Stories by Michael Shepherd

Good morning from Augusta. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was in Maine on Friday for a rally and fundraiser to boost state Sen. Eric Brakey, calling the underdog GOP challenger to independent U.S. Sen. Angus King “a different kind of Republican.”

Good morning from Augusta. A poll released on Wednesday by the AARP shows something interesting, but probably not unsurprising:

Good day from Augusta, where Gov. Paul LePage’s move to submit a Medicaid expansion plan to the federal government while asking the feds to reject ithas advocates pondering their next move in light of an ongoing case on the issue in Maine courts.

Good morning from Augusta, where the State House is again relatively quiet as Maine’s political world turns its attention to events in Washington and on the campaign trail.

The Maine Legislature voted Thursday to enhance the state’s embattled child welfare system with $21.2 million in funding, marking the first legislative response to the deaths of two girls who died allegedly at the hands of their caregivers.

The Maine Legislature is back in Augusta on Thursday for the first of a planned two final days of the 2018 legislative session. Lawmakers will handle a ream of proposed child welfare reforms from Gov. Paul LePage, conforming Maine to the federal tax code and other issues.

Good morning from Augusta, where more women than ever are running in Maine’s 2018 legislative elections. It follows a national trend toward more female political participation attributed to many different reasons depending on which party you’re talking about.

Good morning from Augusta, where a legislative panel whittled down a ream of bills from Gov. Paul LePage aiming to reform Maine’s embattled child welfare system to endorse a narrower package on Monday ahead of the Legislature’s return to Augusta on Thursday.

Good morning from Augusta, where the four candidates running for governor in 2018 — including Democrat Janet Mills — agree on at least one thing: They oppose a November referendum to create a universal home care program with a new tax on high-earning families.