Maine | Sun Journal

"Historic" energy bill clears legislative committee, 12-1

May 24, 2013 7:57 pm

AUGUSTA — A bill aimed at lowering the costs of energy while dramatically changing the way Mainers consume it vaulted out of a key legislative committee on a 12-1 vote Friday. The vote came after months of hearings, negotiations, compromises and outright wrangling among Democrats, Re...

LePage signs law to set grading system for maple syrup

May 24, 2013 1:40 pm

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine is one of the nation's top maple syrup-producing states, and Gov. Paul LePage has signed a bill to change the way the sweet product is graded. LePage on Thursday put his name on a bill that replaces Maine's existing maple syrup grading system with one proposed by...

Maine’s beer industry continues to brew double-digit growth

May 24, 2013 1:31 pm

It’s not unusual for people who enjoy the taste of beer to envy those who make their living brewing malt-flavored alcoholic beverages. Based on the overall growth of Maine breweries last year, even people who don’t enjoy the flavor of beer might wish they were in the Maine beer...

Bangor man charged with murder, escape from psychiatric hospital found not competent to stand trial

May 24, 2013 12:17 pm

BANGOR — A local man has been found not competent to stand trial for murder in connection with the death of a man who was thrown off the balcony of a Fourth Street apartment in Bangor in June 2011, according to his attorney. William L. Hall, 31, of Bangor, who is also charged with es...

Maine bill seeks to protect American loggers' jobs

May 24, 2013 11:55 am

AUGUSTA (AP) — A bill that would protect some American loggers' jobs from being taken by workers employed by foreign companies has cleared a hurdle in the Maine Senate. Assistant Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson's bill won preliminary approval Thursday. It would bar the state from...

Maine Senate OKs cellphone privacy bill

May 24, 2013 10:50 am

AUGUSTA (AP) — A bill aimed at protecting the privacy of cellphone users has won an initial vote of approval in the Maine Senate. The bill, which was approved Thursday night, would require police to get a warrant before engaging in location tracking of cellphones and other GPS-enable...

Bill requires exercise time in Maine schools

May 24, 2013 10:48 am

AUGUSTA (AP) — A bill requiring Maine public schools to provide at least 30 minutes of physical activity each school day for kindergarten through fifth grade students has won an initial round in the state Senate. By a 24-10 vote, senators gave initial approval to the bill sponsored b...

Vote expected in proposal to lower Maine energy costs

May 24, 2013 7:33 am

AUGUSTA (AP) — A Maine legislative committee is expected to vote on a proposal aimed at lowering the state's high electricity and heating costs. The compromise legislation incorporates ideas from at least nine separate bills. The Kennebec Journal (http://bit.ly/10p08dI ) repor...

Lawmakers favor limits on use of ethanol in motor fuel

May 24, 2013 6:47 am

AUGUSTA — A long-debated bill that could have banned the use of corn-based ethanol in motor fuel in Maine passed unanimously through the Senate Thursday evening. The original bill banned ethanol in fuel on the condition that two other New England states do the same. The Senate amende...

Historic Freeport tavern to reopen

May 24, 2013 6:09 am

FREEPORT (AP) — The historic Freeport tavern that bills itself as the "Birthplace of Maine" is expected to reopen this summer under new management. Tom Hincks, former owner of the Fisherman's Grill in Portland, finalized a new lease for the Jameson Tavern on Wednesday. He told The Po...