A small, new Maine State Police motorcycle unit that began with an “out of nowhere” request from former Gov. Paul LePage nearly a year ago will be rolled out formally in April.

Proposals to allow Maine cities and towns to enshrine local-option sales taxes have momentum in 2019, but they’re facing the same problems that have stopped them in the past amid opposition from business groups and some progressives.

Droves of Mainers are expected to testify today about a controversial bill that would give MaineCare recipients access to state-funded abortion services, and force insurance providers to include abortions in their coverage for maternity services.

Governor Janet Mills signed emergency legislation today to allow the production and sale of food additives and food products that contain hemp or hemp products in Maine.

Maine’s governor has signed a bill designed to make clear that production and sale of hemp-derived food products are allowable in the state.

Founded in 1985, the Lewiston company is owned and managed by father-and-son team Stanley and Zak Sclar. It employs 320 people in nine stores, including seven Food City stores in Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts, and two Save-A-Lots in Maine.

State Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, said the Maine Public Utilities Commission should focus closely on the question of whether the proposed $1.3 billion acquisition of Emera Maine by Calgary-based ENMAX Corp. will truly benefit the utility’s 159,000 customers. Berry is the House chairman of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.

Sales of single-family existing houses in Maine eased slightly from the same time last year, while prices this February were 2.85% higher than February 2018.

Halifax-based Emera Inc. announced today it has agreed to sell its interest in Emera Maine to ENMAX Corp. for $1.3 billion in U.S. currency, a purchase price that includes $959 million in shares and approximately $341 million in assumed debt.

Governor Janet Mills and Efficiency Maine Trust announced today a set of initiatives that will expand the use of electric vehicles across Maine in an effort to reduce the state’s carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels.

Possible routes and other service details of a plan for train service between Lewiston-Auburn and Portland will be discussed at a public information meeting next week.

The planned merger between Northern Light Health system and Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft cleared another step on Wednesday with the unanimous approval of Northern Light’s board.

Save Maquoit Bay, a group formed to address issues with aquaculture, and lobstermen from around the state have submitted a petition to the Department of Marine Resources requesting an immediate moratorium on aquaculture leases greater than 10 acres in size.

Scott Lever will report to Erik Gundersen, who leads the state’s new Office of Marijuana Policy.

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is proposing a full state quarantine for Gypsy Moth. This proposed rule amends a state quarantine against the gypsy moth to prevent its movement from all parts of the State.

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden shared his support of universal health care for all citizens during a town hall meeting Tuesday at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

LD 1 Requires Insurance Companies To Include Basic Patient Protections In Maine Healthcare Plans

Maine’s independent U.S. senator is co-sponsoring a bill to require non-dairy products to stop using terms like “milk,” ”yogurt” and “cheese” on their labels.

But an insurance industry representative argues that a bill to regulate ‘step therapy’ would favor ‘costlier, but no more therapeutically effective, brand name drugs.’