GOP candidate apologizes for comparing regulators to rapists
October 13, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A former Navy SEAL who's seeking to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree apologized for comparing federal fisheries regulators to rapists, saying the statement was “over the top.”
House votes to give tribes in Maine benefits of federal law
July 15, 2022 GMTThe U.S. House approved a bill that would allow Native American tribes bound by a state land claims settlement in Maine to get the benefit from federal laws going forward.
The proposal, attached to a defense bill approved Thursday, won’t change how the tribes are treated under state law but would update federal law to allow future laws passed by Congress to apply to the tribes.
4th member of Maine delegation tests positive for COVID-19
July 11, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s congresswoman has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the final member of the state's congressional delegation to contract the virus.
Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree said Monday that she is experiencing mild symptoms after testing positive.
AP News Guide: A look at Maine’s primary elections
June 15, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Turnout was low Tuesday during a Maine primary election that served as a tune-up before the November general election, which will have many more voters and higher stakes.
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said there was no contested statewide race to bring out voters.
Maine children getting access to virtual dental services
May 13, 2022 GMTHALLOWELL, Maine (AP) — Maine is now home to a network of virtual dental services that supporters said would make dental care more readily available to children.
The practices are “virtual dental homes” in which children become patients with a dental practice but receive care in school and primary care settings, said Democratic Rep.
Solar projects to bring millions of kilowatt hours to Maine
April 30, 2022 GMTWINDSOR, Maine (AP) — Solar energy projects on Maine farms are expected to bring millions of kilowatt hours of electricity to the state.
The projects will get a boost of $10.5 million from the U.S.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine tests positive for COVID-19
April 7, 2022 GMTBANGOR, Maine (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday just hours after voting to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S.
Lawmakers form caucus to support four US shipyards
March 27, 2022 GMTKITTERY, Maine (AP) — Maine's congresswoman is a member of a new caucus that will focus on the country's public shipyards.
Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree said Friday the caucus was created to provide support to the nation's four public shipyards, including Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine.
Maine climate science project gets $1M boost from feds
March 17, 2022 GMTORONO, Maine (AP) — The federal government is providing nearly $1 million to support a University of Maine project to share climate science research.
The money will go to the university's Maine Climate Science Information Exchange, which is designed to serve as a coordination hub that shares research and supports Maine's Climate Action Plan, Democratic Rep.
Violence Against Women Act to include Maine Native Americans
March 14, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The reauthorized Violence Against Women Act includes language to make sure Maine's Native American tribes are protected under it.
Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree, who pushed for the inclusion of the language, said Monday the change brings Maine's tribes under the jurisdictional provisions of the Violence Against Women Act, as it does for other nationally recognized tribes.
China accused of failing to buy more Maine lobster
February 19, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — China has failed to live up to its promise to buy more Maine lobster under a deal that opened the door to an easing of a trade war under former President Donald Trump, Maine's congressional leaders say.
UMaine to help with preventing burnout in medical workers
January 31, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine's public university system has received $1.5 million from the federal government to help prevent burnout among medical professionals.
The money is part of the American Rescue Plan and is going to the University of Maine System.
Maine to use $225M to fix hundreds of bridges needing work
January 23, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine is set to receive $225 million from the federal government over the next five years to fix bridges around the state.
The state has more than 300 bridges that are in poor condition, Democratic Rep.
Maine rep joins push to strengthen ties with Iceland
January 22, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A member of the Maine congressional delegation is joining with colleagues to try to encourage more trade with Iceland.
Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree said it’s time to strengthen ties with Iceland, which is already a significant trading partner with the U.S.
Casco Bay watershed acres to be protected in Maine
December 26, 2021 GMTYARMOUTH, Maine (AP) — Maine conservation authorities are going to use more than $450,000 in federal money to protect dozens of acres of coastal wetlands in the southern part of the state.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has received the grant from the U.S.
Maine to receive more than $5.5M in school meal assistance
December 26, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine will receive more than $5.5 million from the federal government to support its school meal programs.
The Maine Department of Education will receive the money, Democratic Rep.
USDA Maine Farm Service Agency director is appointed
December 17, 2021 GMTA U.S. Department of Agriculture worker with 29 years of experience in agriculture in Maine has been tapped to guide federal farm policy and oversee agricultural operations in the state.
The Biden administration announced Friday that Sherry Hamel has been appointed executive director of the USDA's Maine Farm Service Agency.
Grants aim to help grow seafood, dairy industries in Maine
December 4, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A project to grow the Maine seafood industry and an effort to expand the market for organic dairy products are among the recipients of grants to bolster food systems in the state.
USDA to help Maine meat processor rebuild after plant fire
November 29, 2021 GMTKENNEBUNK, Maine (AP) — The federal government is providing a small meat processor in Maine with $200,000 to help rebuild from a devastating fire last year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is giving the money to Nest & Mullen LLC of Kennebunk, Democratic Rep.
Maine institute gets $750K to help state’s marine startups
October 9, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A research institute in Maine has been awarded $750,000 from the federal government to help marine startups.
Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine said the Economic Development Administration awarded the money to Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland.
Senate confirms McElwee as Maine’s top federal prosecutor
October 5, 2021 GMTThe U.S. Senate confirmed federal prosecutor Darcie McElwee on Tuesday to serve as U.S. attorney for Maine.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who shares a hometown of Caribou with McElwee, spoke in support of the nomination on the Senate floor.
Judiciary Committee advances nomination of new US attorney
October 4, 2021 GMTThe Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday advanced the nomination of longtime federal prosecutor Darcie McElwee to serve as U.S. attorney for Maine.
The nomination will likely be acted on by the full Senate this week or next week, officials said.
Maine rep: National Blueberry Month to include wild berries
September 27, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A congresswoman from Maine has pushed for National Blueberry Month to include wild blueberries, which are a major crop in the state.
Maine to get $1M toward cleanup of brownfields
September 20, 2021 GMTSACO, Maine (AP) — Two Maine groups will receive a total of $1 million to help with brownfields cleanup in the state.
Brownfields are contaminated sites that were often formerly home to industrial or commercial businesses.
Maine pols: Time to open border for vaccinated Canadians
July 22, 2021 GMTPRESQUE ISLE, Maine (AP) — Maine's governor and congressional delegation believe it's time to open the international border to vaccinated Canadians.
Maine is home to several border communities that have been disrupted by the closed border during the coronavirus pandemic.
Maine ocean lab to get $2M to study deep ocean resiliency
July 19, 2021 GMTEAST BOOTHBAY, Maine (AP) — A Maine marine science lab is set to receive about $2 million to study the resiliency of deep sea ecosystems in the era of climate change.
Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree said the National Science Foundation is giving the grant to Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay.
Aquaculture training program in development in Maine
April 17, 2021 GMTWALPOLE, Maine (AP) — A Maine aquaculture center and a community college are working together to develop a new aquaculture workforce training program in the state...
Navy secretary joined by Medal of Honor recipient in Maine
April 6, 2021 GMTActing Navy Secretary Thomas Harker attended a ceremony with a Medal of Honor recipient at a private shipbuilder on Tuesday before visiting a public shipyard that overhauls and maintains submarines...
Maine US representative Pingree put in powerful House post
January 26, 2021 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree will chair a powerful House subcommittee that oversees the budget for many federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, the U...
Maine Sen. King, Reps Pingree, Golden support impeachment
January 12, 2021 GMTCalling President Donald Trump “intemperate and impulsive,” independent Sen. Angus King on Tuesday joined the state's two Democratic House members in supporting the impeachment of the president...
King, Pingree advocate for Trump’s removal from office
January 7, 2021 GMTTwo members of Maine's congressional delegation support the use of the 25th Amendment to try to remove President Donald Trump from office after his supporters breached the U...
Collins: Congress will affirm presidential election results
January 7, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — All four members of Maine's congressional delegation were safe after demonstrators stormed the Capitol building to delay Congress from certifying the results of November’s election...
Congresswoman: Investigate suspicious loan to mystery farm
December 10, 2020 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A congresswoman and organic farmer in Maine wants the federal government to investigate an emergency federal loan made to a supposed farm in her state that doesn't seem to exist.
Collins mum on Supreme Court nomination in wake of RBG death
September 19, 2020 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine on Friday called the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg “one of the most prominent legal luminaries of our time...
Thousands of chicks arrive dead to farmers amid USPS turmoil
August 20, 2020 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — At least 4,800 chicks shipped to Maine farmers through the U.S. Postal Service have arrived dead in recent weeks after rapid cuts hit the federal mail carrier's operations, U...
Thousands of chicks arrive dead to farmers amid USPS turmoil
August 20, 2020 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — At least 4,800 chicks shipped to Maine farmers through the U.S. Postal Service have arrived dead in the recent weeks since rapid cuts hit the federal mail carrier's operations, U...
Seal, whale response teams to get help for Maine effort
August 9, 2020 GMTBAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — A pair of Maine institutions is receiving grants totaling nearly $200,000 to help with recovery efforts for stranded marine mammals.
Marine mammals such as whales and seals sometimes wash up on New England shores in need of assistance.
Rep. Pingree to vote for articles of impeachment
December 13, 2019 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree said Friday that she'll vote for articles of impeachment against Republican President Donald Trump, citing a “mountain of evidence” that Trump tried to get Ukraine to interfere in the U.S.
Pingree: Congress must ‘move toward an impeachment inquiry’
May 30, 2019 GMTDemocratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree says she wants Congress to continue inquiries into President Donald Trump and to "move toward an impeachment inquiry."
Pingree's statement came after special counsel Robert Mueller spoke Wednesday about his investigation into Russia's election meddling and contacts with the Trump presidential campaign.