Maine to review safety policies after 4 recent child deaths
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine’s human services department says it is evaluating child safety policies in the state in the wake of four deaths of young children. The children were all 4 years old or younger, and all died within the past month due to accidents or injuries. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday it has asked Casey Family Programs, a child welfare foundation, for assistance in investigating the children’s deaths. The department said it’s also asking the foundation for help evaluating safety policies and offering new policy recommendations.
Maine governor vetoes bill to shutter youth detention center
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Janet Mills has vetoed a bill to close the state’s only youth detention center, her office announced Thursday, creating an obstacle for those who want to close the facility. Mills is a former prosecutor and attorney general. She called the bill to close the Long Creek Youth Center in South Portland “simplistic solution to a complex issue.” She also said she remains committed to bringing “necessary change” to the juvenile justice system. The bill was sent to the governor’s desk after a 19-15 vote in the Senate that was far shy of a two-thirds majority needed to overcome a veto.
Maine gov vetoes bill to curb foreign vote influence
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine’s governor said Thursday she has vetoed a bill that was designed to curb foreign influence in statewide votes. Supporters say the proposal was specifically designed to protect the integrity of public referendums in Maine. The bill, which passed the Maine Legislature, would stop businesses and other groups in which a foreign government has an interest of at least 10% from making contributions or expenditures to influence a citizen referendum. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills cited numerous reasons why she vetoed the bill. One of her reasons was that businesses with foreign investments include major employers in Maine.
Electric buses get a boost in southern Maine transit system
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine (AP) — A transit system in southern Maine has received more than $1.2 million from the federal government to purchase chargers for electric buses. Republican Sen. Susan Collins says Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit received the funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Low and No Emission Vehicle Grant Program. She said the money will allow the service to take “two more diesel buses off the road and replace them with battery-powered, carbon-neutral, and 100% sustainable buses.”
Electric buses get a boost in southern Maine transit system
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine (AP) — A transit system in southern Maine has received more than $1.2 million from the federal government to purchase chargers for electric buses. Republican Sen. Susan Collins says Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit received the funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Low and No Emission Vehicle Grant Program. She said the money will allow the service to take “two more diesel buses off the road and replace them with battery-powered, carbon-neutral, and 100% sustainable buses.”