Maines

Clearfield County Set for High-Stakes Judicial Showdown: Maines vs. Sayers in November Election

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Clearfield, Pennsylvania – Voters in Clearfield County will choose a new judge for the Court of Common Pleas during the upcoming general municipal election on Nov. 4. This decision follows the announcement in January that Fredric Ammerman, the county’s president judge, will retire at the end of 2025 after 31 years of service. Paul Cherry, the current judge, is set to assume the role of president judge next year. The candidates vying for the vacant position are Democrat Josh Maines and Republican Ryan P. Sayers. The newly elected judge will oversee legal proceedings for more … Read more

Maine’s Packaging EPR Law Faces Controversial Amendments: A Battle Between Environmental Advocates and Industry Heavyweights

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Augusta, Maine – Maine, recognized as a pioneer in extending Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, is set to amend its original legislation through the introduction of a new bill, LD 1423. While the state enacted the first EPR law in the United States back in 2021, the proposed changes now face pushback from environmental groups who worry that the revisions could detract from the law’s intended benefits. The Natural Resources Council of Maine, an organization that played a significant role in the original law’s passage, expressed strong dissent during recent legislative hearings. Officials described … Read more

Maine’s House Majority Leader Proposes Key Revisions to Legislative Expense Reimbursements

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PORTLAND, Maine — House Majority Leader Matt Moonen has proposed a bill aimed at updating the reimbursement system for Maine lawmakers. During a public hearing on the proposed legislation, he described the changes as straightforward adjustments to the reimbursement framework that governs legislative expenses. The bill, currently under review by the State and Local Government Committee, seeks to eliminate the existing rules that cap the reimbursements legislators can receive for meals and travel. Instead, fees would be determined by the Legislative Council, which would require a minimum of six votes in favor of any rate, … Read more

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Maine’s New Three-Day Waiting Period for Gun Purchases Amid Legal Challenge

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Portland, Maine — A recent legal challenge has put a pause on Maine’s new three-day waiting period for firearm acquisitions, a measure introduced in response to a tragic mass shooting last year that marked the state’s deadliest. Following a lawsuit initiated by firearm rights organizations, a federal judge on Thursday suspended the implementation of this waiting period as the court deliberates on its constitutionality. The law, which commenced in August, was a part of several gun control actions enacted by the Democratic-majority Maine Legislature after a devastating incident in Lewiston. In October 2023, an Army … Read more