International Business News - ME http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif With prospects of major revenue shortfalls looming over the state, Maine's legislative leaders plan to extend the deadline for filing bills to mid-January, a month later than usual, in hopes of limiting the volume of formal proposals and saving the state money. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081128/maine-lawmakers-urged-to-limit-bills-to-save-money.htm Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:34:58 EST Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert heads to Washington this week for his final meeting with President George W. Bush, two lame-duck leaders looking to leave a blueprint for fulfilling their ambitious--but unrealized--Mideast agendas. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/180200-aptopix-mideast-israel-economy.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081122/lame-duck-us-israeli-leaders-to-meet-a-final-time.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081122/lame-duck-us-israeli-leaders-to-meet-a-final-time.htm Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:11:08 EST Figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicate 13.3 percent Maine households were having difficulty getting adequate food even before the economic slowdown. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081120/usda-mainers-struggling-to-afford-enough-food.htm Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:51:14 EST Maine Gov. John Baldacci is in Canada for two days as part of a trade mission. Baldacci's visit to Toronto on Thursday and Friday is part of a weeklong trade mission organized through the Maine International Trade Center, a nonprofit that provides trade counseling and technical assistance. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081120/maine-governor-in-canada-for-trade-mission.htm Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:21:47 EST Maine Gov. John Baldacci on Wednesday ordered nearly $80 million in curtailments in state programs, with education and human services programs absorbing the bulk of the impact of cutbacks that result from an ailing national economy that's sliding into recession. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081119/maine-governor-orders-80-million-in-budget-cuts.htm Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:57:43 EST Maine banks and credit unions said Monday they're financially healthy and ready to talk to borrowers as they addressed a legislative committee trying to assess how the state's financial services industry and businesses are faring amid the world economic crisis. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081117/maine-lenders-say-theyre-ready-to-help-businesses.htm Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:35:09 EST Data analyzed by the state show a slight increase in home foreclosures in Maine during the second quarter, but officials say the number of foreclosures remains relatively small and poses no threat to the stability of state-chartered banks and credit unions. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081117/maine-reports-home-foreclosures-increase-in-2q.htm Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:22:59 EST Shellfish closures linked to red tide in waters off Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts have caused a commercial fishery failure, a designation that opens the door to federal disaster assistance to shellfishermen and others in the industry. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081114/feds-declare-fishery-failure-due-to-red-tide.htm Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:49:43 EST Fairchild Semiconductor Corp. is blaming the troubled economy for its decision to shut down many of its U.S. operations during Thanksgiving week. Company officials say their customers and distributors are coping with reduced orders for consumer appliances and electronic devices that use Fairchild's computer chips. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081113/fairchild-to-halt-some-operations-temporarily.htm Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:20:38 EST U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud says the Labor Department will award a $527,000 emergency grant to help workers laid off from Katahdin Paper Co. The Maine Democrat says the funding will provide workers with access to an array of services, including skills assessments, training and career counseling. It'll also supplement services already being offered through Trade Adjustment Assistance. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081112/federal-grant-to-help-laid-off-maine-paper-workers.htm Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:06:05 EST Standard & Poor's said Tuesday that it would drop laggard real estate investment trust General Growth Properties Inc. from the S&P 500 index and replace it with biopharmaceutical company Cephalon Inc. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081111/s-p-500-to-drop-general-growth-add-cephalon.htm Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:35:59 EST It popped out casually, a throwaway line as he talked to reporters about finding the right puppy for his young daughters. But with just three offhanded words in his first news conference as president-elect, Barack Obama reminded everyone how thoroughly different his administration--and inevitably, this country--will be. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/170846-obama.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081108/mutts-like-me-_-obama-shows-ease-discussing-race.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081108/mutts-like-me-_-obama-shows-ease-discussing-race.htm Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:07:11 EST After a couple of failed attempts, tax foes finally mustered a victory in a statewide referendum to rein in taxes in Maine. With the beverage tax abolished on Tuesday, voters next will likely face two more tax-related referendums on Election Day a year from now. For lawmakers, it's an ominous sign as they face a budget shortfall of at least $500 million for the coming two-year cycle. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081107/maine-voters-deliver-strong-message-on-taxes.htm Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:15:57 EST Gambling opponents said Wednesday that voters' refusal to allow a casino in Oxford County should close the door to more legalized gaming in Maine. But it looks like a safe bet that Mainers haven't heard their last gaming pitch. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081105/western-maine-casino-proposal-shot-down-by-voters.htm Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:53:59 EST Maine voters' verdict on a proposed casino in Oxford County remained unclear as ballots were counted early Wednesday, but their opposition to new taxes on beer, wine and soda was clear as they exercised their people's veto power by a large margin. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081105/maine-voters-repeal-dirigo-taxes.htm Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:25:49 EST Sen. Olympia Snowe is seeking federal assistance to lend a hand to Maine's struggling lobster industry. Snowe announced Tuesday that she has written the Small Business Administration, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Agriculture asking each agency to help as lobstermen suffer under low prices and high costs. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081105/sen-snowe-seeks-aid-for-maine-lobster-industry.htm Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:40:30 EST The institution touts itself as "America's original party school." It has no sports teams, yet it claims to be "undefeated since 1787." Its crest features the words "Vis in Numeris," Latin for "strength in numbers." Its song: "Hail to the Chief." http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081030/sales-spike-for-electoral-college-sportswear.htm Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:04:33 EDT The Las Vegas company that wants to develop a $184 million casino and resort in western Maine is pledging that no one under 21 would be allowed to gamble or work in the casino if voters approve the proposal on Election Day. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081030/pledge-made-to-change-law-if-maine-casino-approved.htm Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:11:05 EDT Quoddy Bay LNG has withdrawn its request for state permits to build a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal on the Passamaquoddy Indian reservation at Pleasant Point in eastern Maine. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081028/quoddy-bay-withdraws-request-for-maine-permits.htm Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:55:47 EDT A new poll commissioned by the company that wants to build a $184 million resort casino in Oxford indicates that likely voters are narrowly divided on the project in what amounts to a statistical dead heat. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081027/new-poll-on-maine-casino-indicates-dead-heat.htm Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:06:51 EDT