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May 20 2026POLITICS

Why Maine’s Spending Habits Aren’t Fixing Its Cost Problems

Maine keeps raising taxes and throwing cash at problems, but the state still struggles with high costs. Over the last few years, spending jumped from $7. 2 billion to over $12 billion. That’s a massive jump, but most people aren’t feeling the benefits. Instead of cutting waste or helping regular fam

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May 20 2026EDUCATION

Schools need more money—here's how the budget hike affects local homeowners

The Baldwin-Whitehall school system plans to spend about 100. 7 million dollars next year, which is nearly 10 million more than this year’s spending. To cover the gap, leaders suggest raising property taxes by 4. 7 percent. The current tax rate sits at 25 mills, but if the plan passes, it will climb

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May 20 2026LIFESTYLE

A Local Bar Gets a Fresh Makeover While Keeping Its Heart

The Idle Hour in Mount Morris wasn’t always a hotspot, but new owners Megan and Britton Brooks are changing that. Since buying the place in early 2024, they’ve given the back patio a glow-up, upgraded the stage for live music, and added more fun events like themed bingo nights and adult prom. But th

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May 20 2026HEALTH

Older adults and the quiet battle against hidden risks

A long-term study in Brazil tracked over a thousand older adults to see how their daily lives connected to their safety. Researchers checked in three times over a decade, asking about their work, social habits, and support systems. The focus wasn’t just on physical harm but on how vulnerable they fe

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May 19 2026CRIME

A Phone on a Bus Turns into a Tragedy

One ordinary Friday, a Cincinnati bus ride turned fatal when a 52‑year‑old passenger was shot three times over a borrowed cell phone. The victim, who had lent his device to a fellow rider, was killed while the other man fled. The accused, 27‑year‑old Leonte Coston, faces murder charges that could ke

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May 19 2026HEALTH

Community rallies after risky school experiment leads to serious injury

When a routine science experiment at Greeneview High School turned dangerous last week, the small town of Jamestown didn’t just watch from the sidelines—it stepped up in a big way. Chloe Walker, a student there, suffered severe burns covering over 40% of her body after a fire broke out during class.

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May 19 2026BUSINESS

Smart marketing beats layoffs when money gets tight

In hard times, bosses often slash teams first. Amazon, UPS and Nestlé did exactly that in recent years, cutting thousands of jobs. Yet most executives forget one truth: shrinking payroll rarely fixes money problems, it usually makes them worse. The real leak is often in the sales funnel, not the sta

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May 19 2026CRIME

What Massachusetts Crime Victims Could Lose Without New Funding

Victims of crime in Massachusetts may soon face major service cuts unless state senators approve a last-minute funding boost. A proposed $13. 8 million amendment aims to prevent a 35% loss in support for programs helping survivors of domestic violence, child trafficking, and sexual assault. Without

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May 19 2026POLITICS

New Virginia Laws Aim to Close Gaps in Mother and Baby Healthcare

Virginia recently took another step forward in improving care for mothers and infants with a set of new laws signed in April. These laws expand on last year’s "Momnibus" package, which was the first major effort to tackle long-standing issues in maternal and infant health across the state. While the

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May 18 2026POLITICS

Reducing School Costs Through State‑Wide Health Coverage

School districts in Maine are facing a sharp rise in health insurance expenses. In one district with more than 600 staff members, premiums have climbed by over $1 million, pushing the total employer outlay to nearly $10 million. These figures only represent the portion paid by schools; employees the

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