Things You Need to Know: New Federal Budget Could Hurt Many Mainers
Here are the things you need to know today......
Centralmaine.com reports a plan to build a state-of-the-art shooting range in Summerhaven with many high-tech features is going before the Augusta Planning Board.
The new federal budget for, if enacted, would have serious consequences across Maine. Centralmaine.com says it would eliminate LIHEAP, legal aid to indigent citizens, and grants to towns and cities to rehabilitate housing, infrastructure, and services. It also would stop federal funding for Maine Public’s television and radio outlets and other programs.
The Hallowell City Council voted to have the city manager go ahead with the contract for the Water Street reconstruction project. Centralmaine.com reports Hallowell wants DOT to look at adding another cross walk.
Husson University researchers have received a big grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. WABI reports it is to investigate how eating broccoli sprouts could reduce the development of colon cancer.
From the Associated Press:
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage is set to deliver his final State of the State address. The governor is scheduled to address a joint session of the Maine Legislature on Tuesday. LePage has said he's inviting an elderly Maine man who lost his home to foreclosure. He used his 2017 address to attack liberals and lawmakers beholden to lobbyists.
WATERVILLE, Maine (AP) — A Colby College graduate has donated $1 million for a new community space within a new student residence under construction in Waterville. The money from Class of 1990 graduate Malcom Chace, a finance executive in Rhode Island, will be used to build the 3,800-square-foot Chace Community Forum. The Bangor Daily News reports the gift will also endow lectures and workshops organized by students to help them interact with the Waterville community. The forum also will house the Waterville City Council, so students can attend public meetings more easily. It will be located on the first floor of Colby's new dorm complex, alongside new retail space. The 100,000-square-foot (9290 square-meter) dormitory, called the Bill and Joan Alfond Main Street Commons, is scheduled to open in late August.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A proposal to continue an industry-funded lobster marketing group is up for a key vote in the Maine Statehouse. The Legislature needs to approve an extension of the group's existence for it to continue beyond this year. The Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources is set to consider a proposal to extend the collaborative on Wednesday.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Lawmakers are set to consider Republican Gov. Paul LePage's proposal to add an annual fee on electric and hybrid cars in order to pay for highway maintenance. The LePage administration's proposed legislation would tack on a $250 fee for electric vehicles and a $150 fee for hybrids. The administration says owners of hybrids and electric vehicles pay less in gas taxes than other vehicle owners.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Activists are calling for Maine Gov. Paul LePage to take action on Medicaid expansion as the administration nears deadlines that voters approved at the polls. Maine last fall became the first state to expand Medicaid by popular vote. A legislative committee is awaiting monthly reporting from LePage's administration on expansion's roll-out. LePage's office says he's been clear he'll block Medicaid expansion if lawmakers don't provide a "sustainable" way to cover the eventual $54.5 million cost.
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AP) — Chloe Kim capped off a wild ride to win the Olympic gold medal and then put an exclamation point on it with a victory run for the ages. Kim's parents moved to America from South Korea and sacrificed a lot to help her get to this point. She dedicated her halfpipe title to her family and said it was quite a relief to come through under pressure.
NEW YORK (AP) — Olympic swimmer Ariana Kukors says the pain of accusing her former coach of sexual abuse is worth it if she can save one person from such trauma. The 28-year-old world champion swimmer cried as she spoke to The Associated Press about allegations that Sean Hutchison started touching and kissing her when she was 16 and her hope of educating others about the signs of abuse. Hutchison has denied the accusations and said they had a consensual relationship when she was of legal age.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has a tweet for just about everything and he seemingly has covered the gamut since Friday. He tweeted about the massive spending agreement he signed into law Friday, his desire to have more Republican legislators in Congress and more. Missing from the series so far is any mention of Team USA or words of encouragement for the athletes competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics that opened Friday in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — President Donald Trump again is trying to drastically reduce or eliminate federal support for cleanups of some iconic U.S. waterways. His proposed budget would slash Environmental Protection Agency funding for Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay restoration programs by 90 percent. It would kill all EPA spending on programs supporting other waters including San Francisco Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and Puget Sound. The administration made a similar attempt last year but Congress refused to go along.
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — In one of Virginia's most liberal jurisdictions, political leaders are just saying 'no' to a proposal in Congress to name a popular park for former First Lady Nancy Reagan. Legislation sponsored by Georgia Republican Jody Hice passed a House committee last month to rename Gravelly Point Park, which sits on federal land adjacent to Ronald Reagan National Airport, for the former first lady. The proposal, though, is not supported by political leaders in Arlington County, where the park is located.