Rep.Melanie Sachs - After many long days and nights at the State House, we’re getting close to wrapping up our work for the legislative session. I’m proud to report that last week we accomplished one of our biggest goals: passing a supplemental budget that truly delivers for Maine’s working families.
It’s often said that budgets are a reflection of our values. In crafting this budget, Mainers across the state told us what that should look like – protecting access to health care, providing property tax relief, making child care more affordable, and strengthening our communities. Democrats listened, and we fought for a budget that will do the most amount of good for the most people in our state.
The budget protects core services by providing critical funding for MaineCare, K-12 public education and the state’s Highway Fund. It will help feed hungry kids by closing the gap in our universal meals program, and it will clear the Child Care Affordability Program waitlist so families can find the child care they need.
The budget also provides $11.4 million in direct property tax relief through the Property Tax Fairness Credit by increasing the maximum benefit for Mainers under 65. And it includes important funding to help us build more housing and continue addressing the shortage of units throughout our state.
While Washington is stuck in gridlock and dysfunction, we’re doing everything we can in the Legislature to make sure hard-working, everyday Mainers can afford to live, work, and build a life here.
News Center Maine - Sunny skies and warm temperatures drew crowds to the beach Sunday, but local first responders are urging people to resist the urge to swim. Water temperatures along Maine's coast are still frigid, and lifeguards won't be on duty for several more months.
"The water is only 40 degrees right now. That's pretty cold," said Russ Osgood, Ogunquit's fire chief, who also oversees lifeguarding efforts along the beach.
Osgood also said rip currents pose a serious risk year-round. He estimated there are three or four rip currents running up and down the beach at any given time. The warning comes after a North Yarmouth man drowned earlier this month while saving his children from a rip current in Florida—a tragedy that has renewed attention to water safety in Maine.
News Center Maine - Maine Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Graham Platner is calling for aggressive oversight of the Trump administration should Democrats regain control of the House and Senate in this November’s midterm elections.
Town of Freeport - The latest Village Corridor Initiative plans have been printed in large format and are now on display at Town Hall (30 Main St). We have set up a couple of 'stop-in' times at Town Hall to allow the community to view the plans, discuss them with Town staff, and take our online survey. The 'stop-in' times are Monday, April 13th, from 5:00-6:00pm and Wednesday, April 15th, 8:00-9:00am. Don't forget to take the survey.
Forward Blue - Susan Collins just announced she's running for a sixth term. She thinks Maine is safe. She thinks her "moderate" brand still works after years of voting with Mitch McConnell and Trump when it mattered most....Our data says she's wrong. We just completed the largest poll of the entire 2026 cycle in Maine, and Democrat Graham Platner crushes Susan Collins by 61 points.
Press Herald
The Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College in Waterville began a decade ago with a goal of supporting Jewish congregations that are far from big cities and it has grown to run programs for more than 60 communities in 22 states. “Rural Jewish life is important for the Jewish people and it’s important for rural America,” said Rabbi Rachel Isaacs, the spiritual leader of Beth Israel Congregation
Toy Jackson - The Tribal Council of the Mi'kmaq Nation has endorsed my campaign for Governor of Maine. I don't take this lightly. For too long, the state's relationship with the Mi'kmaq Nation and Maine's three other federally recognized tribes has amounted to nothing more than symbolic gestures and empty promises — and that's at the best of times. For much longer, the state's relationship with the Wabanaki People has been far worse.
Tribal sovereignty isn't “complicated” and it isn't something we need to invent ourselves. At one time, the tribes had sovereignty on this land, but our government took it away. That's the truth, and it's past time Maine faced it honestly.
As Senate President, I worked to start changing that record....We passed laws to support economic development, improve access to clean drinking water, recognize the exclusive jurisdiction of tribal courts, and enshrine protections for Wabanaki children and families into state law. I voted to adopt tribal sovereignty — and voted to override the Governor's veto.