Beacon

A bill to increase taxes on Maine’s highest incomes while funding relief for others is moving forward. LD 229 would create new tax brackets and generate an estimated $77.6 million for property tax relief, expanded credits & a sales tax exemption on diapers.mainebeacon.com/new-tax-bracke…

Rising electricity costs are hitting Mainers hard, but a proposal aims to bring relief. The “Energy Bills Relief Act,” backed by House Democrats, would restore clean energy tax credits, expand weatherization programs and accelerate solar and wind projects.mainebeacon.com/federal-bill-a…

Sen. Susan Collins sided with Senate Republicans over the weekend to block funding for TSA agents; meanwhile, Trump is using the DHS shutdown as an excuse to send ICE into airports. mainebeacon.com/collins-votes-…

The Trump admin is threatening to withhold Medicaid funding from states, and Maine could be next. Federal officials have moved to block more than $2 billion in Medicaid payments to Minnesota—an unprecedented action that punishes patients rather than fraud.mainebeacon.com/oz-escalates-m…

PODCAST: We break down Gov. Janet Mills’ new attack ad against fellow Democrat Graham Platner and how words don’t always match actions. We also dig into Portland-area police text messages with ICE that raise new questions about cooperation and transparency.mainebeacon.com/how-janet-mill…

An out-of-state billionaire with a history of funding far-right campaigns is now bankrolling an initiative targeting students. Advocates say the proposal would roll back protections in the Maine Human Rights Act and expose kids to harassment in schools.mainebeacon.com/not-about-spor…

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner in his bid to unseat Susan Collins, saying he has the ability to "flip Maine and deliver change". Warren is the fourth U.S. Senator to endorse Platner. mainebeacon.com/elizabeth-warr…

Gov. Mills’ proposal to send $300 checks to Mainers may sound appealing, but Ethan Strimling calls it a "meaningless gesture" that misses the moment. Instead, the $200M could address rising health care costs, housing instability and lost federal benefits.mainebeacon.com/strimling-main…

Mainers delivered bags of salt to the offices of Senators Susan Collins and Angus King across the state Monday, symbolically calling to “melt” funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. mainebeacon.com/it-breaks-my-h…

Advocates gathered at the State House on Thursday to urge lawmakers to support LD 335 — a bill designed to safeguard access to birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and other preventive care services from federal funding cuts. mainebeacon.com/lobby-day-high…

Nurses and advocates gathered outside Sen. Susan Collins’ Portland office Thursday demanding she return $105K in donations from Palantir, a data analytics company whose software powers ICE surveillance systems. mainebeacon.com/nurses-mainers…

A new report finds that small, flexible grants helped parents stay in college programs across Maine. Participants say help covering expenses like car repairs, rent and utilities often made the difference between staying enrolled or dropping out. mainebeacon.com/flexible-finan…

Sen. Susan Collins repeatedly chose escalation over diplomacy with Iran — from opposing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to siding with Donald Trump’s latest war powers, Ethan Strimling writes. “War is what she wanted and war is what she got.” mainebeacon.com/strimling-coll…

Nearly 25 years after Maine required Wabanaki studies in schools, many districts still struggle to teach it. Educators say they lack training, resources and support from the state. Now lawmakers are considering funding a permanent statewide specialist. mainebeacon.com/backers-of-wab…

A coalition of labor groups rallied at the State House this week, calling for a new “millionaire’s tax” to help address Maine’s child care shortage. Advocates say the revenue could help fund universal child care and better wages for educators. mainebeacon.com/maine-labor-gr…

After Sen. Susan Collins voted against a war powers resolution that would require Trump to seek congressional approval before further U.S. military action against Iran, Graham Platner said Congress (and Collins) is failing to uphold its constitutional role.mainebeacon.com/platner-condem…

Two new polls show Gov. Janet Mills trailing in the Democratic primary to take on Sen. Susan Collins. Ethan Strimling argues that while the easiest political move might be for Mills to drop out, a competitive primary could ultimately strengthen Democrats.mainebeacon.com/strimling-its-…

A Maine bill limiting when ICE can access public schools, libraries and state hospitals cleared committee on a 6-5 party-line vote. The proposal would require a judicial warrant before staff can grant access to nonpublic areas or confidential records. mainebeacon.com/bill-to-limit-…

Maine Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Shenna Bellows unveiled a sweeping “New Deal for Maine”, pitching utility profit caps, expanded housing programs and higher taxes on millionaires and out-of-state homeowners as a way to lower costs.mainebeacon.com/new-deal-for-m…

Maine’s top U.S. Senate candidates split sharply after Pres. Trump launched strikes on Iran over the weekend without congressional approval. Graham Platner, the only candidate who is a veteran, condemned the move outright. mainebeacon.com/platner-oppose…