Things You Need to Know: 6000+ Mainers Still Without Power
Here are the things you need to know today......
Outage information Central Maine Power and Emera Maine
It has been over a week and still there are thousands of Mainers without power. Early this morning that total was almost 6500 with the bulk of them in the CMP service area. Crews will continue working on the problems today and the companies reassure Mainers they have not been forgotten.
The old Weathervane site on KMD in Waterville could be a new strip mall. Centralmaine.com reports that a plan has been submitted to the city by the land owner and they have some interested parties already.
From the Associated Press:
Maine's top election official is predicting a "low to moderate" turnout on Election Day. Voters will go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act and whether to approve a third casino in southern Maine. Also on the statewide ballot are bonds and a constitutional amendment that deals with the state pension program. Secretary of State Matt Dunlap says he expects turnout on the order of 20 to 30 percent of the voting age population in Maine. He says several local referendums like the merger proposal for Lewiston and Auburn are generating big interest in an off-year election. (more on voting from the Bangor Daily News)
The last time two municipalities merged in Maine was in 1922, when Warren G. Harding was president and the teapot dome scandal was raging. But the rarity of such a union isn't stopping residents of Lewiston and Auburn from considering joining together to become Lewiston-Auburn. Residents of both communities will vote Tuesday.
The Maine Marijuana Project is calling on lawmakers to override Republican Gov. Paul LePage's veto of a bill to regulate sales of marijuana, likely in 2019. LePage on Friday vetoed a bill to regulate sales of marijuana, citing concerns including how the Trump administration is going to treat the federal-state conflict in law.
Maine lawmakers are returning to Augusta following Republican Gov. Paul LePage's veto of a bill to regulate and tax the sale of marijuana. A two-thirds vote of lawmakers present Monday evening will determine whether or not the veto stands. The bill that establishes rules for the retail sale of recreational marijuana was previously approved with a veto-proof, two-thirds majority in the Senate, but not in the House. LePage urged lawmakers to go back to the drawing board. He cited concerns including how the Trump administration is going to treat the federal-state conflict in the proposal. He said he'd need assurances from the Trump administration before establishing a new industry and regulations.
President Donald Trump says the mass shooting at a Texas church is the result of a "mental health problem at the highest level." Speaking at an event with the Japanese prime minister in Tokyo on Monday, Trump described the gunman as a "very deranged individual." Authorities have not yet determined a motive for the shooting, and have not broached the topic of the gunman's mental health.
The man authorities have identified as the gunman in a mass shooting at a Texas church was discharged from the Air Force for allegedly assaulting his wife and child, according to an Air Force spokeswoman. The spokeswoman, Ann Stefanek, said Sunday that Devin Kelley was sentenced to 12 months' confinement after a 2012 court-martial.
A senior adviser for Rand Paul says the U.S. senator is recovering from five broken ribs following an assault at his home. It is unclear when Paul will return to work since he is in considerable pain and has difficulty getting around, including flying. Police arrested 59-year-old Rene Boucher on Saturday and charged him with misdemeanor fourth-degree assault with a minor injury. Boucher is accused of attacking Paul on Friday, but officials have not released a motive. Boucher lives next door to Paul and his wife, according to Warren County property records.
President Donald Trump says he expects Japan to purchase "massive amounts" of military equipment from the United States. Speaking at a joint news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump says Monday that Japan will be able to shoot missiles from North Korea "out of the sky" with that equipment.