The state’s 30th annual Measures of Growth Report found that Maine was performing well in environmental stewardship, Internet connectivity and transportation infrastructure, but needed to improve other areas to boost its economy.
The state Department of Environmental Protection announced that it is 91 percent of the way toward meeting its carbon neutrality target by 2045. But the state still has a way to go before reaching its other climate goals.
A new commission appointed by Maine Gov. Janet Mills will explore ways to make state infrastructure more resilient to climate change.
The state experienced a 16 percent decrease in fatal overdoses in 2023, which is more than five times the nationwide decline. This was also the state’s first year-over-year reduction in fatalities since 2018.
There are 42 homeless shelters in Maine with a total of about 1,170 beds run by various nonprofits throughout the state.
The state was among 25 states that received an “F” grade for gun safety from the Giffords Law Center; of the Northeastern states, Maine and New Hampshire were the only ones to receive a failing grade.
Maine’s ambitious broadband expansion is creating demand for more workers to hang fiber. Women are increasingly responding to the opportunity.
Large banks are assuring their customers that the recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank of New York aren’t likely to affect the average resident as Maine banks don’t have much reliance on venture capital or cryptocurrency clients.
Pre-pandemic, job vacancies in the Maine city hovered around 125; now, twice as many are empty. City leaders have said that addressing the issue is a top priority but replacing lost jobs won’t be easy.
Clinton Collamore has admitted that he signed the names of supporters on funding petitions, after previously pleading not-guilty to the charges. But Collamore maintains that he did not want to deceive regulators.
The bill would require the Public Utilities Commission to procure 2.8 gigawatts of wind energy over the next 12 years, enough to power 980,000 homes. The turbines destined for the Gulf of Maine are still in development.
The governor’s two-year plan would put the budget over $10 billion for the first time, a $900 million increase over the current cycle’s funds. It includes $58 million for free school meals, $400 million for transportation and more.
A bipartisan effort to correct the shortcomings of the 1887 Electoral County Act, which enabled the Jan. 6 insurrection, is likely to pass through the U.S. Senate as long as it receives approval before the lame-duck session ends.
The newly elected Legislature will convene on Dec. 7 for the first time and will immediately face several big issues, including a long-awaited emergency heating and energy assistance package for state residents.
This year’s campaign cycle has reached $23 million, a record for the state’s gubernatorial race. About 90 percent and 40 percent of incumbent Janet Mills’ and Paul LePage’s spending, respectively, have gone to out-of-state vendors.
While the entire nation is struggling amid a worker shortage, Maine’s aging workforce presents unique challenges. Workers that may have previously been overlooked are now being sought out and trained to fill labor gaps.
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