Latest news with #AdamLee
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Wokingham Food Bank sees donations from supermarkets drop
A food bank in Berkshire has said it has seen donations from supermarkets fall by 15%.Wokingham Food Bank has given out 4,500 emergency food parcels in the past year and has reported a 5% increase in people using the Annette Medhurst said "people see us as part of the high street and quite possibly incorrectly think that we have government funding, or receive financial support from the local council".The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) described the "mass dependence" on food banks as unacceptable and said it was working to "fix the system and make work pay" so people can become more financially secure. Ms Medhurst said about 75% of donations come from supermarkets, where people place items they have bought in collection cages. But with many facing rising costs, it has impacted how much food can be spared, she added."We have clients coming in to the food bank telling us that normally they donate to the food bank and they are in disbelief that they now need to use our services," Ms Medhurst told the BBC."We are now in a position that we need to purchase items to make sure to plug any gaps." Adam Lee uses food banks in Reading and relies on Universal Credit after losing his job last 51-year-old moved to Berkshire from Australia more than 10 years ago and said "there's too much month at the end of the money"."I've seen a significant drop in donations but also a drop in healthier foods so a lot of the foods that seem to be donated are croissants and muffins," he recalled when he was made redundant how the DWP told him the first thing to do was register at a food bank. "The government has shifted the responsibility for providing people who need social care, they have deliberately moved it to the generosity of the British people and [food banks]," Mr Lee DWP said it has increased the National Living Wage, uprated benefits and introduced a new Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit to bring a £420 boost to over one million households. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Committee advances bill that would prohibit the state from seizing Wabanaki land
Passamaquoddy Tribal Rep. Aaron Dana testifies in support of prohibiting eminent domain on tribal lands before the Judiciary Committee on April 4, 2025. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) The Judiciary Committee advanced legislation on Wednesday to prevent the state from being able to seize Wabanki land for public use without consultation, though amended it in a way that appears to assuage at least some of the concerns raised by Gov. Janet Mills' administration. The committee voted 10-4 in favor of an amended version of LD 958, incorporating a proposed amendment from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce that the prohibition would only apply to current tribal trust lands, meaning land for which the federal government holds the legal title of on behalf of a tribe, and not land that may be put into trust in the future. Earlier in April, the governor came out in opposition to the bill, with her legal counsel citing the inability to predict the future needs of state government and uncertainty over the future location of tribal trust land, as the Wabanaki Nations are still eligible to acquire more under the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act. This thinking was why some on the committee did not back the plan. Sen. David Haggan (R-Penobscot) said he cast an opposing vote because he believes the power of seizing private property for public use, a principle known as eminent domain, is vital for government to properly function. The vote did not fall along party lines. Haggan was among the three Republicans who voted against the legislation — also including Reps. Rachel Henderson of Rumford and Mark Babin of Fort Fairfield — with Democratic Rep. Dani O'Halloran of Brewer joining them in opposition. While the Judiciary Committee may often be known to complicate matters, Rep. Adam Lee (D-Auburn), who voted for the legislation, argued this issue is straightforward. 'Our relationship with the Tribes is a government relationship and we should not be able to take their land, full stop,' said Rep. Adam Lee (D-Auburn). The relationship between the Wabanaki Nations and the state is complicated by the 1980 Settlement Act, which has overall resulted in the Wabanaki Nations being treated more akin to municipalities than sovereign nations. LD 958 is the next piecemeal change lawmakers and Wabanaki leaders are seeking to make to afford the Tribes greater sovereignty. While incremental alterations to the Settlement Act have been made in recent years, sweeping change has so far failed due to opposition from Mills, a Democrat. Mills did not respond to a request for comment about the amendment by the time of publication. The U.S. government's authority to exercise eminent domain is restricted by the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which requires just compensation for land taken, as well as some federal laws. The 1834 federal Indian Nonintercourse Act prohibited land transactions with tribes unless authorized by Congress. However, the Settlement Act specified that that federal law was not applicable to the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Nation. LD 958 would amend the Settlement Act to prohibit the state from exercising eminent domain on current trust and reservation land, which is protected under federal law, though fee land — private property for which the owner owns the title — would still be subject to the state taking. The bill would also amend the 2023 Mi'kmaq Nation Restoration Act to make this change for the Mi'kmaq Nation, which wasn't included in the Settlement Act. As advanced by the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, the bill was also amended at the request of Wabanaki leaders to remove the portion that had stipulated how the Tribes could reacquire land with such proceeds, which Passamaquoddy attorney Corey Hinton criticized as a paternalistic process. Instead, the bill now simply points to the federal takings process. LD 958 now heads to the Maine House of Representatives and Senate for floor votes. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maine bill aims to send a message to Nebraska concerning electoral votes
Apr. 14—A Democratic lawmaker from Maine is hoping to preserve the state's unusual system of splitting its electoral votes for president by sending a message to Nebraska that it should do the same. Rep. Adam Lee, D-Auburn, formally introduced a bill Monday that says if Nebraska switches to a winner-take-all electoral vote process in a presidential election, Maine would do the same, and the electoral votes would likely cancel each other out. Lee said he hopes the bill, LD 1356, will discourage efforts by partisan forces to gain an advantage by changing the electoral system in Nebraska. And that, in turn, would discourage similar efforts in Maine. "Support this bill, be proactive and establish a deterrent and remove the incentive for out-of-state money, power and partisan pressure to destroy our system," Lee said. "This bill is a solution and strategy between parties and states to secure our system from outside pressure." Maine and Nebraska are the only states in the country that divide electoral votes based on outcomes in congressional districts. Other states throw all their Electoral College votes to the statewide winners. Nebraska's 2nd District tends to give its single electoral vote to Democrats while the rest of the state votes for Republicans. Maine's 2nd District, on the other hand, has recently tended to give its one electoral vote to Republicans, while the rest of the state supports Democrats. The bill comes after Nebraska Republicans have repeatedly pushed for a change to winner-take-all elections to prevent the loss of one of that state's five electoral votes to Democrats in the Omaha area. A bill in the Nebraska Legislature was defeated last week, but the issue is expected to come up again. If Nebraska switched to winner-take-all, Lee said, Maine could expect to see a similar push from Democrats here to change Maine's system to cancel out the shift in Nebraska. Lee's proposal got the support of several people who testified during a public hearing before the veterans committee. Joanne Mason of Readfield, board president of the Family Violence Project in Augusta, said Maine's current system ensures that the state's less populous and more rural 2nd District has a say in the presidential election. A change in Nebraska could have "disastrous consequences" in Maine, Mason said, and result in the 2nd District losing its voice. "We need to send a strong message to those seeking to meddle in Nebraska, and by default here in Maine, that we won't stand for any outside interference," she said. The Maine Policy Institute, a conservative think tank, opposed the bill in written testimony, saying it wrongly gives control over Maine's electoral process to Nebraska, disempowering Maine lawmakers and voters, and could result in the loss of Maine's current system, which the institute said better reflects the diversity of opinions across the state. Committee members also heard testimony Monday on a pair of bills that would repeal a law passed last year committing Maine to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. The compact seeks to ensure that the presidential candidate who wins the most popular votes nationwide is elected president. The compact would be activated after enough states join to control 270 Electoral College votes, the minimum number needed to win the presidency. At that point, the member states would cast their electoral votes for the national popular vote winner, regardless of the outcomes in their own states. Rep. Barbara Bagshaw, R-Windham, introduced legislation, LD 252, to withdraw from the compact, saying that a national popular vote weakens the impact of Maine votes on the overall election outcome. A similar bill, LD 1373, from Rep. Ken Fredette, R-Newport, would repeal the law put in place last year. Bagshaw said Maine's system of dividing electoral votes is more fair. She noted that in 2024, President Donald Trump's victory in the 2nd Congressional District meant Maine gave one of its four electoral votes to Trump, but the rest of the state got to register support for Kamala Harris. "While the nationwide winner in this case would not have changed, three of Maine's four electoral votes (for Harris) served as a direct representation of the will of Maine voters, a voice that would be silenced under the NPV compact," Bagshaw said. Supporters of a national popular vote defended the law, telling the committee that it's more fair and equitable. "We believe that every vote across all 50 states and the District of Columbia should matter equally when electing the president," said Al Cleveland, director of advocacy at the League of Women Voters of Maine, a nonpartisan group dedicated to informed and active participation in government. Gov. Janet Mills allowed the bill having Maine join the compact to become law without her signature last year after it passed on narrow margins. The bill was enacted 73-72 in the House of Representatives and 18-12 in the Senate, with some Democrats in each chamber joining Republicans who opposed it. It was clear Monday that some Democrats still have reservations about the compact. Sen. Jill Duson, D-Portland, who voted against joining the compact last year, said at points during the hearing that she was puzzled by the arguments put forward by supporters and asked if candidates would continue to overlook less populated places like Maine in favor of visits to urban areas. "I have to admit that I can't get to a place where I can convince myself that I'm not voting against the interest of Maine voters when I vote in support of the national compact," Duson said. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Committee rejects proposed changes to Maine's concealed carry laws
Guns are shown at Caso's Gun-A-Rama in Jersey City, New Jersey, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Monitor) With four proposals to amend Maine's laws regarding the concealed carry of a firearm, the Legislature's Judiciary Committee is suggesting to keep current practice in place. 'I think we do have a good balance right now in our constitutional carry law,' said Rep. Adam Lee (D-Auburn), who voted against the proposed changes. The committee held a work session Thursday for a slate of gun legislation. While some measures were tabled for further discussion, the four bills about where someone can have a firearm, when they need to inform law enforcement and age requirements to carry were voted down by a majority of the committee. Some of the bills received bipartisan votes, and others were along party lines. The committee overwhelmingly voted 11-2 not to change the law that requires someone carrying a concealed weapon without a valid permit to inform law enforcement immediately during routine traffic stops, arrests or detainment. LD 1049 originally sought to repeal that requirement, but its sponsor, Rep. Jennifer Poirier (R-Skowhegan), amended her proposal during the work session so that an officer would have to ask first. However, multiple committee members brought up other constitutional concerns, including potential violations of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, which protect individuals against unlawful search and seizure and from self incrimination. Others said they couldn't support the bill because the law was written to protect law enforcement, and some officers expressed concern about changes to the law. There was also bipartisan support to maintain current law that says an employer can't prohibit an employee from storing a firearm in their vehicle if the employee has a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm, so long as the vehicle is locked and the firearm is stored out of sight. While Rep. Alicia Collins (R-Sidney) sought with LD 998 to remove the requirement that an employee have a valid concealed carry permit, the committee weighed the competing interests of property rights and the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Ultimately, the committee voted 10-3 against the proposal, with many members agreeing current law already did a sufficient job at balancing employer versus employee rights. While the majority also voted against legislation to update statutory language about carrying in state parks and lowering the age that someone can carry without a permit to 18, those proposals received party line votes. Sen. David Haggan (R-Penobscot) said during the public hearing that he introduced LD 829 to clean up confusion in existing law by making it clear that someone can carry a concealed firearm in a state park, so long as they are not otherwise prohibited from possessing one. Committee co-chair Rep. Amy Kuhn (D-Falmouth) said she wasn't going to support the proposal because the Legislature had previously considered that statute and didn't see any reason why it should be changed. However, Rep. Rachel Henderson (R-Rumford) said she backed the legislation because of what she saw as a need for protection against other people as well as animals in remote areas of state parks. Democrats similarly didn't want to reduce the age limit that a person can carry without a permit, while Republicans were in favor of doing so. The committee voted 7-5 to reject LD 424. Current law requires someone who is 18 to 20 years old and without military training to have a permit to carry concealed. Someone can carry without a permit starting at age 21. Rep. Dani O'Halloran (D-Brewer) pointed out that 18-year-olds are often still in high school, so she couldn't justify taking away the training requirements for someone at that age to be able to carry a firearm. Henderson suggested an amendment, which her Republican colleagues supported, to add language clarifying that someone could carry concealed without a permit starting at age 18, except if they are still in high school. While Haggan said society has already decided someone is an adult at 18 and has given them other rights such as voting, Kuhn argued that people 18 to 20 can also be more impulsive and carrying a firearm can come with deadly consequences. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
First Friday event celebrates local art scene
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — It was a full house at SMARTS in Youngstown for March's First Friday celebration – this one centered around celebrating young artists. 'I think it really provides a great opportunity for people to get a little taste of all the different things happening around Youngstown, all the different creative people that are here,' said Adam Lee, Chair of the downtown Youngstown Partnership. Youngstown Playhouse and Ballet Western Reserve were there, plus the SMARTS rock band. Assistant Director Abbie Twyford Wilson said it's important for people to see all the arts programs available under one roof. 'We know that funding for arts programs in schools is lacking in a lot of ways. So a lot of these organizations help fill those gaps, especially here at SMARTS. We offer all five creative outlets – music, theater, art, dance and creative writing,' Twyford Wilson said. 'Sort of a mutual benefit of bringing people under the spaces that they have maybe not been to in a long time or ever at all,' Lee said. There was also an improv comedy team. It's the only one based in Youngstown and has been running for over seven years. They'll put on their 100th show later this month. Creative Director Paul Dahman says it's important to introduce kids to new forms of the arts. 'I got introduced to acting and performing when I was little and I was bitten by the big and have been doing it ever since. To be able to kind of introduce the next generation to that kind of stuff is very exciting,' Dahman said. Next month's first Fridays will be at OH WOW. It'll be held outdoors again in May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
