Mills, LePage differ sharply on Maine’s economic health
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and former Republican Gov. Paul LePage are painting starkly different pictures of the state’s economy. LePage went on the attack in their fourth debate Thursday, suggesting the economy has gone to pot since he left office and that Mills’ policies contributed to inflation. Mills fired back by saying that the state has recovered jobs lost in the pandemic, the state’s economic growth is 11th in the nation, and that Maine’s 3.3% unemployment rate is better than the national and New England averages. Their contest is one of about a dozen competitive governor’s races nationwide.
Maine begins removing those naughty license plates
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine is cleaning up its roads one naughty license plate a time. The state is enforcing new rules to eliminate vulgar vanity license plates that proliferated after the state effectively eliminated its review process. That laissez-faire approach brought scores of complaints before lawmakers reinstated a review process. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says she supports freedom of expression, but said profane language shouldn’t be on state-issued license plates. The state began sending letters this month recalling offensive license plates.
Fishermen face shutdowns as warming hurts species
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Fishing regulators and the seafood industry are coming to grips with the possibility some species that have declined with climate change might not come back. It’s rare for regulators to completely shut down a fishery, but they’re considering doing just that in at least one instance, and warming waters are the culprit. In New England, the regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is now considering making a moratorium on shrimp fishing permanent, essentially ending the centuries-old harvest of the shrimp. It’s a stark siren for several species caught by U.S. fishermen that regulators say are on the brink. Others include softshell clams, Alaskan crab, winter flounder and Chinook salmon.