Maine House Passes Plan to Raise Minimum Wage

The bill, LD 611, passed largely along party lines, with all Democrats save one voting in favor, and all Republicans opposed. It would raise the minimum wage to $9 an hour by 2016. The bill still faces additional votes in the Senate and House, and still must get by the Governor's pen.

New Hope for Augusta's Flatiron Building

Housing Initiatives of New England, the same group responsible for the transformation of Augusta's old City Hall into elder housing, who like a crack at the  Flatiron. On Thursday, the city council unanimously voted to give them the chance.

The city will lease the landmark building to Cynthia Taylor, president of nonprofit housing developer Housing Initiatives of New England -- the same corporation, and woman, responsible for the redevelopment of the former city hall, which was also Augusta's police station, into 31 assisted-living apartments called the Inn at City Hall in 2000.
The flatiron building has been empty since a new Cony High School opened in 2006.

The project is expected to create 44 one- and two-bedroom units, which will rent for between $500 and $729. 

First Friday Art Walk

Downtown Augusta business will be open late and showcasing art during the First Friday Art Walk, April 11 from 4-8 pm.

The Augusta Downtown Alliance hopes to build on last year's event, which brought hundreds to Water Street, where business exhibited paintings, photography, and sculpture. The Art and Architecture studios of the University of Maine at Augusta were open to the public as well.

The theme of the event is "Light on Water." Yeah, I don't know what the deal is with the theme, either, but let's go to the event and find out.