Category: WERU News Report

WERU News Report 3/21/12

Host & Producer: Amy Browne
Program Topic: Mining Companies Draft Wish, Propose Legislation Overhauling Maine’s Laws—And Say “Hurry!”

Key Discussion Points:
LD 1853 was drafted by Pierce Atwood, lawyers for the companies that want to mine the land
Audio from Environment & Natural Resources Committee hearing, including bill sponsor, Rep. John Martin (D- Eagle Lake),and Cosponsor, Sen. Troy Jackson (D- Allagash) –both of whom express some reservations about the bill as presented. Nick Bennett, Staff Scientist for the Natural Resources Council of Maine presents a detailed outline of concerns.

FMI: Joint Standing Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (for details/updates): (207) 287-4149. Natural Resources Council of Maine: www.nrcm.org

Guests: n/a
Recorded audio from Environment & Natural Resources Committee public hearing (see above).

Call In Program: No

WERU SoapBox & Special News Report 3/20/12

Topics: News Report re: Senator Thomas Saviello’s conduct toward a citizen in a committee meeting for Mining Legislation, then the WERU SoapBox, open-mic style call in show

Guests:
For News Report: Audio from Joint Standing Committee on Environment & Natural Resources, interview w/ Senator Saviello
For SoapBox: n/a (open-mic call in)

Call In Program: Yes
Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: Joel Mann

WERU News Report 3/7/12

Issue: Independent, Alternative Local News
Broadcast Time: 4pm
Program Topics: Segment 1: OccupyAIPAC; Segment 2: Legislation addressing loopholes re: legislator’s finances
Key Discussion Points:
a) AIPAC
b) OccupyAIPAC/CODEPINK
c) LD1806, An Act to Promote Transparency in Government

Guests by name and affiliation:
Lisa Savage, CODEPINK Maine. Program also features audio from today’s Veteran’s and Legal Affairs committee’s work session on LD1806

WERU News Report 2/29/12

Issue: Alternative Local News
Host/Producer & Studio Engineer: Amy Browne
Production Assistance: Matt Murphy

Broadcast Time: 4pm

Program Topics:
Segment 1: The Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary’s Public Hearing and Work Session on legislation that would exempt the Governor’s working papers from Freedom of Information requests, LD 1805 “An Act To Implement Recommendations of the Right To Know Advisory Committee Concerning a Public Records Exception for Proposed Legislation, Reports and Working Papers of the Governor”
Segment 2: John Christie & Naomi Schalit of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting have recently published the results of their investigation into Pine Tree Development Zones in Maine. (www.pinetreewatchdog.org) John Christie joins us to tell us what they found.

Key Discussion Points:
Testimony from the public hearing on the Governor’s working papers, held last week
Outcome of today’s work session on the issue.
Pine Tree Development Zones

Guest:
John Christie, Senior Reporter for the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting
Also recorded testimony from public hearing

Call In Program: no

WERU News Report 2/22/12

Issue: Alternative Local News
Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: Amy Browne

Broadcast Time: 4pm

Program Topic: LD 1806, “An Act to Promote Transparency in Government”

Key Discussion Points:

a) As we reported last month, an investigation by Naomi Schalit and John Christie, Senior Reporters for the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, revealed that a loophole in state law has allowed $235 million dollars to flow from the state to private organizations run by legislative leaders or the spouses of high-level state officials—without any requirement that it be reported to the public (www.pinetreewatchdog.org) This legislation would address that issue.
b) We listen in on the some of the public hearing
c) Former Representative Joseph Bruno responds to the media

Guests by name and affiliation: n/a (recorded testimony from the public hearing)

Call In Program: no

WERU News Report 2/15/12

Issue: Alternative Local News
Broadcast Time: 4pm
Program Topic: Maine’s Joint Standing Committee on Transportation considers LD1671–public funding for private East-West Expressway feasibility study, at a Public Hearing in Augusta this week

Key Discussion Points:
Supporters vs opponents?
Testimony from supporters and opponents
The committee’s response to testimony

Guests by name and affiliation: n/a

Recorded audio of public testimony at the hearing, including clips from Peter Vigue (Cianbro), Jennifer Mills (Historic Pittston Farm), Chris Buchanan (Defending Water for Life in Maine), Jody Spear, Diane Messer, Former State Rep. Benjamin Mariner Pratt

Call In Program: no
Political Broadcast: no

Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: Amy Browne

WERU News Report 2/1/12

Issue: Alternative Local News
Broadcast Time: 4pm

Program Topic: DCP Midstream’s Liquefied Propane Gas (LPG) Terminal Proposal

Key Discussion Points:
a) What DCP says about the proposal
b) Questions/concerns of local residents
c) Audio from DCP’s presentation last week in Searsport

Guests by name and affiliation: n/a (audio recorded from public meeting and WERU SoapBox)

Call In Program: no
Political Broadcast: no

Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: Amy Browne

WERU News Report 1/25/12

Issue: Alternative Local News

Broadcast Time: 4pm

Program Topic: 1. Legislature watch with the Maine Women’s Policy Center and Maine Women’s Lobby 2. “Occupy the Courts” protest in Bangor

Key Discussion Points:
a) The DHHS supplemental budget
b) “Occupy the Courts” on the 2nd anniversary of the “Citizens United” decision
c) Opposition to corporate personhood

Guests by name and affiliation:
Interview with Eliza Townsend, the Executive Director of the Maine Women’s Policy Center and the Maine Women’s Lobby
Speakers at the “Occupy the Courts” Rally: Starr Gilmartin, Rob Shetterly, Sunny Hughes

FMI: http://www.mainewomenspolicycenter.org www.movetoamend.org

Call In Program: No

Host: Amy Browne
Engineer: Amy Browne