Latest news with #OfficeoftheMaineAttorneyGeneral
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maine will not sign Trump administration letter to remove DEI programs from schools
Apr. 24—Maine's education department will not sign a letter certifying with the federal government that it has removed diversity, equity and inclusion programs from school in compliance with Title VI. In a Thursday message to school districts, Maine's education leaders said that they would not sign the letter, and asked that superintendents not sign it either. "After consultation with the Office of the Maine Attorney General, it was determined that signing the new certification would bind the Maine DOE to language of executive orders or other federal guidance without the force of law, and that lacked clarity regarding what was, or was not, prohibited," the message said. "These were critical considerations, given the potential consequence of a loss of federal funding." The directive stems from a February "Dear Colleague" letter from the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights that gave all states 14 days to remove DEI programming to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, and the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which banned affirmative action in college admissions. The deadline for that letter passed without consequence, and on April 3 the department issued a new memo that gave states and districts 10 more days to sign. Because of a lawsuit against the directive in New Hampshire federal court, that deadline was extended to April 24. A judge ruled Thursday that the directive overstepped the executive branch's legal authority, and said the administration did not provide an adequate definition of DEI. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling. The Maine DOE said that while it declined to sign the compliance certification, it did issue a letter saying to the federal department saying that the state and individual school districts already comply with Title VI. The directive from the Department of Education is based on a belief, outlined in the "Dear Colleague" letter, that the Students v. Harvard ruling can be broadly applied to any educational programing that treats people differently based on race, including scholarships, financial aid, administrative support, housing and graduation ceremonies. The agency said it would vigorously enforce that interpretation and that states and districts that did not comply could lose federal funding. Some states have signed the letter, about a dozen have declined and others, like Vermont, have certified compliance but told the administration they disagree with the premise. Maine is also facing the loss of its federal funding through an ongoing disagreement with the Trump administration over transgender athlete policies and Title IX. The Justice Department sued the state last week, seeking to stop athletes from competing, and said it was beginning the process of terminating federal education funds to the state. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Maine attorney general rules police shooting of Limerick man in Old Orchard Beach was self-defense
Apr. 15—The Office of the Maine Attorney General has ruled that a Maine State Police trooper was justified when he fatally shot a Limerick man during a tense negotiation in Old Orchard Beach in July. Attorney General Aaron Frey wrote in a report released Friday that Trooper Ryan Phillips shot in self-defense when he killed 38-year-old Christopher Harriman, who was racking his AR-15 rifle. Harriman "threatened the officers and was openly hostile to them," Frey wrote in the report. "Trooper Phillips reasonably believed that Mr. Harriman was posing an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death to himself, other officers and bystanders." The attorney general's office investigates all police killings in Maine. It has never found a police shooting unjustified. Officers received a 911 call around 6:45 p.m. on July 9 that Harriman was armed and threatening to kill himself and others, according to the report. Harriman was spotted in his black Cadillac Escalade leaving the Kennebunk Service Plaza on the northbound side of the Maine Turnpike and driving toward the mobile home park where the 911 caller lived. Harriman "nearly hit" a trooper's cruiser before Trooper Sophia Swiatek followed his vehicle to the mobile home park. After driving out of the area, Swiatek saw Harriman stop at an intersection and point his rifle at a Saco police officer who was parked nearby. Swiatek attempted to shoot Harriman, but her rifle malfunctioned, Frey wrote in the report. Harriman then drove down a dead-end road, and the police pursuit ended. State police tracked his phone and found him in the parking lot of the Landry's Shop 'n Save in Old Orchard Beach, the report states. Phillips parked about 70 feet away from Harriman's vehicle while four other officers pointed their rifles at him. Phillips yelled at Harriman to show his hands, according to Frey's report, and Harriman responded with threats to shoot the officers while also telling them to shoot him. A crisis negotiator arrived at 7:54 p.m., after Harriman had dropped two loaded rifle magazines out of the car window, moved his vehicle at a different angle and briefly showed the officers his AR-15 rifle. Harriman "ignored" the crisis negotiator's requests to speak to him and exited the vehicle, according to the report. A few minutes later, Harriman retrieved the AR-15 from the passenger seat, put the muzzle between his legs and racked the rifle, loading a bullet in the chamber. That's when Phillips fired a single shot at Harriman's back, Frey wrote. "Trooper Phillips later told investigators that he shot Mr. Harriman because he feared that Mr. Harriman would turn and start shooting at him, other officers in the area or bystanders who had congregated in the area," Frey wrote in the report. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Superintendents: Loss of federal funding would hit students most in need of support
Apr. 16—Maine school superintendents are concerned that the potential loss of hundreds of millions in federal funding would require cuts to critical services like math and reading intervention, as well as support for homeless students and those with disabilities. The announcement from the Department of Education on Friday that it is starting the process of halting all federal dollars going to Maine schools follows a monthslong battle between President Donald Trump and Gov. Janet Mills over the participation of transgender athletes in high school sports, which Maine allows. The Office of the Maine Attorney General said in a letter that it would not sign an agreement proposed by the Trump administration to comply with its interpretation of Title IX and described the situation as an "impasse." Within an hour, the Department of Education announced that it was referring Maine to the Department of Justice over its "noncompliance" and said it was initiating plans to revoke all of the state's K-12 funding. That number amounted to around $250 million this year. Two of the largest sources of federal funding for schools are Title I, which supports economically disadvantaged students, and the Individuals with Disabilities Act or IDEA, which provides funding for students with disabilities. Superintendents across Maine said this week that the loss of that money would be felt by the students most in need of support services and the staff that work with them. In many cases, federal funds cover the cost of staff positions in early literacy, intervention and special education. FUNDING THE 'MOST VULNERABLE LEARNERS' Lewiston Public Schools receives the greatest amount of Title I funding out of any other school district in Maine — more than $3.5 million annually — and also gets $1.6 million through IDEA. Superintendent Jake Langlais said Lewiston uses Title funds to improve literacy and math skills, which happens both in the classroom and through interventionists who work with students on specific skills. And, he said, if there are any changes to those funds at the federal level, it will mean reductions in those efforts. "Locally, there are no funds allocated to maintain the efforts currently supported by federal funds," Langlais said. "Lewiston property taxpayers already do so much to support education. We cannot add the expenses paid by federal dollars to our local budget." In neighboring Auburn, Superintendent Sue Dorris said federal funding is vital, especially for those who depend the most on school-based services. "Areas such as academic intervention, special education, professional development, multilingual learner programs, and support for students experiencing homelessness would all be deeply affected," Dorris said. Auburn gets $1.25 million annually though Title I and another $1 million through IDEA. Dorris said Title I funding supports the district's McKinney-Vento liaison, who oversees support for homeless students, and IDEA covers everything from special equipment to social work services to out-of-district tuition for students with special needs. "Without this funding, our ability to meet federally mandated services and ensure appropriate support for our most vulnerable learners would be severely compromised," she said. She said her district is monitoring the situation closely and hoping it gets resolved without any disruption to districts. It still isn't clear how soon the federal money could be frozen. In a separate case involving Maine and Title IX, a judge ruled Friday that the USDA improperly cut off federal funding to the state and ordered the agency to restore it. And last month, the USDA froze around $56 million in funding to the University of Maine System before quickly reversing course. The Department of Education did not respond to questions about the exact nature of the process the federal government plans to use to revoke funding. Instead, a department spokesperson pointed to the Friday statement, which described it as "an administrative proceeding to adjudicate termination" of the state's federal K-12 funding, which would include both "formula and discretionary grants." It's unclear how quickly the proceeding would begin. A 'TREMENDOUSLY NEGATIVE IMPACT' The Bonny Eagle School Department, based in Buxton, receives more than $1.5 million in federal funding. Superintendent Clay Gleason said any loss of those dollars would have a negative impact on both students and staff. "It would be unfortunate if this were to happen because students who would be impacted have nothing to do with the dispute that is leading to the potential withholding of funds, as far as I can tell," Gleason said. "It is my hope it won't come to this." Augusta School District Superintendent Michael Tracy said his district receives nearly $3 million each year in federal funding to support early literacy, math and special education costs. "Much of this support is provided through staffing, particularly educational technicians," Tracy said in an email. "Approximately 30+ positions would be affected by cuts to these federally funded positions, which would have a tremendously negative impact on students." Deborah Alden, superintendent of Rumford-based RSU 10, also said many positions in her district are supported by more than $1 million through Title I and $650,000 through IDEA. Alden said Title funding supports all of the district's intervention staff and math and literacy coaches, and accounts for at least four staff members in each elementary and middle school. "It also provides for nearly all of our professional development monies to support staff with implementing new programs especially in the areas of literacy and math," she said. And she said IDEA funding covers some ed techs, out-of-district tuition costs, supplies and contracts with therapists. "IDEA funding is especially important in our district where nearly 24% of all incoming kindergarten students are identified with special needs," she said. Kennebec Journal Staff Writer Emily Duggan contributed to this report. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Maine attorney general rules police killing of Limerick man in Old Orchard Beach was self-defense
Apr. 15—The Office of the Maine Attorney General has ruled that a Maine State Police trooper was justified when he fatally shot a Limerick man during a tense negotiation in Old Orchard Beach in July. Attorney General Aaron Frey wrote in a report released Friday that Trooper Ryan Phillips shot in self-defense when he killed 38-year-old Christopher Harriman, who was loading a bullet into his AR-15 rifle. Harriman "threatened the officers and was openly hostile to them," Frey wrote in the report. "Trooper Phillips reasonably believed that Mr. Harriman was posing an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death to himself, other officers and bystanders." The attorney general's office investigates all police killings in Maine. It has never found a police shooting unjustified. Officers received reports around 6:45 p.m. on July 9 that Harriman was armed and making threats to kill himself and others, according to the report. Harriman was spotted in his black Cadillac Escalade leaving the Kennebunk Service Plaza on the northbound side of the Maine Turnpike and driving toward the mobile home park where the 911 caller lived. Harriman "nearly hit" a trooper's cruiser before Trooper Sophia Swiatek followed his vehicle to the mobile home park. After driving out of the area, Swiatek saw Harriman stop at an intersection and point his rifle at a Saco police officer who was parked nearby. Swiatek attempted to shoot Harriman, but her rifle malfunctioned, Frey wrote in the report. Harriman then drove down a dead-end road, and a police pursuit ended. State police tracked his phone and found him in the parking lot of the Landry's Shop 'n Save in Old Orchard Beach, the report states. Phillips parked about 70 feet away from Harriman's vehicle while four other officers pointed their rifles at him. Phillips yelled at Harriman to show his hands, according to Frey's report, and Harriman responded with threats to shoot the officers while also telling them to shoot him. A crisis negotiator arrived at 7:54 p.m., after Harriman had dropped two loaded rifle magazines out of the car window, moved his vehicle at a different angle and briefly showed the officers his AR-15 rifle. Harriman "ignored" the crisis negotiator's requests to speak to him and exited the vehicle, according to the report. A few minutes later, Harriman retrieved the AR-15 from the passenger seat, put the muzzle between his legs and racked the rifle, preparing to load a bullet in the chamber. That's when Phillips fired a single shot at Harriman's back, Frey wrote. "Trooper Phillips later told investigators that he shot Mr. Harriman because he feared that Mr. Harriman would turn and start shooting at him, other officers in the area or bystanders who had congregated in the area," Frey wrote in the report. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal appeals court agrees to keep Maine's 72-hour law on hold
Apr. 10—A federal appeals court in Boston ruled Thursday that Maine's 72-hour waiting period on gun purchases will remain on hold pending a larger appeal from the state attorney general's office. State lawmakers passed the 72-hour bill last year along with several other gun safety reforms following the mass shooting in Lewiston in October 2023 that killed 18 people and wounded more than a dozen others. It required any gun seller who violated the waiting period to pay fines between $200 and $1,000, depending on the nature of the violation. Gun rights advocates quickly sued the state in November after Gov. Janet Mills allowed it to become law without her signatures. Chief U.S. District Judge Lance Walker then granted their request in February to temporarily pause the law, siding with their arguments that the waiting period likely violated their constitutional right to bear arms. The Office of the Maine Attorney General immediately appealed that decision to the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. Chief Deputy Attorney General Christopher Taub has argued the law saves lives and that it doesn't infringe on Mainers' constitutional ability to bear arms. Taub asked Walker if the law could be temporarily restored, pending the appeal, which Walker also denied in March. The appeals court is still weighing that aspect of the case. View this document on Scribd The 1st Circuit wrote in Thursday's ruling that the question at the center of Maine's case is so new, "in an emerging area of constitutional law involving a legal standard that is difficult to apply and subject to varying interpretations," that they are not persuaded the law should be restored at this point in the legal battle. Copy the Story Link
