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Maine’s major police oversight bill stalls as sheriffs roll back support Contributed • April 28, 2021 By Erin Rhoda, Bangor Daily News Staff After backing legislation that would bring more oversight to elected county sheriffs, the Maine Sheriffs’ Association withdrew its support this week, potentially torpedoing the bill’s chances of being passed by the full Maine Legislature and showing the difficulty of bringing legislative changes even amid widespread calls for more police accountability. Upon learning that the sheriffs’ association was opposing LD 375, which would create...

Swett wrote the tribute in celebration of the Pine Tree State’s Bicentennial in 2020. The 64-year-old grew up in North Norway and said that although he traveled around the country a lot as a young adult, he always came back to Maine. “Growing up in rural Maine, I couldn’t wait to get out of here,” he said. “I put about 20,000 miles on my thumb” hitchhiking or driving “whatever car I could afford at the time,” in the late-70s. “I always loved that small town feeling, and so Maine, the older I got, the more it meant to me. Each time I came back, (there was) more a part of my r...

Read Article Linda LaCroix, Bridgton Community Development director, stands outside her office at the Bridgton Town Office recently. Lacroix lives in town, but because of a lack of internet service due to disparities in Spectrum’s records for her address, she had to go to a friend’s house in North Bridgton when the pandemic forced her to work remotely. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Portland Press Herald BRIDGTON — When a couple of town employees tested positive for COVID-19 late last year and town offices closed for 2 1/2 weeks, Linda LaCroix could not simply “work from home.” Her woul...

‘One easy, simple step’ to protect Maine’s lakes from invasive species Legislature considers a 'Pull the Plug Law' to require boaters to drain out any water before they leave an inland waterway. Share Milfoil cleanup efforts underway last summer at Jug Stream and Cobbosseecontee Lake. Some legislators are proposing the “Pull the Plug Law” that would require boaters to drain everything from their vessels, trailers and other equipment when removing a boat from the water.  Image courtesy of the Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed Maine’s many lakes may get some added protection to...

AUGUSTA — A group of state lawmakers has introduced LD 231 “An Act To Establish Open Primaries” to pave the way for semi-open primaries in Maine elections.  The bill would allow, if passed, an unenrolled voter to vote in a primary election, including a presidential primary election, without having to enroll in a political party. An unenrolled voter may vote in only one party's primary election. Republicans would not be able to vote in Democratic primaries and Democrats would not be able to vote in Republican primaries. Open Primaries Maine, a group working to support the passage of ...