Michaud suggests creation of monitoring agency for Maine DHHS
Mike Michaud, the democratic congressman and gubernatorial candidate said on Thursday that a new state agency should be formed to monitor the performance of the Department of Health and Human Services.
He said that the new agency should work to prevent waste, fraud and abuse in public welfare programs and also independently monitor the Department of Health and Human Services. He announced the proposal at the State House on Thursday and was made after several lapses under the leadership of Republican Gov. Paul LePage.
Drug fatalities continues to rise in Maine
According to the latest figures released, the deaths relating to drug overdoses and related abuse rose to 176 people in Maine in 2013.
This is the third time in the previous fifteen years that the drug-related deaths have risen above 170. The data released by the Maine Attorney General's office on Monday showed that there were 13 more drug-induced deaths in Maine in the previous year compared to the 2012. Out of the total 176 deaths, 105 were attributable to prescription opiates and 34 were caused by heroin.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission discusses issues
The Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission are working to address issues relating to foster care and child separation.
They have uncovered stories of tribal members who were involved in the child welfare system. They are showing their work to inspire similar work in other states across the country. The main aim of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is to understand the suffering of the members of the Wabanaki tribes who were taken from their families by the state and were placed under foster care or boarding schools during the previous century.
New EPA rules to benefit residents, businesses in Maine
Experts have said that the new regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are expected to provide benefits to the residents and the businesses in the state of Maine.
