AUGUSTA, Maine, Jan. 18 -- The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry issued the following news: The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) has adopted two significant rule changes, effective this month, to improve compliance and preserve Maine's natural beauty. These rules apply to Maine's unorganized territories (UT) and certain towns and plantations. 1. Accessory Structure Notification Requirement Effective Janu  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Jan. 18 -- Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, issued the following radio address on Jan. 17, 2025: * * * Last week, I delivered my biennial budget proposal to lawmakers for their consideration as we begin to chart the next two years of investments by state government in the people of Maine. My budget proposal maintains our commitments to Maine people to provide affordable health care, to protect school funding and property tax relief, and making sure that we have good schools and good  more

HALLOWELL, Maine, Jan. 17 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) has opened an investigation into the reasonableness of water rates charged by the Loring Development Authority. The investigation stems from a complaint filed by 10 residents who alleged they did not have a meaningful opportunity to comment on recent rate increases. While the Commission granted the request for an investigation, it denied the request to temporarily suspend the new rates. The Commission emphasized the need  more

HALLOWELL, Maine, Jan. 17 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) has issued an order suspending Central Maine Power Company's (CMP) proposed updates to its Pricing Flexibility Guidelines and Optional Targeted Service Riders. CMP had requested approval for these changes, including the introduction of a new "Dirigo Business Incentives Rider," to be effective immediately. However, citing insufficient time for a thorough review, the MPUC has suspended the certification of these revisions   more

ORONO, Maine, Jan. 17 -- The University of Maine issued the following news release: Following the recent announcement by Gov. Janet Mills and Maine's Congressional delegation that Maine's Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub will receive an additional $22 million to position Maine as a global leader in forest-based biomaterial production and manufacturing, the University of Maine is advancing plans to launch its Forest Bioproducts Technology Maturation Program, a critical componen  more

ORONO, Maine, Jan. 18 -- The University of Maine issued the following news release: Maine's lobster fishery -- one that supports thousands of jobs statewide -- is extensively monitored. Management efforts are informed by biological monitoring surveys observing changes in abundance and distribution of the lobster population, and dealer and harvester reporting from the industry. Yet these statistics don't tell the whole story of an industry shaken by supply and market disruptions and geopolitical  more

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine, Jan. 18 -- The University of Maine's Presque Isle Campus issued the following news release: * * * New graduate degree champions career advancement and economic growth for Maine and beyond through its flexible and affordable delivery model * * * With a focus on meeting state workforce needs and providing working adults with a direct, affordable, and entirely online pathway to a postgraduate degree and subsequent career advancement, the University of Maine at Presque Isle   more