Lack of envelopes complicates $850 checks to Maine residents
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Most Maine residents will soon receive $850 checks to help them cope with inflation after a shortage of envelopes and paper products threatened to slow delivery. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said Wednesday her administration will send the first round of the checks this week. Mills says an initial 5,000 checks are to be sent on Thursday and an estimated 200,000 will be mailed per week after that. The Maine Legislature approved the rebate program, which returns more than half of the state’s $729 million budget surplus to residents.
AP-US-FOREVER-CHEMICALS-FOOD-PACKAGING
Pressure growing to remove PFAS from fast food wrappers
BOSTON (AP) — Environmental and health groups are pushing dozens of fast food companies, supermarkets chains and other retail outlets to remove PFAS from their packaging. Known as “forever chemicals” for their persistence in the environment, PFAS have been used for decades to prevent grease, water and other liquids from soaking through wrappers, boxes and bags. Opponents of the practice argue that PFAS-treated packaging poses a danger to consumers as well as the environment, since the waste ends up as landfill. in compost or incinerated where the chemicals can leach into groundwater or the soil. They contend there are safer alternatives.
PFIZER LYME DISEASE-TRIAL
Pfizer to conduct Lyme disease vaccine trial in Maine
BREWER, Maine (AP) — Pfizer has partnered with a Maine health care system to conduct its third phase of a Lyme disease clinical trial to test the efficacy of the company’s vaccine. The trial will be held at Northern Light Health system in Brewer. The Bangor Daily News reported last week that the trial will span over 13 months and require patients to take two shots two months apart and a booster. A Northern Light doctor said Pfizer approached the hospital system about the clinical trial because Maine has one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the U.S.
IMMIGRATION-ASYLUM-INVESTIGATION
Federal lawmakers seek review of New England asylum cases
BOSTON (AP) — Congressional leaders in New England are calling for a federal investigation into the low rate of approvals by the region’s asylum office. Eight Democratic lawmakers from Massachusetts and Maine issued a letter Thursday seeking a formal review of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Boston asylum office. It processes claims for refugees in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The lawmakers say their request was prompted by a March report that found the office approved 15.5% of asylum applications. That compares with the national average of 28%. Spokespeople for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Homeland Security inspector general’s office have not commented.
DEADLY FORCE-POLICE
Maine AG rules police justified in fatally shooting man
WATERVILLE, Maine (AP) — The Maine Attorney General’s Office has ruled that the fatal shooting of a man in Waterville by police last year was justified. Waterville police responded in February 2021 to reports of 32-year-old Eric Porter armed with a knife and threatening people outside a hotel. The attorney general’s office said Friday in a report about the shooting that police ordered Porter to drop the knife and surrender when he charged at an officer with the weapon. The attorney general’s report said another officer shot and killed Porter.
STATE POLICE DISCIPLINARY RECORDS
Judge orders state police to provide more docs to newspapers
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A judge says Maine State Police must turn over additional records of misconduct by troopers to the state’s two biggest newspapers. State Police must also search out and turn over missing disciplinary records it failed to provide to the Portland Press Herald and Bangor Daily News. The newspapers sued under the Maine Freedom of Access Act for withholding information about misconduct by troopers. The newspapers reported that many of the 22 disciplinary cases were so heavily redacted that there was no meaningful description of what led to the discipline.