@mainebeacon
Beacon is a news site by the Maine People’s Alliance. We shine a light on the experiences of everyday Mainers, educate readers on the impact of public policy and promote a progressive vision rooted in community, fairness and investing in our shared future.
A new report from Maine Equal Justice finds that small, flexible grants helped parents stay in college programs across Maine. Participants say help covering expenses like car repairs, rent and utilities often made the difference between staying enrolled or dropping out.
Sen. Susan Collins repeatedly chose escalation over diplomacy with Iran — from opposing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to siding with Donald Trump’s latest war powers, @strim.bsky.social writes.
“War is what she wanted and war is what she got.”
Nearly 25 years after Maine required Wabanaki studies in schools, many districts still struggle to teach it. Educators say they lack training, resources and support from the state. Now lawmakers are considering funding a permanent statewide specialist.
A coalition of labor groups rallied at the State House this week, calling for a new “millionaire’s tax” to help address Maine’s child care shortage. Advocates say the revenue could help fund universal child care and better wages for educators.
After Susan Collins voted against a war powers resolution that would require Trump to seek congressional approval before further U.S. military action against Iran, Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner said the decision shows Congress (and Collins) is failing to uphold its constitutional role.
Two new polls show Gov. Janet Mills trailing in the Democratic primary to take on Collins. @strim.bsky.social argues that while the easiest political move might be for Mills to drop out, a competitive primary could ultimately strengthen Democrats. But, Mills needs bold action on affordability, fast.
A Maine bill limiting when ICE can access public schools, libraries and state hospitals cleared committee on a 6-5 party-line vote. The proposal would require a judicial warrant before staff can grant access to nonpublic areas or confidential records. It now heads to the full Maine Legislature.
Maine Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Shenna Bellows unveiled a sweeping “New Deal for Maine” on Monday, pitching utility profit caps, expanded housing programs and higher taxes on millionaires and out-of-state homeowners as a way to lower costs.
Maine’s top U.S. Senate candidates split sharply after Pres. Trump launched strikes on Iran over the weekend without congressional approval. Graham Platner, the only candidate who is a veteran, condemned the move outright.
Consumers for Affordable Health Care has reported that nearly half of Maine households have taken on medical debt in the past two years with more people avoiding care due to cost. LD 2196 would cap hospital charges and ensure a portion of the savings go toward primary and behavioral health services.
Dr. Nirav Shah joins us on the podcast to discuss his run for Maine governor and how his background in public health as the former director of the Maine CDC shapes his approach to leadership. Click the link below to listen to the full episode!
Five years after Portland passed rent control and required developers to set aside 25% of new units as affordable, new data shows housing development is up — not down. Read more in Opinion columnist @strim.bsky.social's newest piece!
Neighbors helping neighbors — that’s the model behind WindowDressers, a Maine nonprofit that’s built 78,000+ insulating window inserts to lower heating bills and cut carbon emissions. This year, 52 community builds are planned across northern New England.
Health care advocates are urging lawmakers to pass LD 335, a bill that would establish emergency and ongoing funding pathways to stabilize Maine’s family planning network as federal funds are withheld and Medicaid reimbursement rules tighten.
Lewiston City Councilor Scott Harriman has won a special election for Maine House District 94 and will head to the Maine House of Representatives, keeping Democrats’ two-seat majority intact.
“When we say we don’t want these facilities, we don’t want concentration camps in our backyard, we absolutely mean it,” said Grace Kindeke of the New Hampshire Center for Justice and Equity, as residents stopped a proposed ICE detention center in NH.
Sen. Susan Collins signed on her support for a restrictive voter suppression bill would require Americans to show specific citizenship papers to register—or even to update their voter information—and impose strict photo ID rules for casting a ballot. The SAVE Act could face a Senate vote this week.
With grocery prices up 30% since 2020 and a typical family of four now spending more than $1,000 a month, experts at the Center for American Progress are calling for a temporary price freeze on essential food items like milk, eggs and beef. Click below to read the full story.
After experiencing houselessness twice despite working full time, Annemarie Morse urged lawmakers to fully fund rental assistance and tax the wealthy during a public hearing on Gov. Mills' supplemental budget. This comes as a new study revealed that nearly half of Maine renters are cost-burdened.
Advocates say three Maine tax reform bills could raise $215M annually for schools, health care, housing and child care by increasing taxes on ultra wealthy and profitable corporations.
Sen. Susan Collins’ newly released campaign launch video features Maine State Sen. Stacey Guerin, an outspoken anti-abortion lawmaker who has promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and used graphic, medically disputed claims about abortion.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows earns the first-ever “Badass Award” in @strim.bsky.social latest column for what he calls her courageous use of power to push back against the Trump admins's immigration enforcement and protect constitutional rights.
As Maine lawmakers prepare for budget hearings next week, advocates are calling for expanded investments in health care and child care — funded by higher taxes on the state’s wealthiest residents and profitable corporations.
Public health advocates are condemning the Trump administration’s decision to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency’s long-standing “Endangerment Finding,” the scientific and legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.
Earlier this week, Sen. Susan Collins announced she will seek a sixth term — 30 years after first promising to serve only two — as powerful ultra-right wing donors continue to back her campaign.
A federal judge recently blocked ICE from using taxpayer data for immigration enforcement — shutting down a Trump administration data-sharing scheme and protecting immigrant taxpayers who follow the law. Click below to read more!
Health insurance enrollment through CoverME.gov is at its lowest level since 2021. Advocates say rising costs and the loss of ACA subsidies are forcing people to downgrade coverage — or, drop it entirely.
Language matters. Anat Shenker-Osorio shares on the podcast how moral narratives, collective action, and documenting everyday heroism can counter fascism and mobilize people to act. Click below to listen to the full episode!
Recent federal cuts to health programs make universal coverage more urgent than ever. The reconciliation bill slashed more than $1 trillion from national health programs and allowed Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire, changes experts say could leave 10 million people uninsured by 2034.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says Pres. Donald Trump’s renewed calls for federal control of elections, combined with new Republican legislation, signal a dangerous effort to undermine democratic safeguards ahead of future elections. Click the link below to read more.