Category: WERU News Report

WERU News Report 1/29/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

The legislature is considering a proposed law that is meant to standardize workplace drug testing: LD 1669 “An Act To Standardize and Simplify the Process for Employers To Provide a Drug-free Workplace”.

Supporters say that drug testing makes for safer work places, and that the current law places unfair demands on employers to cover the costs of rehab if an employee tests positive. Opponents, including the Maine ACLU and the Medical Marijuana caregivers association are concerned about the invasion of privacy. And people on both sides say the issue is complicated by the legalization of marijuana, and the fact that a worker may test positive for cannabis for weeks after use, even if they never used it in the workplace.

A public hearing for the bill was held yesterday before the Labor, Commerce, Research AND Economic Development committee. Here are some excerpts:

WERU News Report 1/28/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Segment 1: Environment groups are warning that Mainers may find themselves using gas derived from tar sands, citing a recent report by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Dylan Vorhees, the Clean Energy and Global Warming Project Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine is joining us today to tell us why they see that as a big problem.
(Link to a pdf of the full report is here: http://www.nrcm.org/news/new-report-oil-industry-plans-to-pump-refined-tar-sands-to-maine/ )

Segment 2: Pete Seeger at SOA, 2003. Back in 2003 we reported on the annual protest at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly called the School of the Americas – and know to human rights activists as the “School of the Assassins”. The school, located at Fort Benning, Georgia, is run by the US Military. It trains soldiers from Latin America in counterinsurgency techniques and war fare, and many graduates have gone on to commit atrocities. One of the participants in the protest that year was Pete Seeger. On a stage set up right outside the gates of the military compound, he led the crowd in a sing-a-long. His voice was failing, but not his spirit, as you’ll hear in this clip

WERU News Report 1/22/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

The state legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Energy & Utilities held a public hearing on Tuesday on LD1652, “An Act to Support Solar Energy Development in Maine”
This bill has been chosen as a priority bill by Maine’s Environmental Priorities Coalition, a partnership of 28 environmental, conservation, and public health organizations, representing over 100,000 members, according to the Natural Resources Council of Maine. They say that if passed, this legislation will make solar power “more accessible and affordable for Maine people”. Today on the News Report we’re bringing you some of the testimony from the public hearing

WERU News Report 1/21/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Last week the Maine legislature’s Health and Human Services committee held a public hearing, as they are considering amended legislation that would allow for Mainecare (Maine’s version of Medicaid) expansion, but include a sunset clause, allowing the state to drop the program after 3 years. The expansion would offer coverage to 70,000 Mainers. The Affordable Care Act was structured with the intent that the expanded Medicaid would cover people with incomes of less that 128% of the federal poverty level.

Today we’re going to hear some of the stories, told by people who have no health coverage, their family members, and people who work with them

FMI: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1202099#t=articleTop

WERU News Report 1/15/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Today we’re catching up with Daryl DeJoy, Executive Director of the Wildlife Alliance of Maine, getting an update on the issues they are working on, including bear baiting, and lynx protection in Maine

FMI: www.wildlifealliancemaine.org http://fairbearhunt.com/

WERU News Report 1/14/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

The state legislature’s Insurance and Financial Services Committee held a public hearing Thursday, on LD 1345, “An Act To Establish a Single-payor Health Care System To Be Effective in 2017“. Today we listen in as the bill is introduced, and we’ll hear some of the testimony in support, recorded by WERU’s John Greenman

WERU News Report 1/8/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Part 2 of 2

Individuals/groups that were in the news on WERU in 2013, look ahead to 2014. Today: Karen Marysdaughter of 350 Maine, Phil Caper of Maine AllCare, Diane Messer & Lynne Williams of Move to Amend and We The People, Lindsay Newland Bowker of Bowker Associates, Rachel Healy of ACLU of Maine

WERU News Report 1/7/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Part 1 of 2

Individuals/groups that were in the news on WERU in 2013, look ahead to 2014. Today: Chris Buchanan of Stop the East-West Corridor, Sarah Bigney of the AFL-CIO, Ron Huber of Friends of Penobscot Bay, Ilze Petersons of the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, Judy Berk of the Natural Resources Council of Maine