Beacon editor Lauren McCauley contributed to this story. Following a mass shooting on the eve of Lunar New Year in which 11 people in a predominantly Asian neighborhood in California were killed, President Joe Biden again urged Congress to pass legislation banning assault weapons. Communities across America “have been struck by tragedy after tragedy, including…
So-called crisis pregnancy centers, the faith-based institutions that push misleading information to people seeking an abortion, will be facing scrutiny this legislative session. Reproductive rights advocates characterize these centers, also known as CPCs, as fake clinics promoting an anti-abortion agenda through staff who pose as medical professionals. Rep. Grayson Lookner (D-Portland) told Beacon that he…
In a public hearing that will help shape state spending on issues of health care, Mainers from an array of backgrounds urged legislators on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs (AFA) Committee Monday to use the unprecedented surplus to meet many outstanding health care needs. Among those needs, Mainers told the AFA committee as well as…
Buoyed by a projected $822 million surplus, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills unveiled a budget plan this week that many in her party applauded for funding several long-sought priorities including free community college, free school meals, and raising wages for child care and direct support workers. While the governor’s supplemental budget proposal touches many issues, she…
State lawmakers have introduced a slate of bills this legislative session to raise revenue for services and programs to support Maine’s essential workers and struggling families, paid for by taxing the wealthy and corporations whose profits have grown during the pandemic. Progressive Democrats say the dual health and economic crises have not been felt equally…
The Maine People’s Alliance endorsed five progressive women in contested legislative primaries and Rep. Jared Golden in the Second District congressional race. According to initial results from the Associated Press, all of these candidates have won or are significantly ahead in their races, with votes from some towns still trickling in. Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross…