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States do not have time before November’s midterm elections to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order mandating overhauls of their mail-in-voting systems, two dozen Democratic state officials told the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday. mainemorningstar.com/2026/08/03/r...

Democratic state officials urge US Supreme Court to affirm pause on Trump vote-by-mail order • Maine Morning Star

WASHINGTON — States do not have time before November’s midterm elections to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order mandating overhauls of their mail-in-voting systems, two dozen…

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This week Mainers will start to see Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Troy Jackson’s first ad, in which he pitches that the state is ready for change. mainemorningstar.com/2026/08/03/t...

Troy Jackson’s first Senate ad hits the airwaves • Maine Morning Star

This week Mainers will start to see Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Troy Jackson’s first ad, in which he pitches that the state is ready for change. The ad is reminiscent of his first in the…

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Today’s small children have a brighter future economically than any generation since the surge of Baby Boomers swamped the job market in the early 1970s, dampening pay for 20-somethings ever since, said Steven Ruggles of the Minnesota Population Center. mainemorningstar.com/2026/08/03/r...

Today’s children could prosper in tomorrow’s shortage of young workers • Maine Morning Star

Today's children could be the first generation since the 1970s to do better than their parents as young workers become more sought after and well paid. They may even see a surplus of housing to make…

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U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said in a statement that she worked with committee members of both parties and that the measure "avoids any poison pills" that would doom its chances in the consensus-driven Senate. mainemorningstar.com/2026/08/03/r...

Spending deal freezes Trump proposal to gain power over federal grants, extends highway law • Maine Morning Star

WASHINGTON — Leaders of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee announced a bipartisan deal over the weekend that would keep the federal government funded through Dec. 11 and pause the Trump…

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Maine voters can now request absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 general election. mainemorningstar.com/2026/08/03/m...

Mainers can start requesting absentee ballots for November election • Maine Morning Star

Maine voters can now request absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 general election. Any registered voter is able to request a ballot three months before Election Day under Maine’s no-excuse absentee…

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Hospitals closures would cost Aroostook, Hancock, and Washington counties anywhere from $15.8 to $113.5 million in wages each, according to the Maine Center for Economic Policy. mainemorningstar.com/2026/08/03/m...

Medicaid cuts put rural hospitals and economies at risk • Maine Morning Star

President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (HR 1), passed in July 2025, made massive cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. Around 31,000 Mainers are expected to lose Medicaid due…

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Acting AG Todd Blanche’s nomination appeared on track Monday after he assured Senate Judiciary Committee lawmakers that the administration’s nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that could potentially pay pardoned violent Jan. 6 defendants is dead. mainemorningstar.com/2026/08/03/r...

Blanche asserts 'anti-weaponization' fund is dead, wins key GOP support in US Senate • Maine Morning Star

WASHINGTON — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general appeared on track Monday after he submitted a written assurance to Senate Judiciary Committee lawmakers that the…

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Maine Morning Star @mainemorningstar.com · 4d ago

Public health experts interviewed by @StatesNewsroom.com said series of outbreaks is the result of several factors, but that Kennedy’s decision to cut back the country’s safety net while spreading misinformation about vaccines has aggravated the problem. mainemorningstar.com/2026/08/03/r...

String of outbreaks tests US public health system amid funding cuts, vaccine resistance • Maine Morning Star

WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged during his confirmation hearing to do everything in his “power to put the health of America back on track.” Kennedy…

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Trump defends massive settlement for ‘great American Patriots’ of Jan. 6, attacks GOP senators mainemorningstar.com/2026/08/01/r...

Trump defends massive settlement for ‘great American Patriots’ of Jan. 6, attacks GOP senators • Maine Morning Star

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump defended his highly criticized, nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” settlement fund on social media and in a Cabinet meeting Friday, as two key Republican…

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Maine Morning Star @mainemorningstar.com · 4d ago

Republican nominee Paul LePage has said he will protect Social Security and Medicare, but has a history of opposing Medicaid expansions while he was governor. In contrast, Democratic nominee Matt Dunlap is campaigning on support for Medicare-for-all. mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/31/f...

Fate of Medicare, Medicaid emerge as key issue in 2nd District race • Maine Morning Star

On the 61st anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing Medicaid and Medicare into law, the fate of the healthcare programs are emerging as a key issue for the candidates looking to replace…

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States will have to meet a Jan. 1 deadline to implement new Medicaid work requirements, after a federal judge denied 25 Democratic-led states’ request to pause implementation of the rule. mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/31/r...

Judge rejects states’ bid to block Medicaid work rules • Maine Morning Star

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The Senate bill, with GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska as original co-sponsors, would block program transfers regarding special education, elementary and secondary education, postsecondary education and Native American education. mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/31/r...

US Senate panel advances bill to reject Education Department transfers • Maine Morning Star

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan effort to rein in President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education has cleared its first major legislative hurdle in a bipartisan U.S. Senate…

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As municipalities in Maine and across the country are increasingly relying on Artificial Intelligence for policing, some localities have made progress in removing surveillance cameras, foreshadowing forthcoming legislative fights over state-level restrictions. mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/31/l...

Local efforts to ban Flock cameras gain steam • Maine Morning Star

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Prediction market platforms say they are like commodity markets that offer contracts to speculate on the future price of corn or oil — not sportsbooks that allow gamblers to place bets. But many states reject those justifications. | via @Stateline.org mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/31/r...

Online prediction markets rile up state lawmakers • Maine Morning Star

CHICAGO — The escalating feud between states and online prediction markets was on full display at a summit of state lawmakers this week as legislators publicly scolded Kalshi and Polymarket, the two…

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"They were providing medical services, and no, they were not licensed by our Department of Health,” said Gina Brown, performance audit manager for the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. | via @Stateline.org mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/30/r...

Crisis pregnancy centers fight for ultrasound use in clinics without government oversight • Maine Morning Star

Anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers routinely offer free ultrasounds, but there is little oversight. OB-GYNs, state lawmakers, government officials, reproductive health advocates, and current and…

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ICE is not planning an aggressive campaign at voting sites during the upcoming midterm elections, DHS said Thursday in response to a States Newsroom inquiry about a letter from U.S. Senate Democrats voicing concerns about armed federal agents at polling places. mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/30/r...

Trump administration rules out mass ICE enforcement at the polls in midterms • Maine Morning Star

WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not planning an aggressive campaign at voting sites during the upcoming midterm elections, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday…

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For the second time in as many weeks, a War Powers Resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump’s war with Iran failed to pass the U.S. Senate Thursday. mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/30/r...

Collins again breaks with Trump in failed US Senate vote to block war in Iran • Maine Morning Star

WASHINGTON — For the second time in as many weeks, a War Powers Resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump’s war with Iran failed to pass the U.S. Senate Thursday. The vote breakdown, 49-50,…

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In Maine, 47 children were placed in hotels and other unlicensed facilities a total of 91 times, according to HHS. mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/30/r...

Most states temporarily house foster children in hotels, offices • Maine Morning Star

More than 9,000 children in foster care had to temporarily stay in hotels, office buildings and other potentially unsafe settings when states couldn’t find suitable places for them, according to a…

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Maine Democratic leaders are raising alarms after a national party committee gave initial approval to a rule that would prevent the state from using ranked choice voting in presidential primaries. mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/30/m...

Maine Democrats may be unable to rank presidential primary under proposed DNC rule • Maine Morning Star

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