by Dana Connors
Friday marked the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Maine. It feels surreal that we’ve been at this for a whole year. To date, the coronavirus has infected more than 46,000 Mainers and claimed the lives of more than 700 of them, as well as the lives of more than 525,000 Americans.
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Overtime bill and “for cause” termination proposals slated for week of March 22 Two of the most significant labor bills of this session have been scheduled for public hearing before the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing. Both bills would considerably alter the business landscape in Maine by adding significantly to the cost of doing business here and by making the state an outlier to nearly every other state in the country. If either bill or, even worse, both bills pass, the impact on the business environment here would be nothing short of catastrophic.
By refocusing resources, creating new learning paths and integrating educational systems with private-sector partners, Maine can produce a skilled, resilient STEM workforce If there has been a silver lining in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the heightened attention paid to science. At the same time, we are reminded of the financial burdens faced by so many who lost jobs and income. If we have learned anything from the events of 2020, it’s that Maine’s workforce must be prepared for the unexpected and adapt when it happens.
Chancellor Dannel Malloy asks President Ferrini-Mundy to lead unified research effort and updates existing roles in the system office to prioritize strategic initiatives and data-driven decision-making Research investments and expenditures at the University of Maine have increased dramatically over the year amidst a strategic pursuit of research activity being promoted by UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and others at UMaine and the University of Maine System. More than $92.4 million in investments in Maine and its universities are being reported in the FY 2020 draft Maine Economic Improvement Fund Annual Report presented to the University of Maine System Board of Trustees Finance, Facilities and Technology Committee at its March 3 meeting.
Climate change is one of our most pressing issues, and we must approach it in a constructive way that takes into account the broader implications on our economy and way of life. Let’s tap into the American spirit of innovation and collaboration, and meet this challenge head on.
One of the pandemic’s many lessons is that accessible, affordable, high-quality child care is critically important — especially to Maine’s business community.
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