State Representative Deqa Dhalac, a Somali American, announced she would not seek re-election due to a hostile legislature and calls for her removal from the budget committee over her former employer’s MaineCare fraud scandal. Dhalac, who previously served as South Portland’s first Somali American mayor, was involved with Gateway Community Services during the fraud. While not directly implicated, her presence during the scheme raises ethical concerns. The speaker criticizes Dhalac’s claim of an unsafe legislature as a defensive tactic to garner sympathy, suggesting her decision to leave was strategic rather than coerced.
Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell formed Thursday in the Pacific Ocean, both of which were expected to become hurricanes in the next few days, the National Hurricane Center said.
A new study suggests that El Ninos — the natural climatic chaos agent that pops up periodically and spikes global temperatures — are getting stronger because of human-caused climate change.
Two unvaccinated Pennsylvania residents have died after being infected with measles, the first U.S. deaths this year related to the contagious virus. State health officials announced the deaths Tuesday. They did not reveal any details about the people who died, other than that they lived in Lancaster County, west of Philadelphia.
