Mike Roughton News Today

Growth in developing industries, including pharmaceuticals and transportation equipment, hasn't offset a loss of paper mill jobs.

The bill, introduced by Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, would tackle the state's child care shortage by increasing monthly stipends for child care workers and relax the income limits for families to apply for a state child care subsidy.

A proposal from Senate President Troy Jackson would double the current wage stipend for child care providers to $400 a month and expand the number of Maine families who may be eligible for child care subsidies.

Hikers trek Homestead Trail: Hill N Dale Hiking Club will hike Thursday the Hedges Homestead Trail in the Buffalo River area. This can be either a 4.8 mile out and back or the return hike can be a bushwhack along the river, making it a loop hike. This bushwhack is a little shorter route, but involves some difficult boulder scrambling and climbing through a couple of ravines.