Portland Press Herald from Portland, Maine • A1

pressherald.com Friday, January 4, 2019 $1.80 WEATHER: Partly cloudy and mild High 42 Details, B6 SHUTDOWN: House bill calls for an end; Collins among GOP senators who may approve A4 By ERIC RUSSELL Staff Writer Paul last-minute pardon as governor of a former Republican law- maker from Dresden for a drug traf- ficking conviction 35 years ago went against the recommendation of his own board on executive clemency. In fact, the board even sched- ule a public hearing before rejecting the pardon request of Jeffrey Pierce, which makes decision even more unusual, said Lenny Sharon, an Auburn attorney who served on the board for 23 years. never seen it Sharon said. Other pardons were issued by LeP- age during his final days in office. possible that some were done in the same manner as but there is no way of knowing because Maine law was updated last year to make all par- don decisions confidential.

A national pardon expert said that change puts Maine in rare company among states with little to no account- ability over pardons. got a problem in said Margaret Love, a former Depart- ment of Justice pardon attorney who now directs a nonprofit that raises Clemency board was opposed to pardon Even in a state that, since last year, makes all pardon decisions confidential, the process strayed from the usual. FORMER REP. JEFFREY PIERCE Clemency board rejected his petition FORMER GOV. PAUL LEPAGE Over two terms, he pardoned 115 people RELATED STORIES LEPAGE HOLDOVERS: Mills renominates Marine Resources chief, two others B1 129th LEGISLATURE: New bills include $50 million bond to confront sea-level rise B1 By JOE LAWLOR Staff Writer Gov.

Janet Mills signed an executive order Thursday to expand Medicaid, fulfilling a campaign vow that ends the long delays imposed by the fervent opposition of her Re- publican predecessor, Paul LePage. More than 70,000 Mainers will be eligible for MaineCare health insurance under the expansion. Mills, who had promised to act on of her administration, was sworn into office Wednesday evening and signed tive Order on Thursday. Mainers who think they are eligible for coverage can begin applying immediately, office said. To find out how to do so, they can visit the Maine Department of Health and Human Services website.

About 4,500 Mainers tried to sign up under expansion in 2018, but were rebuffed by the LePage administration. Naomi Loss, of Lisbon Falls, said been waiting for this day for nearly a year, ever since her daughter Bethany turned 26 and was no longer eligible to be on her health insurance. Bethany, who is uninsured, has epilep- sy and severe cognitive and developmental disorders, but was denied Medicaid disabili- ty and did not qualify for sub- sidized Affordable Care Act insurance. medi- cations cost more than $1,000 per month, and rebates from the pharmaceutical company that helped their family afford the medications were set to run out this year. I heard the news, it was such a huge sigh of Loss said.

have been putting off visits because just so ex- pensive. I knew (Mills) said MILLS SIGNS ORDER TO EXPAND MEDICAID Fulfilling a campaign promise and the will of the people, she says the new governor calls for immediate coverage, retroactive to July 2. Photo courtesy of the office ABOVE: Gov. Janet Mills signs Order to implement Medicaid expansion on her first day in office, making more than 70,000 Mainers eligible for health insurance. Staff photo by Ben McCanna AT LEFT: Naomi Loss of Lisbon Falls, standing behind her 26-year-old daughter, Bethany, says she breathed huge sigh of Thursday.

Medicaid expansion opens up coverage for Bethany, who suffers from epilepsy and other disorders but whose age made her ineligible under her insurance. By RANDY BILLINGS Staff Writer A new report on working waterfront shows an 8 percent decrease in the amount of space available for marine-dependent uses such as commercial fishing over the last six years. The shift in uses followed city zoning changes intend- ed to let pier owners diversi- fy and generate more reve- nue to fix their failing piers, although the report cites a relatively modest amount of investment in the 14 pri- vately owned piers. About $700,000 of the $6 million invested since 2013 went to pier infrastructure, accord- ing to city permit data in- cluded in the inventory. Overall, the report con- cludes that the 2010 zone changes worked as expect- Zoning changes in 2010 created flexibility; now, some seek protections for sea-related activities.

Development cramps working waterfront, Portland report finds Pressure on the waterfront As non-marine uses have expanded on waterfront, the percentage of building space available for businesses and other marine uses has declined. Square feet available for marine useYear Percent of building space available for marine use SOURCE: City of Portland STAFF GRAPHIC MICHAEL FISHER 278,372 256,624 2012 2018 INDEX C6 Almanac A2 Business C7 Classified C4 Comics C5 Commentary A7 Crossword C5 Deaths Dispatches B3 Editorials B1 Lottery A2 People A2 Public Notices C4 Real Estate C1 Sports Sudoku C6 Varsity Maine Copyright 2019 MaineToday Media Volume 157 Number 170 PPH DAILY EDGE South Maddie Hasson is the leading scorer for NCAA Division top-ranked basketball team D1 By GILLIAN GRAHAM Staff Writer When Capt. Erin Smul- len realized someone had broken into the Salvation Army in Sanford and sto- len $1,700 in donations, her thoughts went imme- diately to the people in the community who had given money to help their neigh- bors. Some of those people who dropped their dollars and coins into the Salva- tion red kettles on Christmas Eve afford to give much, and the idea that their donations were gone troubled Smullen. But hours after news of the theft began circulating around the city, Sanford businesses and residents started giving money to cover the loss.

And then some. been Smullen said. the community helping the The Salvation Army has now collected more than Stolen red-kettle donations inspire Sanford outpouring The response by local businesses restores the Salvation $1,700 loss three times over. Staff photo by Derek Davis Volunteer Deborah Berry sorts food donations Thursday at the Salvation Army in Sanford. A safe containing $1,700 in donations was burglarized over Christmas, but the community quickly covered the loss.

And then some. CHRISTMAS EVE BURGLARY Please see PARDON, Page A7 Please see REPORT, Back Page Please see SANFORD, Back Page Please see MEDICAID, Back Page Avoid the weather, shop online and get your new car delivered right to your door..