PORTLAND — Proverbially, it is the world’s oldest profession. Locally, advocates trying to end sex trafficking want a new approach. “This is rape, no matter how much you smile,” Survivor Speak founder dee Clarke said. A victim of sex trafficking in Boston more than 30 years ago, Clarke founded the nonprofit to help women escape the […]
Portland Forecaster
City-wide news from The Forecaster.
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Vetting of Portland school needs won’t allow November bond vote
PORTLAND — The remote chance that city voters would decide to fund a $70.6 million school bond in November was removed Monday night. The Ad Hoc School Facilities Committee led by Mayor Ethan Strimling and School Board Chairwoman Marnie Morrione convened for the first time in City Hall, and set a schedule of school tours […]
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Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Baxter school may accept private funding
FALMOUTH — A new law allowing Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Governor Baxter School for the Deaf to raise private donations takes effect July 29. The law would allow the school to raise funds from alumni, foundations and others. The school is on Mackworth Island, but MECDHH also serves […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Veterans advocate ‘sticks’ up for Portland police
PORTLAND — Roger Goodoak was feeling the heat as he crossed State Street Monday morning near Deering Oaks Park. “I dressed all wrong for this,” he said as he perspired through his long-sleeve, white dress shirt. Goodoak, executive director of the Maine Homeless Veterans Alliance, may have been hot, but he was out because he feels […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland gets fed funding to remove lead paint
PORTLAND — Lead paint hazards will be removed from 80 city homes with the help of two federal grants totaling $1.8 million. Julie Sullivan, special adviser to City Manager Jon Jennings, announced the procurement of $1.56 million from Lead Based Paint Hazard Control and $246,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funding. Mayor Ethan Strimling praised U.S. Sens. […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland Police Beat: July 27
Arrests 7/15 at 1:11 a.m. Michael T. Byers, 37, of Waltham, Massachusetts, was arrested on Commercial Street by Officer Christopher Coyne on a charge of disorderly conduct. 7/15 at 2:51 a.m. Tee Tee Soul, 29, of Cumberland, was arrested on Spring Street by Officer Benjamin Savage on charges of aggravated assault and violating conditions of release. 7/15 at […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland council panel endorses solar project, recycling carts
PORTLAND — By this time next year, recycling could be on a roll in Portland. A plan forwarded by City Manager Jon Jennings and Sustainability Coordinator Troy Moon to purchase carts for storing recyclable materials and three semi-automated trucks to collect the materials was endorsed by a 2-1 vote July 20 by the City Council Energy […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland discussion to view equality via law, art
PORTLAND — As part of a year-long initiative, a local organization will hold an event examining civil rights through two very different lenses. Maine Humanities Council, the state’s affiliate for the National Endowment for the Humanities, will facilitate a conversation to explore civil rights through both art and law at the Portland Museum of Art. […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Michael O. to headline Portland Festival of Nations
PORTLAND — The 14th annual Festival of Nations will run from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at Deering Oaks Park. Festival spokeswoman Shalom Odokara said her son, former Portland resident Michael Odokara-Okigbo, known by his Michael O. stage name, will headline the festival performances. Michael O. currently lives in Los Angeles, where he has a singing, […]
Posted inCoastal Journal, Northern Forecaster, Portland Forecaster, Southern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland primary election challenges lead to proposed changes in campaign-finance law
AUGUSTA — The Maine Ethics Commission fined losing candidate Rep. Diane Russell $500 on Wednesday for failing to disclose her contribution to her state Senate campaign of a valuable email list. The action closed the books on a series of ethics complaints generated by the recent Portland Democratic Senate primary. But the complaints – two against Russell […]