STATE PARKS
$50M in improvements slated for Maine’s state parks
CAMDEN, Maine (AP) — Maine is planning a $50 million campaign to make improvements to its state parks. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills says the investment is happening as the state’s 48 state parks and historic sites have experienced record attendance. Mills and other officials planned to announce the improvement campaign on Wednesday at Camden Hills State Park in Camden. Mills’ office said the campaign will include infrastructure improvements that allow the parks to accommodate the increased attendance. More than 3.3 million people visited the parks in 2021.
MAINE GOVERNMENT-SOFTWARE
Vendor aims to get Maine software upgrade across finish line
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The state of Maine has selected a new vendor to complete the job of replacing the state’s outdated human resources management software and bringing it online. Accenture, a global consulting powerhouse, is tasked with getting the project across the finish line after the state already has spent at least $35 million over six years and two governors without a functioning system. The Portland Press Herald reports that the state estimated a year ago that a fully functioning system would cost $55 million. That’s more than four times what was expected when Gov. Paul LePage’s administration first launched the replacement effort in 2016.
TODDLER OVERDOSE
Mother charged after toddler overdoses
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Police say a Maine woman is facing felony charges after her toddler ingested and overdosed on heroin or fentanyl. Officers who discovered a lifeless body at the scene on Sunday administered the overdose-antidote Narcan and the 1 1/2-year-old boy began to regain consciousness. Police say the toddler’s mother was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child. She was held Tuesday at Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn without bail.
BEACHES CONFERENCE
Conference about Maine, NH beaches back after 3-year hiatus
SOUTH BERWICK, Maine (AP) — A conference about the health of the Maine and New Hampshire coasts is coming back after a three-year hiatus. The 13th biennial Beaches Conference is scheduled to take place on June 10 at Berwick Academy in Maine. The conference is intended to bring together scientists, students, regulators and many others to brainstorm about the future of the region’s beaches. Officials with University of Maine say the conference themes this year include tourism, coastal management and community resilience in the era of climate change.
PUBLIC DEFENDERS-MAINE
Lawsuit over Maine’s public defender system to proceed
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A lawsuit over Maine’s system that provides attorneys to those who can’t afford one is being allowed to proceed. The class-action lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine contends there’s a failure to train, supervise and adequately fund a system to ensure the constitutional right to effective counsel for defendants. Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy late last week rejected the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Maine is the only state in the nation without a public defender’s office for people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer.
LORING-PFAS
Air Force to further investigate chemicals at closed base.
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — The U.S. Air Force plans to test at least 20 sites at the former Loring Air Force Based for contamination by so-called forever chemicals. Officials are concerned that PFAS contamination from firefighting foam on Loring’s runway may have spread elsewhere. So far, it has not been found in any drinking water supplies. The Bangor Daily News reported that a previous analysis showed low levels of PFAS, warranting further investigation.