ESTERO, Fla. In the tourism-driven economy of Southwest Florida, outdoors and recreational activities are big business. But thanks to the recent dumping of water from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River, which ultimately empties out into the Estero Bay watershed, these businesses are getting caught in the muck. Record rains in the region for the […]
March 3, 2016
Posted inJournal Tribune
Casino proposal fails, most petition signatures deemed invalid
AUGUSTA — A voter initiative to bring a casino to York County has failed to qualify for the November ballot because more than half the signatures on petitions were deemed invalid. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap made the announcement Wednesday afternoon. The petition drive for “An Act to Allow Slot Machines or a Casino in […]
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Sanders: Love trumps hatred
PORTLAND — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders brought his message of hope for the future to a cheering, adoring, capacity crowd at the State Theatre in Portland Wednesday. He asked Maine residents to caucus for him in large numbers on Sunday, spoke to his plans for health care, education, immigration and more – and took […]
Posted inJournal Tribune
Planning Board OKs new Lincoln Mill plans despite parking concerns
BIDDEFORD — After an hour-long discussion that centered mostly on concerns over parking, the city Planning Board voted unanimously Wednesday to approve amended plans for the Lincoln Mill project. The new plans call for 181 market-rate apartments, a 107-seat restaurant, a 10,000-square-foot gym and 18,000 square feet of commercial space inside the 165-year-old downtown Biddeford […]
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Saco school budget calls for property tax increase
SACO — A nearly $34.2 million school budget for the Saco School Department received its first round of approval Wednesday night with a unanimous vote from the school board. For it to be finalized, it must receive approval from the City Council and then from voters via a citywide referendum in June. The budget calls […]
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Saco students celebrates Seuss
Young School librarian Nancy Hopkins reads “The Cat in the Hat Comes Back” by Dr. Seuss to first- and second-graders at the Saco school’s library Wednesday. Hopkins dressed up as the Cat in the Hat in honor of Read Across America Day, a day of reading celebration that is held annually on March 2 in […]
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Bold promises, but thin agenda so far for Ryan-led House
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Paul Ryan promises a bold, election-year agenda of replacing the health care law and fighting poverty. Until then, it’s the BRICK Act. While GOP task forces are talking about national security, jobs and health care, the House floor has largely been turned over to the obscure and the arcane. Instead of […]
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DC’s Arlington Memorial Bridge could close in 5 years
WASHINGTON — The National Park Service is preparing to patch up the Arlington Memorial Bridge one last time, but even that fix will only extend the life of Washington’s most iconic river crossing by another five years. The steel supports of the 84-year-old bridge are rusting through, and its concrete decking has been reduced to […]
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Citizen petition for Maine marijuana legalization fails
AUGUSTA, Maine — An attempt to ask Maine voters in a November 2016 referendum whether they want to legalize recreational marijuana has failed, the secretary of state’s office said Wednesday. David Boyer, Maine political director for the Marijuana Policy Project, said Wednesday afternoon that his group intends to challenge the ruling. “Based on documents they […]
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Walmart gives to local organizations
Walmart Biddeford Store Manager Mike Lilley presented checks to the Kennebunk Free Library, left, and the Maine Association for Search and Rescue, right, at a recent ceremony honoring renovations to the store.