News

Maine Virtual Charter Schools Bill Hits Roadblock

By A.J. Higgins • Apr 14, 2014

An effort to establish so-called "virtual" charter schools in Maine hit a major roadblock in Augusta today, as the Maine House approved a moratorium on online public school classes. In states such as Pennsylvania, more than 3,000 students are enrolled in home-based, online classes from kindergarten through the twelvth grade. But Maine lawmakers say they want to study the issue further, before they open the doors.

Bill to Hike Board Oversight of Maine's County Jails Advances

By • Apr 14, 2014

Maine jails could soon have a new boss, of sorts.  A bill that's received initial approval in the Legislature would give greater authority to the Board of Corrections to track and approve funding and management decisions at Maine's 15 county jails.  Some see it as a possible solution to problems that arose after the county jails were consolidated in 2008.  Not all county officials are happy with the so-called compromise.

UMaine Taps Casino Funds for Older Students' Scholarships

By Jay Field • Apr 14, 2014

More than a third of students enrolled in the University of Maine System are 25 or older. They also make up 60 percent of all part-time students. Paying for tuition, books and other school-related expenses can be a huge challenge for these non-traditional students - many of whom also have full-time jobs and busy family lives. A new scholarship program aims to relieve some of the financial pressures these students face, and, at the same time, help the UMaine system protect a key source of its future enrollment. Jay Field reports.

Saco Group Tries Raising Private Funds to Save Historic Stone Bridge

By • Apr 14, 2014

This is a demonstration of what Core Publisher calls a "Web Clip," which refers to a piece of content that the news web editor may come across from another source that you want to highlight on news.mpbn.net

Legislature Nears Adjournament

By • Apr 14, 2014

 The Maine House and State Senate are due to adjourn for the year on Wednesday.   Before then, the legislature must vote ona 30-million-dollar bill that will balance the state's budget for the fiscal year beginning in July.   There are also dozens of measures that have price tags that the legislature will be asked one final time to fund.  Most, maybe all, will fail.  After Wednesday, legislative leaders say they expect to return later this year to deal with more vetoes from Republican Governor LePage.

Warm Up, Then Rain, Could Lead to Flooding

By • Apr 14, 2014

Rain and melting snow are keeping rivers running high in northern New England, increasing the chance of flooding.  Almost all of the region, along with northern-most New York State are under flood watches.The National Weather Service said minor flooding occurred Sunday morning along the Barton River in Coventry, Vt., and urged anyone traveling near streams and rivers to seek higher ground at the first sign of rising water.

Goose Rocks Beach Access Case Comes Before Maine High Court

By Tom Porter • Apr 10, 2014
Tom Porter/MPBN

The dispute goes back nearly 10 years.  But two months ago, the Maine Supreme Court sided with the property owners,  overturning an earlier lower court decision, which found that the public had established an easement to the beach "by custom," - that is, by having used it consistently over the last 100 or more years.

In the latest development, the Supreme Court granted a request by town and state officials to reconsider the motion, and oral arguments were heard on both sides.

Appropriations Committee Reaches 2015 Budget Deal: LePage Objects

By • Apr 10, 2014

The legislature's appropriations committee has found a way to balance next fiscal year's budget, but Governor LePage doesn't like it.It's because the budget document reduces expenditures by 20-million-dollars by extending the medicaid payment schedule for health care providers by two weeks.  LePage said yesterday, "We spent three and a half years to get a plan so we could pay off the hospitals and now they're telling me well you will delay payments to the hospitals, that's unacceptable." The governor's immediate leverage is limited.   The budget bill will need a two-thirds vote to pass.

Spring Cleaning

By • Apr 10, 2014

  Winter is finally on the way out and it's time to assess what the long, cold weather did to our homes and property. What should be at the top of our to-do lists regarding getting your house ready for the warmer months ahead. Is now the time to paint, plant and purge? Tips and ideas for working around the home.

Host Keith Shortall speaks with:

Helen Watt, licensed as a Professional Engineer in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maryland and New Jersey

Martin Grohman, Director of Sustainability at GAF Materials Corporation; Host at The Grow Maine Show

'Incivility and Hyperpartisanship: Is Washington a Symptom or the Cause?'

Patty Wight / MPBN

  Speaking in Maine takes us next to Orono and the University of Maine for the recent Margaret Chase Smith Public Affairs lecture. The speaker is U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who speaks on "Incivility and Hyperpartisanship: Is Washington a Symptom or the Cause?"

Maine Senate Rejects Measure Aimed At Proposed National Park

By • Apr 9, 2014

        The idea of carving a national park out of Maine's north woods has been very controversial.  Opponents fear it would place large tracts off-limits to activities like hunting and snowmobiling.       Governor LePage suggested state lawmakers have a say by requiring legislative approval before anyone sells or gives more than 40 acres of land to the federal government.        Democratic State Senator Linda Valentino of Saco complained the bill would violate the property rights of Mainers.

Childbirth Issues and Advances

By • Apr 9, 2014

  Home births, c-sections and an update on our understanding of childbirth. Learn about different options for mother and baby during pregnancy and childbirth. Learn about issues that arise during a delivery, whether at home or in the hospital, and what new moms and dads can do to make such a momentous day as safe and comfortable as possible.

Host Keith Shortall speaks with:

Dr. Jay Naliboff,an Ob/Gyn practices at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington

Jill Breen, a Certified Professional Midwife and Certified Lactation Counselor

Maine Crime Writers

By • Apr 8, 2014

What is it about our state that attracts so many top notch authors who specialize in stories of murder, mystery and mayhem? Learn about the craft of writing a good suspense or crime novel and try to solve the mystery of writing a good who-done-it.

Host Jennifer Rooks speaks with:

Paul Doiron, author of the Mike Bowditch crime novels, including 'The Poacher's Son,' He is Editor Emeritus of Down East: The Magazine of Maine

Julia Spencer-Fleming, NYT and USA Today Bestselling author of Through the Evil Days

Charter Schools

By • Apr 7, 2014

The latest on the debate over charter schools in Maine. Leaders of the charter school movement, and the head of the teacher's union discuss the difference between virtual and physical charter schools and what new learning options should be offered to Maine students.

'Cuba Policy Breakthrough: What's Next for Washington and Havana'

National Security Archive

Speaking in Maine takes us next to Portland and the World Affairs Council of Maine for a talk by Peter Kornbluh, a senior analyst at the National Security Archive, who will be speak on U.S. relations with Cuba. He currently directs the Archive's Cuba and Chile Documentation Projects.

Pages