Maine News Wednesday

Maine Morning Star  — A Freeport-based legislator, Rep. Melanie Sachs, is leading a push in Augusta for a temporary moratorium on large data centers, citing concerns over power demand and local impacts. Lawmakers are debating how such a pause would affect projects in places like Sanford and Limestone, while advocates warn that 24/7 data centers could further raise Maine’s already high electricity costs.

Press Herald - As blizzard conditions swept across much of the Northeast on Monday, school districts across Maine made the familiar decision to close down schools. A growing number of districts are now switching to remote learning after using a few snow days. Portland, Falmouth and Auburn allow three full snow days before moving to remote learning, while in Lewiston, the traditional snow day is still the solution of choice during bad weather.

A proposed bill to cap hospital payments from private insurers at 200% of Medicare reimbursement rates has advocates and hospital executives sparring. Supporters say the measure would curb Maine’s high hospital prices and make health care more affordable. Hospital leaders say the bill would force service cuts or even closures to make up for lost revenue.

Maine’s private snowplow drivers are staring into empty bins and scouring dry depots as a national rock salt shortage strips them of their primary tool for taming icy parking lots and sidewalks. The shortage is driven by disruptions to traditional winter weather patterns and supply chains. National suppliers are rationing or cutting off commercial accounts to prioritize city, state and federal contracts.

Graham Platner grows lead in U.S. Senate primary against Gov. Janet Mills, poll shows

Polls

PollingNumbers 
Senate poll - Maine

🔵 Platner 49%
🔴 Collins 38%

🔵 Mills 41%
🔴 Collins 40%