documents from one of the options below when entering the United States at land or sea ports of entry. Travelers who do not present one of the documents listed below may be delayed as U.S.    » read more »

January 30, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – The federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services plans to adopt five rule changes that eliminate federal dollars that have supported healthcare services for the elderly, persons with developmental disabilities, school-aged children and persons with mental illness.    » read more »