Weight is the Most Common Reason Why Maine Schoolkids are Bullied

Research shows that the No. 1 reason that kids say they are bullied is their weight. And it’s not just from other kids — adults can also be the source of teasing and shaming.

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When mom is battling addiction, these programs are keeping their families together

Kate clasps her hands over her pregnant belly, watching her oldest daughter play with a plastic toy at her feet. The 4-year-old puzzles over how to fit the colorful pieces together, too absorbed to notice as Kate, 31, recounts her own, more dire, struggle with opiates.

More >> When mom is battling addiction, these programs are keeping their families together

Senators Collins, King Announce Grant for Maine DHHS Vaccination Program

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King have announced the award of $1.181 million for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

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Wayne man found not guilty of tossing infant son down stairs

A 40-year-old Maine man has been found not guilty of throwing his 3-month-old son down a flight of stairs inside his Wayne home. 

More >> Wayne man found not guilty of tossing infant son down stairs

What a sad case.  This mom should get whatever he would have gotten had he been found guilty.

The vital question of school testing in Maine

How is Maine going to go about testing all public school students in grades 3 to 8? This question is currently before the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee.

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Low-Income Maine Children More Likely to be Obese

More than a third of children and adolescents in the U.S are overweight or obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. That’s twice as many overweight children than there were 30 years ago, and four times the number of overweight adolescents.

More >> Low-Income Maine Children More Likely to be Obese

• Cyr cited in MPBN report on obesity among low-income Maine children

Mother, 20, charged with murder in Fairfield newborn's death

Kayla Stewart

State Police have arrested a Fairfield mother in connection with the death of her newborn son.

More >> Mother, 20, charged with murder in Fairfield newborn's death

Attorney General Janet Mills outlines current hot topics

Maine's Attorney General apparently gave a speech in Lewiston this past Thursday, where she went off on all of the wonderful work her office is doing including helping DHHS to rip families apart.

“We are seeing people who cannot take care of their kids,” Mills said. 

Child abuse cases last year resulted in judgments of $1.5 million against parents. 

There are about 2,000 active child protection cases in which children are under state custody, Mills said. 

“Sadly, that’s increasing,” she added. 

Mills described discovery of meth labs where children were present or nearby. A new law increases the severity of penalties for conviction of meth lab operation when children are around, and Mills said she hopes awareness of that aggravating factor will have a positive result. 

Prenatal drug use is another area of great concern, she told the audience. 

“It’s a significant challenge,” Mills said, adding that 8 percent of all live births in Maine last year showed findings of drugs affecting the babies.

More >> Attorney General Janet Mills outlines current hot topics

Please don't just take her word for it without questioning what's really going on behind the veil of their confidentiality laws.  

• Terrifying Tales from Maine's Child Welfare System
• Legally Kidnapped: Maine

Maine Moms Demand Action submits petitions to get gun checks on ballot

Maine election officials are verifying petitions for a ballot measure requiring criminal background checks for all private gun sales in the state.

More >> Maine Moms Demand Action submits petitions to get gun checks on ballot

Maine Children’s Alliance named finalist for grant

The Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation recently named the Maine Children’s Alliance as one of three nonprofits in Maine Masonic District 11 eligible for the $2,000 “Building Our Community” grant. While Freemasons from across the state select the three organization in each of the 24 Masonic Districts in Maine eligible for the grant, the public chooses each district winner by voting online at www.masoniccharitablefoundation.org/. Voting ends Jan. 31. 

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Racism in Maine schools or just ‘kids being kids’?

Miki Aube received a call from the principal at Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School last fall, one week after her 7-year-old son started second grade there. A student at the Brunswick school, named after the famous abolitionist author, had called her biracial son the “n-word.”

More >> Racism in Maine schools or just ‘kids being kids’?

Maine juvenile skaters take silver medal at U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Julia Curran and Franz-Peter Jerosch are the first Mainers since 2008 to medal at the event.

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Congrats!!

A Slap On The Wrist For A Child Porn Loving Auburn City Councilor

A former Auburn city councilor and magazine publisher was sentenced to nine months in jail Friday stemming from sex charges involving minors. 

More >> Ex-Auburn city councilor sentenced to 9 months in jail on child porn charges

• Former Auburn city councilor Josh Shea to spend 9 months in jail

9 months isn't long enough.  He must have made some pretty good friends during his time as a city councilor.

School bus destroyed after catching fire

A school bus owned by the Oxford Hills School District was destroyed Friday morning after catching fire.

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Parents concerned by Clinton email respond

The parents who raised concern over an email opportunity to volunteer with the Hillary Clinton campaign shared with Marshwood High School students hope the conversation continues, but in a more positive direction.

More >> Parents concerned by Clinton email respond

Maine Voices: State has chance and challenge to pursue its own educational goals

This is an exciting time to be working on education policy in our state. A new federal law will put more power in the hands of Mainers to shape our public education system.

More >> Maine Voices: State has chance and challenge to pursue its own educational goals

Maine bill would allow schools to administer medication without nurses

Maine parents caring for epileptic children gathered in Augusta Monday to support a bill that would allow a school administrative unit to permit trained nonmedical employees to provide emergency medication to epileptic students if requested by a parent or guardian.

More >> Maine bill would allow schools to administer medication without nurses

Attention Drug Dealers: If you impregnate my daughter I'll find you and cut it off!

Yes folks!  Maine's Governor has once again set off the easily offended.  This time, he claims that drug dealers are coming to Maine, selling drugs and knocking-up "young white girls" and the media is running with it.

Paul LePage Makes Racist Claim About Drug Dealers Named D-Money Getting White Girls Pregnant

Maine Gov. LePage: Drug dealers impregnate 'young white' girls

LePage Draws National Criticism for 'Disgusting, Racist' Remarks

Charlie Baker joins in rebuke of Maine Gov. LePage’s remarks

Maine Gov: Drug Dealers Impregnating 'White Girls'

Maine Gov. LePage slammed for racially-charged comments

LePage: I meant to say Maine women, not white women

Gov. Paul LePage on 'white girl' remark: 'I slipped up'

Maine's Governor Paul LePage held a news conference Friday morning to discuss his recent controversial remarks he made at a town hall meeting in Bridgton Wednesday night.

Now let's not be too hard on the Gov, he's an idiot.  You knew this when you re-elected him.  Instead, perhaps you should heed his warning and teach your daughters to keep their legs closed around drug dealers.  They don't make the best fathers in most cases and it really doesn't matter what color they are.  A man is a man and a piece of shit is a piece of shit.

Spose remixes Gov. LePage’s ‘impregnate a young, white girl’ quote into a song

Besides, if a comment like that offends you, I'd hate to see your reaction when your daughter comes home pregnant and introducing you to D-Money or Smoothie.  I'd be the next Lorena Bobbitt.

Parents outraged after Maine high school recruits students to work on Hillary Clinton's campaign as a way to get extra credits

Parents of students at a public high school in Maine are outraged after the institution tried to recruit students to work on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign this week.

More >> Parents outraged after Maine high school recruits students to work on Hillary Clinton's campaign as a way to get extra credits

• Maine school accused of recruiting students for Hillary Clinton

Auburn passes medical marijuana in schools policy

A school committee has approved a policy that would allow students to have medical marijuana administered in school under certain conditions.

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• Auburn school officials approve medical marijuana policy
• Auburn to allow medical marijuana in schools

Parents of Maine girl killed agree with Obama's plan for tighter gun laws

It was an emotional day for President Obama on Tuesday and many other families, as he announced an executive order designed to strengthen gun control.

More >> Parents of Maine girl killed agree with Obama's plan for tighter gun laws

The Right View: The fight for Maine schools is about to heat up

Monday, Jan. 11, will be an important day in the morass that is the recent history of education in Maine. For parents who recognize that Common Core is a mess and a disaster, you will have a real opportunity to make a difference, and begin to end this insanity.

More >> The Right View: The fight for Maine schools is about to heat up

Lawsuits claim Portland diocese hid sex abuse by priest

Six men have sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, claiming church leaders concealed allegations that a priest sexually abused children for decades.

More >> Lawsuits claim Portland diocese hid sex abuse by priest

• Six abuse victims sue Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland

Maine’s new virtual charter school sees 25% enrollment drop since opening

The Maine Charter School Commission may explore ways to better inform students about what to expect, perhaps with a 'tryout' week.

More >> Maine’s new virtual charter school sees 25% enrollment drop since opening

School committee to vote on medical marijuana policy

A Maine school committee is scheduled to consider a policy that would allow students to have medical marijuana administered in school under certain conditions.

More >> School committee to vote on medical marijuana policy

• Auburn vote expected on allowing medical marijuana to be administered in school

Maine girl's school project has put her deep in diapers

A 14-year-old Maine student who started a diaper bank for families in need as part of a school project continues to be deep in diapers.

More >> Maine girl's school project has put her deep in diapers

• Wilton girl’s school project has put her deep in diapers

Auburn School Department considers new policy on medical marijuana in schools

The Auburn School Department is considering a new policy that will allow medical marijuana to be administered to students on campus.

More >> Auburn School Department considers new policy on medical marijuana in schools