A bill aimed at preventing Maine law enforcement agencies from participating in federal immigration enforcement, LD 1971, will become law when the legislature reconvenes in January. But it won’t take effect until this summer. Gov. Janet Mills announced this week that she will allow it to take effect without her signature. It will take effect…
Eighteen Maine Senators and 57 Representatives received 100% scores in Maine People’s Alliance’s annual legislative scorecard. (Beacon is a project of MPA.) The scorecard released this week highlights legislators’ votes on housing, workers’ rights, paid family and medical leave, child care, transgender rights, immigration, climate change, and tax fairness. It also includes a review of…
As we watch Pres. Donald Trump’s war on immigrants reach into our state with the unexplained arrests of dozens of Maine workers across multiple Maine towns and over 100 unexplained arrests of Maine workers at the Canadian border, it is imperative that our legislature stand up for the tens of thousands of immigrants who live…
South Portland may become the second municipality in Maine to pass a rent control law to push back against rising housing prices. The city would follow Portland, which passed the first law in 2020 by ballot referendum. Bangor is also considering a law. On Tuesday evening, the South Portland City Council heard from the public…
Esther, Cate, Ben and Mike discuss the newly-launched paid family and medical leave referendum on the podcast this week, as well as South Portland mayor Deqa Dhalac’s candidacy for state representative and union busting by Chipotle. Ask a question or leave a comment for a future show at (207) 619-3182. Subscribe to the podcast feed right…
In this municipally-focused podcast episode, Esther, Cate, Ben and Mike discuss the inauguration of Deqa Dhalac in South Portland, a new report from a state commission on housing and zoning and the politicization of local school board races. Plus: updates on paid family medical leave and Weird Al Yankovic. Ask a question or leave a…
Leaders in the Maine immigrant community came together in an online meeting Wednesday to celebrate the end of former President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban and to discuss how the policy impacted them, members of their community and Muslims around the world. The conversation came after a recent executive order issued by President Joe Biden rescinded…
Over two thousand people turned out in Bangor, Portland, Bar Harbor, and throughout the state to march on a frigid Saturday morning as part of the third annual Women’s March. The occasion was a chance for Maine’s political luminaries — such as former gubernatorial candidate Betsy Sweet and newly elected South Portland City Councilor Deqa Dehalac — to…
This week on the Beacon podcast, Ben and Mike discuss good news in the South Portland City Council race and the recount in Yarmouth, a new report on student loan debt from the Maine Center for Economic Policy, Governor LePage’s parting shots at his fellow Republicans and a string of votes showing Senator Collins’ continuing…
This week on the Beacon podcast, Ben, Taryn and Mike discuss Dr. Christine Ford’s allegations that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh attempted to rape her, and Sen. Susan Collins’ continued and maddening preference for a rushed process over of a full understanding of Kavanaugh’s conduct. Taryn explains how we can approach this moment with love,…