Police, fire chiefs say they can cope with job cuts PORTLAND — In an effort to keep property taxes at current levels, the City Council will look for nearly $275,000 in cuts to the proposed fiscal year 2010 municipal budget. The council Finance Committee met Tuesday afternoon with several city departments to discuss the proposed […]

PORTLAND — The Cumberland County district attorney’s office dropped charges last month against two former Deering High School assistant baseball coaches who were accused of furnishing a place for minors to consume alcohol. Communications Director Tamara Getchell of the DA’s office said charges against Michael D’Andrea Jr. were dropped on March 3 due to insufficient […]

Cost to city: $20K PORTLAND — Almost 20 candidates have qualified for the ballot in the city’s June 9 election of a Charter Commission, which is expected to recommend whether the city should have a popularly elected mayor. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Matt Dunlap said this week that time is running out for the Legislature […]

PORTLAND — The School Committee will receive a third-quarter finance report that predicts at least a $700,000 surplus at end of the fiscal year.  Also, in a workshop following its meeting on Wednesday, April 15, the committee will hold preliminary discussions about creating two new high school courses designed to educate students about non-Western cultures. […]

PORTLAND — The city expects a developer to begin work by summer on the $20 million first phase of the Morrill’s Crossing project. Penny Littell, director of the city’s Planning and Urban Development Department, said she expects Packard Development to obtain a building permit soon. The company has until July to begin site work, or […]

Deering Street change removes preservation concerns PORTLAND —  Plans to turn the former college dorm at 645 Congress St. into apartments have been altered in response to concerns from neighbors and historic preservation officials. Greg Shinberg, a partner in Bayside Maine, said this week that he has eliminated 20 parking spaces closest to the Deering Street […]

PORTLAND — The Maine Marijuana Policy initiative will launch a public awareness and fundraising campaign Monday, April 20, to build support for a November ballot initiative that would legalize medical marijuana dispensaries. The so-called “420” event starts at 4:20 p.m at Empire Dine & Dance on Congress Street and will include performances by several local […]

Neighborhood group seeks to stop campus expansion PORTLAND — More than 100 residents – most with homes on the Western Promenade – gathered at a neighborhood church Monday evening to discuss the possible expansion of the Waynflete School campus. Waynflete, a private kindergarten- through 12th-grade school located between Danforth and Spring streets, has been working on a long-range […]

PORTLAND — A $40 million project that would have put an eight-story office building and a parking garage on city land in Bayside has become a victim of the economic downturn. MaineHealth last week announced the cancellation of the project, citing economic instability and financial uncertainty. Bill Caron, president of MaineHealth, said in a written […]