Michael Shepherd

Staff Writer

Latest

Published
February 13, 2013

Bill would ban driving with hand-held cells

AUGUSTA — A sweeping bill that would expand Maine’s distracted driving laws by banning the use of hand-held cellphones behind the wheel saw little opposition Wednesday at a public hearing.
Published
February 13, 2013

Few object to Maine cellphone ban for drivers at hearing

A bill seeks to bar use of the hand-held type, but it has numerous exemptions that some officials oppose.
Published
February 12, 2013

Maine lawmakers questions access to conceal permit holders

AUGUSTA — Uproar over a New York newspaper publishing names and addresses of concealed weapon permit holders has spread to Maine, where lawmakers say lax access laws could lead to wrongdoing.
Published
February 12, 2013

Maine bill would make concealed-carry info private

Supporters say concealed-weapon carriers are mostly law-abiding citizens, so there’s no reason to have their names and addresses be public record.
Published
February 11, 2013

Legislators nearer to closing $153M budget gap

AUGUSTA — The Legislature’s budget-writing committee adjourned late Monday afternoon, inching closer to finishing an emergency $153 million proposal that would close a state budget gap for this fiscal year.
Published
February 10, 2013

LePage, as mayor, decried budget shift LePage, as governor, calls necessary

Many continue to lament Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to cut more than $400 million from revenue sharing to municipalities in his budget for the next two budget years.
Published
February 8, 2013

Legislature’s budget committee delays $153 million-plus budget stopgap vote

AUGUSTA — The Legislature’s budget-writing committee adjourned late Thursday without voting out a more-than-$153 million emergency budget package.
Published
February 8, 2013

Fired Maine prison warden takes another state job

Patricia Barnhart will serve as policy development coordinator at two-thirds of her previous salary.
Published
February 8, 2013

Progress made on plan to fix Maine budget shortfall

But differences emerge on proposals by the governor on charter school funding and aid to cities and towns.
Published
February 7, 2013

Legislators working to close spending gap, resolve conflict over budget proposals

AUGUSTA — The Legislature’s budget-writing committee was expected to work into the wee hours of this morning to vote on an emergency budget aimed at fixing a $153 million spending gap wrought largely by Medicaid overruns and low revenue collection.