WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * As Trump Pushes Toward Recession, Heinrich & Lujan Demand Answers on Cuts to New Mexico Manufacturing Center WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) are demanding answers on the Administration's decision to cancel funding for ten National Institute of Standards and Technology Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers across the country, including in  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * King Celebrates Passage of National Parks Week Resolution WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), the Ranking Member of the National Parks Subcommittee, marking the week of April 19 through April 27 as National Park Week 2025. The resolution, supported on a bipartisan basis, seeks to boost awareness of the value a  more

HALLOWELL, Maine, April 24 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) has ordered Luke's Hardscape to pay a $1,000 penalty after the company defaulted on a damage prevention incident investigation. In an order issued April 23, 2025, the MPUC found that Luke's Hardscape failed to properly notify Dig Safe prior to excavation work in 2023, a violation of Maine law. According to the MPUC, a Notice of Enforcement Investigation (NOEI) was issued to Luke's Hardscape in June and July of 2023 via c  more

HALLOWELL, Maine, April 24 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) has issued an order finding Maine State Hardscapes dba Lukes Outdoor Services in default for multiple violations of the state's Dig Safe law. The order, dated April 23, 2025, requires the company to pay a $1,000 penalty for failing to adhere to regulations designed to protect underground facilities. According to the MPUC, the violations occurred during excavation work in 2023 and were detailed in a Notice of Enforcement   more

AUGUSTA, Maine, April 24 -- The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry issued the following news on April 23, 2025: * * * Boating Facilities Fund Available to Improve Recreational Boating Access - Grant Proposals Wanted The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Public Lands is seeking grant proposals that will result in improved recreational boating access to the waters of the State of Maine. * A pre-application site inspection mu  more

HALLOWELL, Maine, April 24 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) has officially adopted a new rule requiring all Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) and dispatch centers in the state to submit annual reports detailing the costs associated with providing enhanced 9-1-1 services. The order, issued on April 23, 2025, implements recent state legislation aimed at gathering comprehensive financial data related to emergency communication services. The new rule, outlined in Chapter 6 of th  more

HALLOWELL, Maine, April 24 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) has established a $92.8 million cap on ratepayer funding for electric efficiency resources for the upcoming fiscal year 2026. This decision, issued on April 23, 2025, sets the limit for the first year of the Efficiency Maine Trust's Sixth Triennial Plan (FY 2026-2028). The funding cap, determined pursuant to the Commission's Chapter 396 rule, aligns with the state law that limits such funding to no more than 4% of total   more

HALLOWELL, Maine, April 24 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) has suspended a request from The Maine Water Company, Biddeford & Saco Division, to implement a water infrastructure surcharge. The suspension order, issued on April 23, 2025, delays the proposed surcharge, which the company sought to have effective on May 15, 2025. The Maine Water Company filed its request on April 15, 2025, under 35-A M.R.S. Sec. 6107-A(3), seeking approval for the surcharge. State law and MPUC rules r  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley, Pingree Demand Trump Administration Halt Implementation of Reckless Reorganization at the Department of the Interior Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Envir  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Collins, Bipartisan Group Urge Administration to Reinstate Collective Bargaining Rights for Federal Workers Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Brian Schatz (D-HI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mark Warner (D-VA) sent a joint letter urging the Trump Administration to reinstate federal workers' collective bargaining rights. This effort comes after the President issued an executive  more

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley Co-Sponsor Bills to Permanently Protect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from Offshore Drilling Wyden co-sponsors additional Merkley-led bill to protect the Arctic Ocean Washington, D.C. --U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they are co-sponsoring two bills that would permanently protect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans from the environmental and economic costs of fos  more