Age gap persists in Maine vaccinations, but under 40 gaining
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A much higher percentage of older residents in Maine have had their coronavirus vaccines, but younger residents are starting to catch up. The office of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills reported on Wednesday that 72% of Maine residents age 40 and older have had their final dose of the vaccine. The rate for residents who are younger than 40 but eligible for a vaccine is about 38%. Older residents have a higher rate of vaccination in part because some age groups became eligible for the vaccine sooner.
SHIPYARD VISIT
Seapower chairman paying a visit to Maine’s Bath Iron Works
The chairman of the House seapower subcommittee is paying a visit to Maine’s Bath Iron Works. U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden of Maine are hosting Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut at the shipyard on Thursday, nearly a week after the Biden administration released a budget that eliminates a destroyer like those built in Maine. Last month, the Maine delegation wrote to the administration to oppose shipbuilding cutbacks.
MAINE LEGISLATURE
Mask tension lingers as Maine lawmakers return to statehouse
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Tensions between Republicans and Democrats over the use of masks lingered in the Maine Legislature as lawmakers returned to the Maine State House. Maine has lifted mask requirements in most of the state, but they’re still required at the state house. Numerous Republican lawmakers have criticized the requirement, and six Republican members and one Libertarian were stripped of committee assignments last week for refusing to comply with the rule. The Legislature met in the state house Wednesday for the first time since before the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
MAINE LEGISLATURE-PUBLIC UTILITY
Maine’s governor has reservations about buyout of utilities
Maine Gov. Janet Mills has reservations about a bill that would replace a pair of power companies with a consumer-owned electric utility. Mills, a Democrat, told Maine Public on Wednesday that the proposal presents “a rosy solution to a very complicated series of problems.” The proposal by Democratic Rep. Seth Berry would create an independent nonprofit Pine Tree Power Company to replace Central Maine Power and Versant. Critics say the bill would be costly and would cause years of litigation. A committee voted 9-2 in favor of the bill, but it has yet to go to the full Legislature.
PRIMARY PARTICIPATION LEGISLATION
Bill to open Maine primaries gains bipartisan support
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine bill that would allow unenrolled voters to vote in party primaries has gained bipartisan support in the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee and the support of former U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe. The Portland Press Herald reports that the bill, sponsored by state Sen. Chloe Maxmin, D-Nobleboro, would allow unregistered voters to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primaries, but would not allow enrolled voters to vote across party lines. Unenrolled voters who participate in a primary will not be automatically be enrolled in the party. However, participants will be counted as party members for the purposes of selecting and allocating delegates to state and national conventions.
POND DEATH INVESTIGATION
Police identify husband, wife whose vehicle went into a pond
NEW VINEYARD, Maine (AP) — Maine State Police have released the identities of a man who said he crashed his car into a pond and his wife who died. Police say 43-year-old Collette Daggett of New Vineyard was found dead on the shore of the pond on Tuesday while her husband, 42-year-old Wilfred Daggett, was transported to a hospital. He was later released and results of the autopsy on his wife Wednesday were not released. State police are continuing to investigate the incident in New Vineyard.