A lot has changed in the three years since I became the first governor in the country to sign legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry. One thing, however, is as true today as it was then: Civil unions and domestic partnerships are not the same as marriage. Opponents of allowing same-sex couples to marry say … Read more
Former Gov. John Baldacci will be ladling out the sauce again next week in Bangor and Portland at events sponsored by Catholics for Marriage Equality and the Religious Coalition Against Discrimination. The money raised at the events will be donated to organizations that support the homeless in Bangor and Portland rather than to Mainers United … Read more
PORTLAND – A task force has unveiled a sweeping plan for reducing homelessness in the city. The plan, still in its draft form, calls for creating a centralized process for assessing homeless people; building three, 35-unit housing facilities, and expanding case management services to better match the needs of clients. Nearly 100 people filled City … Read more
PORTLAND – Steven Huston, a longtime advocate for Preble Street Homeless Voices for Justice, fought tirelessly for people struggling with homelessness, poverty and addiction. Huston, like those for whom he battled, struggled with alcoholism and chronic homelessness. He died unexpectedly Thursday in his recliner at his apartment on Wilmot Street in Portland. He was 53. … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine – Young women and girls are being lured from their lives in Maine and disappearing into a dark world, where they are regularly beaten, raped and sold all over the country. According to service providers and law enforcement experts, the modern-day slave trade is not only alive in Maine, but relies on this … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) – More than 300 people will seek emergency shelter in Portland tonight. And those numbers are growing. A task force has spent the last year looking for ways to address the issue and Wednesday night they shared their findings with the public. The task force believes that its recommendations can save … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine – A task force that studied homelessness in Portland over the past year is urging local stakeholders to summon the political will to fund the construction of 105 more specialized housing units for the homeless, according to its draft report. By implementing the major steps recommended in the report, which include a renewed … Read more
STATE – For many, summer means good eating – gardens and farmers markets overflow with fresh produce and the aroma of backyard grilling fills the air. It’s hard to believe that people are going hungry. But advocates say that for many food insecure families, particularly those with school-age children, summer is a lean time. According … Read more
DOVER —On a recent cloudy afternoon, a man dressed in jean shorts and a blue graphic tee carried a cardboard sign. He was walking back and forth across Route 108 near Chili’s at Weeks Crossing, then toward the intersection which heads to Route 16. He said he is homeless in Rochester, and identified himself only … Read more
Hunger is on the rise in Maine. Over 200,000 Mainers are unsure where their next meal is coming from–the sixth-highest hunger rate in the nation, federal statistics indicate. In Portland today, USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon, Mayor Michael Brennan, and hunger advocates held a press conference to draw attention to the problem–and to the concern … Read more