Maine working on new wildlife protection plan
Press Herald - Maine is in the middle of writing its once-a-decade wildlife action plan, a conservation blueprint that will guide funding decisions, science and protection efforts. And, for the first time, the plan will emphasize the critical role of habitat protection, and consider how climate change affects local plants and animals.
The state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s 2025 plan will assess the health of Maine’s 1,500 native plants, in addition to Maine’s 15,000 native wildlife species. The 2005 and 2015 plans only considered animals species. The new plan will also make use of new climate science not available for past plans.
Press Herald - Care workers joined House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, at the State House Thursday to urge lawmakers and the governor to approve cost-of-living increases for Maine’s direct care workforce as part of the state’s new two-year budget. The estimated cost of COLA increases to the state budget would be $84 million over the two years.
Press Herald - Maine Republicans and gun rights groups are ramping up pressure on Democrats to hold a public hearing on a so-called red flag proposal that’s headed for a statewide vote in November. Sen. Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, said that if Democrats don’t reverse course and hold a hearing, Republicans will try to force the issue through a series of floor votes.