A new organization which hopes to reform the 2008 presidential election was launched today, and former Maine Governor Angus King is one of the founders. Unity08 plans to create an alternative ticket for voters, by voters (you can choose the nominees online), which will combine women and men from various parties together on one ticket.

Stitchez, the men's clothing store on Congress Street where average nerds could find threads to transform them into super-hip nerds, will shut its doors on June 30. On May 19, owner Jon Gilbert sent out an email to his loyal customers in which he wrote "It is with great sadness that I must announce the closing of Stitchez Clothing - Owning this store, meeting with all my customers and trying to provide some diversity & fun to men’s clothing here in Portland has really been a joy - Unfortunately finances are forcing me to close."

The Taxpayers Network, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit group that claims to be funded by its “80,000+ members” (and whose tax filings tend to support that - with the bulk of their revenue apparently from dues, a revenue line about in sync with their advertised annual dues), has released its annual "50 State Comparisons" booklet, in which all 50 states (and Washington DC) are listed with data on their demographics, taxes, education, public safety, and other statistics.

Note: The original post incorrectly stated that councilor Will Gorham opposed the seat tax increase. He in fact supported it.

Last night, in a marathon Portland city council meeting about next year's city budget, the council passed a significant operational tax increase on some Old Port bar owners. As part of the $256.

The Bangor Daily News reports today that a tidal energy company in Washington DC may want to install underwater generators in the Penobscot River near Verona Island. Maine Tidal Energy Co. filed a request for a prelimary permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. This permit is the first step to evaluate whether a large underwater turbine project is feasible in the Penobscot River.

Today, the Natural Resources Council of Maine and Environment Maine released a 60 plus page report on how governors in New England can rein in gas costs and fight global warming.

Jennifer Andersen, outreach coordinator of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and Matt Davis, advocate for Environment Maine, released the study, which is endorsed by Peter Cavanaugh, director of operations at Metro, and Carey Kish, manager of the statewide carpooling network Go Maine.