Maine moose permit auction applications due in a few days
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The deadline for Maine’s moose hunters to apply to participate in an auction for a permit to try to bag one of the big animals is coming up in a few days. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife auctions 10 moose hunting permits to the highest bidders every year. The deadline to participate in the auction is Feb. 19. The state gives out more of the coveted permits via a lottery system. Maine’s moose hunt attracts tens of thousands of applications, but the state typically only gives out about 3,000 permits.
Late ice cramps anglers’ appetite, research of crucial fish
BOWDOINHAM, Maine (AP) — A lack of ice in cold weather states this year has made it difficult for scientists to study the population of an ecologically important fish. Rainbow smelts, which are small fish that are very popular with ice anglers, have been a focus of conservationists for many years. The federal government listed the fish as a species of special concern more than 15 years ago due to declines in its population. In Maine and other states, a late arriving winter has made it difficult to collect data about the health of the smelt population.
Latest Maine 6:20 a.m. EST
MARIJUANA TESTING-MAINE
Some Maine employers no longer require marijuana tests
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Some of Maine’s largest employers no longer test job applicants to see if they have used marijuana or if they do, a positive test no longer precludes a qualified candidate from getting a job. Rather than marijuana use, many Maine employers are now focusing on making sure employees are not high while on the job, something that isn’t always easy. The changes come after Maine legalized the use of recreational marijuana and the legal marijuana market has more than doubled since it began in October. Some safety-sensitive positions such as jobs that require a commercial driver’s license or the use of a firearm, still require testing.
BC-VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW ENGLAND
Tight vaccine supply in MA; VT extends state of emergency
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker says he’s frustrated that a tight vaccine supply is preventing health care providers from vaccinating as many people against COVID-19 as they can. Baker said Saturday the state has the capacity to administer 242,000 doses of vaccine a week, but has only been receiving 103,000 to 106,000 doses a week. Baker said he’d like to be able to see the state administer as many vaccines as it can. Meanwhile, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott will be extending the pandemic-related state of emergency on Monday for another month. And bill aimed at helping people re-enter the workforce after the coronavirus pandemic has cleared the New Hampshire state Senate.
FOREST PROTECTIONS
Maine pols fear new forest rules could hurt conservation
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Maine’s congressional delegation says proposed federal rules about forest protection could hold back conservation efforts in the state. Maine is the most forested state in the nation. The delegation members said they have concerns about proposed guidelines that set an upper threshold of 45,000 acres for landowners to receive Natural Resources Conservation Service funding. The new guidelines would regulate what constitutes nonindustrial private forest land. The delegation says that’s significant because it means entities that previously used Natural Resources Conservation money might become ineligible for the funding.
TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-REPUBLICANS
7 Republicans vote to convict Trump in impeachment trial
WASHINGTON (AP) — Seven Republicans have voted to convict former President Donald Trump in his Senate trial. That is easily the largest number of lawmakers to ever vote to find a president of their own party guilty at impeachment proceedings. The Senate voted 57-43 to find Trump guilty, meaning the evenly divided Senate fell well short of the two-thirds majority required to convict an impeached president. But by joining all 50 Democrats who voted against Trump, the seven GOP senators created a clear majority against him and provided a bipartisan chorus of condemnation of the former president.
POLAND SPRING
Water rights activists worry about sale of Poland Spring
FRYEBURG, Maine (AP) — Water rights activists are decrying the potential sale of Poland Spring and saying the buyer identified in news reports represents a “new threat” to Maine’s water resources. Several dozen gathered for the rally sponsored by Community Water Justice to express their worries about the state’s water resource. Nickie Sekera is co-founder of the group. She says she is worried that a private equity firm could be less responsive than Nestle and relieve the company of any accountability it promised to Maine communities. Nestle announced in June that it was considering selling its bottled water brands in North America. It declined to comment on news reports that it’s negotiating to sell to a New York private equity firm.
AP-US-TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT-SENATORS
Which GOP senators are seen as possible votes against Trump?
WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite long odds, Democrats say they’re holding out hope that Donald Trump will be convicted when the Senate votes on whether he incited the riot on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. They’d need a minimum of 17 Republicans to vote with them to convict the former president for incitement of insurrection. But that hope seems to have dimmed when word came Saturday before the trial resumed that Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell would vote to acquit Trump. Among the possible Republican votes are frequent Trump critics, including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine. Democrats also are looking at retiring GOP senators including Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.