Jack Ducharme News Today

Democrats used their majority to advance a state budget proposal – one that unravels a bipartisan effort to stabilize highway projects by moving away from fuel taxes and tapping a revenue stream from electric vehicles.

Many rural police units are having trouble recruiting more members than they are losing, leaving many smaller towns under-served.

Madison firefighters, residents and officials came together at a ceremony Wednesday to thank 9-year-old Devin Dumais for alerting the tenants of 25 Bean St. to a fire in their apartment building in June, allowing them to safely evacuate the premises before firefighting crews even arrived at the scene.

A ceremony was held Wednesday to honor Devin Dumais for notifying the residents about the June fire, allowing them to evacuate before firefighters arrived.

The passed budget brings the total biennial budget to $10.3 billon.

Lawmakers also will consider an $800 million supplemental budget, but the leadership of both parties in the House were focusing their efforts Wednesday on urging tribal bill supporters to stand by their votes in the hopes of overriding Gov. Janet Mills' veto.

While party leaders say Republicans have improved the spending plan, conservatives may take a more aggressive line.

In a series of votes early Wednesday, all but one Republican backed a Democratic-led budget that includes a key pension tax change, plus paid leave and child care funding.

House approves health care for noncitizens; Senate to vote on abortion rights

Lawmakers in Augusta were back in session Friday evening as they raced to get through a number of bills, including the governor's hotly contested abortion bill.