WASHINGTON, May 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following report (No. USDL-25-0907) on May 29, 2025, entitled "Productivity by State - 2024": * * * Labor productivity in the private nonfarm sector increased in 48 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Output increased in all 50 states and the District. Hours worked increased in 29 states and the District. Indiana experienced the highest growt  more

WASHINGTON, May 30 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: * * * Border Patrol apprehends known MS-13 gang member with international warrant RANGELEY, Maine -- On Friday, May 23, 2025, United States Border Patrol (USBP) Agents arrested a Mara Salvatrucha gang member (MS-13) illegally present in the United States. On February 6, 2025, The State Department, in Public Notice 12672, designated MS-13, amongst other organizations,  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, May 30 -- The Maine State House Speaker issued the following news: * * * Committee Unanimously Advances Speaker Fecteau's Bill to Increase Housing Development LD 1829 would remove roadblocks to encourage construction AUGUSTA - In a unanimous vote, the Legislature's Housing and Economic Development Committee this week advanced LD 1829, sponsored by Speaker Ryan D. Fecteau (D-Biddeford), to the full Legislature. The bill would make it easier to build new housing units by amendi  more

WASHINGTON, May 31 -- Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on May 30, 2025: * * * FOWARDING: Padilla, Warren, Waters Lead Fight to Continue Funding for Emergency Housing Voucher Program WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, along with Representative Maxine Waters (D-Calif.-43), Rankin  more

WASHINGTON, May 30 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan Leads Senate Democrats Urging Additional Funding to Keep Communities Safe Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) led 29 Senate Democrats in urging the Senate Committee on Appropriations to fund the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program at a minimum of $270 million for Fiscal Year 2026. Amid a nationwide shortage of police officers, the COPS Hiring Program   more

WASHINGTON, May 30 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release: * * * Maine Border Patrol experiences spike in apprehensions HOULTON, Maine -- After a record-breaking month of arrests in April, the United States Border Patrol (USBP) in Maine is continuing to see elevated numbers of apprehensions. On Friday May 23, 2025, Houlton Sector, in coordination with multiple Department of Homeland Security components, transported 42 detain  more

WASHINGTON, May 30 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission has issued a suspension order, effectively delaying a proposed rate increase by the Maine Water Co.'s Camden & Rockland Division. The decision means customers in the Camden and Rockland service areas will not see their water bills rise on July 1, 2025, as initially sought by the utility. The Maine Water Company, Camden & Rockland Division, submitted its request for a rate increase on October 24, 2024, aiming for an effective date of Ju  more

WASHINGTON, May 30 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Murphy, Blumenthal Fight To Continue Funding For Emergency Housing Voucher Program WASHINGTON-- U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Representative Maxine Waters (D-Calif.-43), and nearly 100 lawmakers in urging Congressional Appropriations leadership to include robust fu  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission today dismissed a complaint filed by eleven residents, including Norman Kalloch, regarding substandard landline telephone service provided by TDS Telecom, Madison, Wisconsin. The dismissal comes after the PUC determined that TDS had taken adequate steps to resolve the long-standing issues, which included frequent dropped calls and prolonged periods without a dial tone in an area with no cellular service. The complaint, initially filed   more

AUGUSTA, Maine, May 30 -- The Maine Senate Democrats issued the following news on behalf of Maine State Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol: * * * Senate gives initial approval to Sen. Reny bill to create tax incentives to increase the supply of affordable housing in Maine AUGUSTA -- On Wednesday, May 28, the Maine Senate voted unanimously in favor of LD 554, "An Act to Encourage Resident-owned Communities and Cooperatives and Preserve Affordable Housing Through Tax Credits." The bill, sponsored by   more

AUGUSTA, Maine, May 30 -- The Maine Senate Democrats issued the following news on behalf of Maine State Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol: * * * Senate gives unanimous initial approval to Sen. Reny bill to reduce prescription drug costs and strengthen the Prescription Drug Affordability Board AUGUSTA -- On Thursday, May 29, the Maine Senate voted unanimously in support of LD 697, "An Act to Direct the Maine Prescription Drug Affordability Board to Assess Strategies to Reduce Prescription Drug Cost  more

WASHINGTON, May 30 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Collins Announces More Than $29 Million to Increase Access to Affordable Housing, Improve Public Services in Maine Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that multiple Maine localities will receive $29,017,396 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Planning and Developme  more

WASHINGTON, May 30 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * With Over $42 BILLION In Vital Broadband Funding Still Held Up By Trump Administration, Leader Schumer, Ranking Member Cantwell, And Senator Lujan Demand Admin Stop The Delays & Immediately Release The Funding Into American Communities; Senators Say 25 Million Americans Still Lack High-Speed Internet As Bipartisan Funding Lingers Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-  more