Author: Jon Fetherston

BANGOR, Maine — An Ecuadorian national who had previously been removed from the United States in 2011 and 2016 was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Bangor for illegally reentering the country. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. sentenced William Leonardo Dutan Gagui, 33, to time served. Dutan Gagui had been incarcerated since Sept. 14, 2025. According to court records, Dutan Gagui was a passenger in a speeding van stopped by Border Patrol agents earlier in September. The van was being operated by an illegal alien. When questioned by agents, Dutan Gagui admitted he was a citizen…

AUGUSTA, Maine — As Maine lawmakers reconvene for the second year of the 132nd Legislature, unfinished bills and budget negotiations are being eclipsed by a widening federal investigation into Gateway Community Services, and mounting political fallout for two sitting Democratic lawmakers. Congress is actively investigating Gateway and the roles of state Reps. Deqa Dhalac and Yusuf Yusuf, both of whom have ties to the embattled nonprofit. As scrutiny intensifies, Republican legislative leaders are now calling for concrete action inside the State House. House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham has formally called for Dhalac to be removed from the powerful Appropriations…

AUGUSTA, Maine – Republican gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Bush is seizing early momentum in Maine’s open 2026 governor’s race, with his campaign announcing it has raised more than $1 million as Republicans and Democrats alike jockey for position in one of the state’s most competitive contests in years. Bush, a health care technology executive, launched his campaign in October in Belfast and has positioned himself as an outsider promising economic growth and a shakeup in Augusta. His campaign released the fundraising figure ahead of the state’s next reporting deadline, emphasizing early donor enthusiasm as he seeks the Republican nomination to succeed…

BRUNSWICK, Maine — A 47-year-old Woolwich man was killed Friday night after his vehicle left the roadway on a Brunswick bridge and plunged down an embankment, according to police. Brunswick police said officers were called around 7:30 p.m. to Route 1 near the Route 196 on-ramp after reports of a serious crash. Investigators determined the man was driving a 2013 Dodge Journey on the Route 196 on-ramp toward northbound Route 1 when the vehicle went off the road, traveled up an icy embankment, went over a barrier, and fell to the ground below. The driver, identified by police as Shannon…

AUGUSTA, Maine — After weeks of silence on a growing federal investigation unfolding in her own backyard, Gov. Janet Mills (D) has suddenly found her voice, not on Maine’s unfolding nonprofit scandal, but on U.S. military action thousands of miles away in Venezuela. Mills on Sunday publicly demanded answers from the Trump administration over the U.S. operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, calling the move “dangerous” and “unprecedented” and urging Congress to rein in executive authority. Her comments were swift, pointed, and forceful. Her silence on Gateway Community Services has been none of those. While…

Gov. Janet Mills stepped back into the public eye as two Democrats seeking to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins launched petition drives to qualify for Maine’s June primary ballot, marking the early maneuvering in the 2026 U.S. Senate race. Mills and fellow Democrat Graham Platner are circulating nomination petitions to secure placement on the Democratic primary ballot. Both campaigns are working to gather the required number of valid signatures ahead of the deadline. The governor, who is term-limited and cannot seek reelection, appeared at a campaign event in Biddeford, where volunteers assisted with her petition effort. Platner’s campaign has…

Things are getting interesting in Lewiston, and fast. The Maine Wire was physically present at Gateway Community Services when approximately 15 agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security arrived on scene. This was not a routine audit or scheduled review. Based on the agents’ actions and posture, it appeared they were prepared to execute a warrant and conduct a raid of the office. That effort was halted only because the Gateway office was locked and inactive, a direct result of its funding having already been shut off amid escalating allegations of fraud and state action. The federal presence signals a significant escalation and suggests investigators…

MAR – A – LAGO, Florida – President Donald J. Trump said early Saturday morning that the United States had successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, and that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country. https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2007382016321364308?s=20 Trump made the announcement in a social media post, describing the operation as successful and saying it was conducted in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement. He did not provide additional details about the strike or the circumstances surrounding the capture. According to Trump, more information will be released later. He…

The walls are closing in on the Gateway Communities scandal, and Governor Janet Mills remains silent. What started as questions about MaineCare billing has now grown into a national-level credibility crisis. Congressional scrutiny is underway, with the House Oversight Committee, chaired by Kentucky Representative James Comer, now leading the inquiry into how taxpayer dollars were handled and why warning signs were ignored for so long. National media outlets are paying attention. Investigative pressure is increasing. According to sources familiar with the trajectory of the case, major news is dropping, soon. This is no longer something that can be brushed aside…

A three-alarm fire that tore through Portland’s working waterfront last Friday has left fishermen and fishing-related businesses facing steep losses, prompting an urgent community response and a newly launched relief fundraiser. The fire broke out Dec. 26 on Custom House Wharf, a historic hub of Maine’s commercial fishing industry, damaging vessels, gear, and waterfront operations that are central to the state’s marine economy. For many fishermen, the blaze struck at the height of the winter season, compounding the financial impact. In response, the Maine Coast Fishermen Association announced it has established a fundraising campaign at the request of local fishermen…

As the clock struck midnight on January 1, New York City officially entered a new political era. Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor just after midnight, quietly but decisively taking control of the nation’s largest city, and handing the progressive left its most powerful municipal stronghold yet. At just 34 years old, Mamdani becomes one of the youngest mayors in city history, but his ideology is anything but new. Backed by democratic socialist organizations and the progressive activist class, Mamdani now moves from protest politics to executive power, inheriting a city burdened by high taxes, soaring housing costs, public…

A slate of significant immigration policy changes took effect across the United States as the new year begins, marking another major shift in how the federal government manages visas, border security, and foreign travel. According to reporting from Fox News, the changes touch nearly every major pillar of the immigration system, from work visas to biometric screening at ports of entry, and reflect broader policy moves implemented throughout 2025. One of the most notable changes affects the H-1B work visa program. The federal government has altered how these visas are awarded, moving away from a purely random lottery system and…

MEXICO, Maine — Law enforcement officials in Oxford County are searching for a woman who was reported missing after abruptly losing contact with friends and family. According to the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Tawnya Woods was last seen in Mexico, Maine, and has not communicated with anyone for more than 24 hours, a situation authorities say is highly unusual for her. Officials believe Woods may be traveling in a green Ford Edge bearing Maine license plate MEDS 24J8. Investigators note that she has known contacts in Maine, New Hampshire, and Florida. The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who may have…

President Donald Trump is escalating pressure on Minnesota officials after federal investigators uncovered what his administration says could amount to $18 billion in Medicaid-related fraud, much of it tied to childcare and social service providers operating in Somali-majority neighborhoods. Speaking forcefully during a New Year’s Eve event, Trump left little room for ambiguity. “They stole $18 BILLION! And that’s just what we’ve heard about,” Trump said.“It’s a GIANT SCAM. We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”“We’re going to GET THAT MONEY BACK! It’s ALL coming back!” https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2006546625569628641?s=20 According to federal authorities, agents have surged into Minnesota in recent…

Maine finished 41st in the nation for total sales and gross receipts tax revenue in 2024, according to a new analysis from Business Daily Network, placing the state firmly in the lower tier of U.S. tax collection from consumer spending and business activity. The ranking measures how much revenue states generate through sales taxes and gross receipts taxes, key funding sources for core government functions such as education, transportation, and public safety. Maine’s low placement reflects the state’s relatively modest level of taxable sales and overall business revenue compared with most of the country. Sales and gross receipts taxes are…

LEWISTON, Maine – Iman Osman is set to be sworn in as a Lewiston city councilor at 6:00 P.M. on Monday 1/5/2026, but his entry into office is anything but routine. On the very night he takes the oath, the Lewiston City Council is scheduled to consider whether he is even qualified to hold the seat. According to the City Council agenda, councilors will meet Monday evening to determine how to proceed with unresolved questions surrounding Osman’s eligibility to represent Ward 5. The discussion follows complaints reviewed in executive session and a council resolve adopted in December authorizing further action.…

President Donald Trump sharply escalated tensions with Iran on Friday, issuing a blunt warning to the country’s leadership as protests continue to spread across the nation. In a message posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump said the United States is prepared to intervene if Iranian authorities use lethal force against peaceful demonstrators. He warned that if the regime “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the U.S. would “come to their rescue,” adding that American forces are “locked and loaded.” The warning comes as demonstrations driven by economic hardship, soaring inflation, and a collapsing currency have spread beyond Tehran to other regions.…

Gov. Janet Mills has spent months on the campaign trail boasting that she “stood up to” President Donald Trump, repeatedly invoking her now-famous line — “see you in court” as proof that she went head-to-head with the White House and won. But beneath the applause lines and campaign slogans, the legal reality tells a far less triumphant story, and one that is beginning to wear thin with Maine voters. The central legal fight Mills points to has not been decided, has not gone to trial, and remains fully unresolved, with a federal court date set for April 1, 2026. Despite…

As working families in Maine and Massachusetts get crushed by higher taxes, higher rents, and higher grocery bills, two governors keep insisting the answer is always the same: spend more. But 2025 has made one thing painfully clear, the problem isn’t a lack of money. It’s a lack of accountability. From Washington’s multibillion-dollar fraud prosecutions to scandals unfolding right here in New England, taxpayers are watching public dollars evaporate while Democratic governors Maura Healey and Janet Mills either dodge questions or hide behind bureaucracy. A National Warning Sign the Governors Can’t Ignore This summer, the U.S. Department of Justice announced…

As 2025 winds down, one-word towers above the rest in American public life: fraud. Not inflation. Not immigration. Not even war.Fraud. From city halls to state agencies to the halls of Congress, revelations of waste, abuse, deception, and outright criminality have dominated headlines in 2025. What once might have been dismissed as isolated incidents has hardened into a pattern, one too consistent, too widespread, and too bipartisan to ignore. We are not learning about a single scandal.We are learning about a failure of leadership. At the federal level, scandals that shook public confidence did not merely expose procedural abuse, they…

Hundreds of participants are set to ring in the New Year by charging into the Atlantic Ocean in front of The Brunswick during the 2026 Lobster Dip, a benefit for Special Olympics Maine. For details and registration information, visit the event page on the Special Olympics Maine website. Now in its 38th year, the Lobster Dip is Special Olympics Maine’s largest one-day fundraiser, supporting year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health and leadership programs for more than 5,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities across the state. The event will feature two separate “waves,” with the first scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and…

Federal agents visited a property in Lewiston on Tuesday that has been the source of repeated reports of fraud and criminal activity, according both to local reports and a recent tweet by Homeland Security Investigations’ New England branch. As Lewiston city officials and state leaders have largely ignored, or minimized, the growing scandals surrounding a condemned building on Blake Street and some politically-connected “non-profits,” there are indications that U.S. Department of Homeland Security is taking a very different posture. Sources familiar with the situation tell The Maine Wire that federal authorities are paying close attention to issues local officials failed…

A rollover crash in Buxton on Monday injured four people, including one person who was ejected from the vehicle, according to police. Officers said they found a Mercedes-Benz SUV on its side in the woods near 142 Haines Meadow Road around 2:50 p.m. Police said the SUV rolled over several times, causing one person to be ejected. The driver, a 20-year-old man from Massachusetts, and his three passengers, including the person who was ejected, were taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Police said speed appears to have been a factor in the crash.

Democratic state Rep. Deqa Dhalac (South Portland) is facing intensifying scrutiny as a widening state and federal investigation into alleged MaineCare fraud at Gateway Community Services continues to engulf Augusta, raising serious questions about political oversight, conflicts of interest, and accountability inside Maine’s one-party power structure. Gateway, a Portland-based nonprofit that once employed Dhalac in senior leadership, was recently cut off from MaineCare funding after the Maine Department of Health and Human Services determined there was a credible allegation of fraud. The decision triggered furloughs, forced dozens of employees to apply for unemployment, and sent shockwaves through Maine’s nonprofit and…

Maine Republicans intensified their attack Tuesday over alleged MaineCare fraud tied to Gateway Community Services, warning that the case exposes systemic failures in oversight, and calling out top Democratic leaders by name for what they described as a stunning lack of accountability. The escalation follows last week’s decision by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to suspend all MaineCare payments to Gateway Community Services LLC after determining that “there exists a credible allegation of fraud.” At a State House press conference, Republican lawmakers said the Gateway case highlights a broken system in which more than 5,000 organizations bill…

Police are searching for the driver of a silver SUV who struck a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk Sunday evening and then fled the scene. According to police, a 25-year-old pedestrian was hit near 654 Riverside Street around 6:50 p.m. Witnesses told officers the pedestrian was legally crossing the street when the vehicle struck them. The SUV reportedly stopped briefly before driving off toward Forest Avenue. The victim was transported to Maine Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the vehicle involved is believed to be an older-model silver Honda CR-V. The Portland Police Department is asking anyone who witnessed…

Federal agents are now going door to door at businesses across Minnesota as part of a sweeping fraud crackdown, a dramatic escalation that has put Democratic Gov. Tim Walz under intense scrutiny for allegedly allowing years of abuse of taxpayer-funded programs to continue unchecked. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed Monday that its investigators are visiting what it calls “suspected fraud sites,” signaling a tougher enforcement posture amid mounting evidence of widespread fraud tied to childcare and Medicaid-related programs, highlighted by the viral video by independent journalist Nick Shirley. Videos posted by U.S. Department of Homeland Security show agents…

President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States “hit” a dock in Venezuela where drugs were allegedly being loaded onto boats, a statement that would mark the first known land strike in the country since his administration escalated its campaign against Venezuelan drug trafficking. Trump’s comments followed remarks he made last Friday during a radio interview on Cats and Cosby, where he said the U.S. had “knocked out” a “big facility” in Venezuela tied to drug shipments. He did not provide specific operational details. Speaking Monday as he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club, Trump…

Gov. Janet Mills (D), a candidate for the U.S. Senate, is trumpeting a $190 million federal health care award for Maine’s rural communities as her achievement even as the funding originates from a program authored and advanced in Washington by her general-election opponent U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that Maine will receive more than $190 million in Fiscal Year 2026 through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion, five-year federal initiative designed to support rural hospitals, health care providers, and medical infrastructure nationwide. “This award through the Rural Health Transformation…

President Donald Trump warned Monday that Hamas must disarm within a “very short period of time” under the terms of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, signaling severe consequences if the militant group fails to comply. “They’re going to be given a very short period of time to disarm. And we’ll see how that works out,” Trump said during a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump said U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who has previously worked on Middle East peace efforts, will oversee Hamas’s compliance with the agreement. “But if they don’t disarm…

U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) announced Monday that Maine will receive $190 million in first-year funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion federal initiative aimed at supporting rural health care systems nationwide. Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the funding is part of a five-year program that will distribute $10 billion annually and represents the largest single federal investment in rural health care in more than two decades. Maine, the most rural state in the nation with the oldest population, faces unique pressures on its health care system. The Rural Health Transformation Program was proposed…

Maine Republican legislative leaders will hold a press conference Tuesday to discuss allegations of MaineCare fraud involving Gateway Community Services, saying the matter may represent only the “tip of the iceberg.” The briefing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at the Maine State House Welcome/Press Center. According to a media advisory released Monday, Republican lawmakers plan to address allegations connected to Gateway Community Services and raise broader concerns about oversight of the state’s MaineCare program. The event will be hosted by members of the Republican caucuses in the Maine Legislature. Media inquiries were directed to Jared Hirshfield…

The Togus Veterans Administration Medical Center is preparing to begin accepting veterans transported by ambulance starting January 1, 2026, after a federal directive required VA hospitals with emergency departments to receive ambulance patients or face a downgrade that would significantly limit hospital services. Under the federal mandate, any VA facility operating an emergency department must accept ambulance arrivals. Facilities that do not comply would be reduced to Level 2 urgent care status, eliminating operating room access and inpatient capacity. Officials say Togus VA Medical Center is working toward readiness by the January 1 deadline. The emergency department is open 24…

Maine marked a year of notable losses in 2025, as prominent figures from politics, business, athletics, and the arts passed away, closing chapters on careers that helped shape the state’s public life, economy, and cultural identity. State and local government lost several longtime public servants. Jerome G. Plante, a former state legislator who later served as town manager in Old Orchard Beach, died February 8. Kathleen Watson Goodwin, who represented her district for five terms in the Maine House, died February 15 at age 84. Malachi F. Anderson, a Republican lawmaker and fixture in state politics, died June 18 at…

A condemned building tied to a federal drug bust is continuing to appear on paper as a business address and political residence, raising fresh questions about oversight, enforcement, and whether Maine is drifting toward the same kind of accountability failures now rocking Minnesota. The property at 210 Blake Street has been condemned by the City of Lewiston since October 2024, making it illegal to occupy for residential or commercial use. City records show the building lacks a valid certificate of occupancy and has no approved plan for reopening. Yet despite its shuttered status, a simple online search still links the…

Maine residents will see higher taxes and fees across multiple everyday purchases starting January 1, 2026, as a slate of new state laws take effect, raising costs on tobacco, cannabis, digital subscriptions, and fishing licenses. One of the largest increases targets tobacco products. For the first time in roughly 20 years, Maine’s cigarette tax will jump, with the tax on a pack of cigarettes rising from $2 to $3.50. Taxes on other tobacco products will also spike sharply, increasing from 43 to 75 percent. Adult-use cannabis will also cost more at the register. The state’s retail cannabis tax rate will…

A Corinth man is facing a murder charge following a fatal shooting Saturday morning at a Main Street residence. According to authorities, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded at approximately 8:28 a.m. on Dec. 27 to a report of a shooting at 344 Main Street. Deputies arriving at the scene found 41-year-old Abigail Thomas of Corinth dead from an apparent gunshot wound. The sheriff’s office requested assistance from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North and the Maine State Police Evidence Response Team. Thomas was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy…

A Christmas Day house fire in Brunswick was quickly brought under control Thursday afternoon, with investigators pointing to an electrical malfunction linked to a portable generator as the likely cause. Just after 3 p.m. on December 25, 2025, the Brunswick Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 36 Bridge Road. Fire crews arriving on scene observed heavy smoke coming from the roof area and rear eaves of the residence. Firefighters entered the home and located a fire on the second floor, with the heaviest involvement in the ceiling area above an industrial-style fan. Crews were able to quickly…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is again under fire as the League of Women Voters of Maine steps in to back her refusal to turn over voter registration data to the federal government — even as Bellows has acknowledged that non-Mainers have been registered to vote and the state faces an unfolding Bureau of Motor Vehicles scandal involving alleged cheating on licensing exams. https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/2003096717936189908?s=20 The League, which has existed for more than a century and brands itself as a defender of election integrity, joined a lawsuit this month supporting Bellows and the State of Maine against the U.S. Department…

As Maine continues to grapple with fallout from the Gateway Communities scandal and other nonprofit controversies, Gov. Janet Mills has quietly blocked a slate of worker- and senior-focused tax relief measures approved by Congress in 2025, leaving Mainers paying more in state taxes even as federal taxes fall. Earlier this year, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a sweeping tax reform package designed to ease the burden on working families, seniors, and small businesses. The law excludes tip income from taxation, allows deductions for overtime premiums, adds a $6,000 deduction for seniors, provides deductions for car loan…

Maine State Police are investigating the death of a one-year-old child who was found unresponsive Sunday morning at a residence in the town of Milford. The child was discovered on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. Under state statute, the Maine State Police investigate all deaths involving children under the age of three. Authorities said there is no danger to the public. The investigation remains active, and no additional information is being released at this time.

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, working alongside the Portland Fire Department, is continuing its investigation into a Friday evening fire that tore through buildings at 25 and 27 Custom House Wharf. The blaze caused significant damage to multiple sections of the attached structures, including storage and maintenance areas used by fishermen and lobstermen, trap repair shops, and waterfront businesses such as Nanuq Kayak and Maritime Antiques. The Sea Bag Factory Store was also impacted, though officials say the full extent of the damage has not yet been determined. First reported at 5:30 pm on Friday, firefighters had the blaze…

The Maine Mariners have canceled their scheduled home games this weekend after a player strike over a stalled collective bargaining agreement brought ECHL play to a halt. The Mariners were set to host the Worcester Railers on Friday and the Trois-Rivières Lions on Saturday at the Cross Insurance Arena. Both games were postponed as members of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association initiated a work stoppage tied to negotiations with the ECHL. In a joint statement released ahead of Friday’s scheduled puck drop, the Mariners and the league said the strike required the immediate postponement of the games and warned that…

PORTLAND, Maine — Crews battled a large fire Friday evening on Commercial Street along Portland’s working waterfront, prompting a third-alarm response at Custom House Wharf, according to the Portland Fire Department. People on Casco Bay Lines ferries saw the flames on Custom House Wharf and called the Portland Fire Department around 5:30 p.m. https://twitter.com/portlandoldport/status/2004709580010369041?s=46 At a press conference Friday night, Deputy Fire Chief John Hendrix said the fire burned primary electrical lines, creating a significant hazard for firefighters. Because of the danger, officials requested that power be shut down across the area until utility crews could safely regain control, resulting…

Let’s be clear: the collapse of Gateway Communities did not come out of nowhere.It happened on Janet Mills’ watch, after years of warnings, known overbilling, and willful state inaction. Now, 30 employees have been furloughed, told to apply for unemployment, and effectively discarded after the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) finally shut off the taxpayer spigot. The workers are furious and they should be. Because the state knew. And it did nothing. Janet Mills Knew to Let It Continue Anyway Governor Janet Mills was well aware of Gateway Communities’ problems. The organization was caught overbilling as early…

President Donald J. Trump announced late Tuesday that the United States launched a “powerful and deadly” military strike against Islamic State terrorists operating in northwest Nigeria, citing brutal attacks against Christians in the region. In a sharply worded statement released Christmas week, Trump said the operation was ordered under his authority as commander in chief and targeted ISIS militants he accused of “viciously killing” innocent Christians at levels not seen in many years. Trump said the terrorists had been warned previously that continued violence against Christians would result in severe consequences. According to Trump, U.S. forces carried out what he described as “numerous perfect strikes,”…

Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of a residential fire that tore through a home on Canaan Road early Friday morning. The Pittsfield Fire Department responded to the blaze at 693 Canaan Road on Dec. 26 and found the structure heavily involved when crews arrived on scene. Due to the severity of the fire, the department requested assistance from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. State fire investigators determined the fire originated in the ceiling area of the kitchen. Based on information currently available, officials said the fire is not considered suspicious. Investigators noted that additional interviews…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida over the weekend to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and broader efforts to end the nearly four-year war with Russia. Zelenskyy told journalists that the leaders will meet Sunday and that a proposed 20-point plan under discussion is “about 90 percent ready.” He said the talks will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine, along with an “economic agreement,” though he could not confirm whether any deal would be finalized. Territorial issues will also be raised, Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine would like European countries to be involved…

The Maine State Police have confirmed a murder-suicide following the discovery of two deceased adults at a Tremont residence earlier this week. According to authorities, Southwest Harbor police responded to a 911 call at approximately 8:57 a.m. on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, reporting an incident near 11 Big Rocks Road. Officers arriving at the scene found two adults deceased. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North took over the investigation in coordination with Southwest Harbor police. The Maine State Police Evidence Response Team was dispatched to process the scene and collect evidence. Investigators identified the deceased as 78-year-old Jyoti…

Maine politics in 2025 were defined by confrontation, controversy, and growing public distrust, as a high-stakes U.S. Senate race, mass street protests, election controversies, and mounting scrutiny of state and nonprofit institutions reshaped the political landscape heading into pivotal midterms and a gubernatorial election in 2026. The year’s most consequential development came when Gov. Janet Mills (D) launched her U.S. Senate bid, instantly nationalizing Maine politics and recasting the state as a battleground. Mills centered her campaign on a familiar and deliberate message: that she “stood up to Trump,” repeatedly invoking clashes with former President Donald Trump as proof of…

More than two years after the deadliest mass shooting in Maine history, victims and their families say they are still searching for answers — not only about how to recover from the violence that shattered their lives, but about how millions of dollars donated in the tragedy’s aftermath were ultimately spent. The October 25, 2023, shooting at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston killed 18 people and wounded 13 others, prompting an outpouring of national sympathy and charitable giving. In response, the Maine Community Foundation established the Lewiston–Auburn Area Response Fund to collect and distribute donations tied to the…

A widening investigation by the U.S. House Oversight and Accountability Committee into alleged Medicaid fraud has placed new scrutiny on the background and political career of Deqa Dhalac, a Democratic lawmaker from South Portland whose prior leadership role at a Maine nonprofit has become a focal point of state and federal review and an issue in Maine’s broader political debate over public spending and oversight. The inquiry is being led by Congressman James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee. It centers on Gateway Community Services, a Portland-based organization that has received tens of millions of dollars through MaineCare, the…

A sweeping crime crackdown launched by the Trump administration, including the controversial deployment of National Guard troops in the nation’s capital, has coincided with a steep nationwide decline in murders, according to newly released crime data, even as the effort faces mounting legal and political challenges. President Donald Trump has made restoring law and order a centerpiece of his second term, directing federal agencies to take a more aggressive role in combating violent crime and intervening in cities struggling with rising homicide rates. Preliminary data from the Real-Time Crime Index shows murders nationwide are down roughly 20 percent in 2025…

A new statewide economic analysis released this month paints a stark picture of prosperity split sharply between the greater Portland metropolitan area and much of rural Maine, with data showing decades of uneven growth, persistent joblessness and widening disparities in job quality and basic economic security. The State of Working Maine 2025 report from the Maine Center for Economic Policy examines trends across six regions of the state and finds that economic opportunity in Maine is shaped not by geography alone but by public policy decisions that have bolstered growth in Portland while leaving large swaths of western and northeastern…

Influenza cases are surging across Maine far earlier and harder than health officials typically see, with new data showing infections and hospitalizations more than doubling in a single week. According to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 864 flu cases were reported statewide for the week ending Dec. 20, up sharply from 320 cases the week before. Hospitalizations tied to influenza also spiked, jumping from 27 to 69 over the same period. “We anticipated a bad flu year, and we are certainly seeing that. It’s been horrible so far,” said Dr. Laura Blaisdell, a Portland pediatrician and infectious…

The White House has ordered U.S. military forces to focus almost exclusively on enforcing a so-called “quarantine” of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months, signaling that the Trump administration is doubling down on economic warfare, rather than direct military action to squeeze the regime in Caracas. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the directive reflects the administration’s belief that sanctions and oil interdictions can force rapid concessions from Venezuelan leadership. “While military options still exist, the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is…

SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Scarborough firefighters were called to the scene of a serious motor vehicle crash Friday afternoon that required extrication at the intersection of Haigis Parkway and Payne Road, according to a post from the Scarborough Professional Fire Fighters. Multiple Scarborough agencies responded to the collision, with Saco crews providing mutual aid along with an ambulance. Fire officials noted that other crews were simultaneously tied up responding to storm-related calls and medical emergencies across the area. Authorities had not released information on injuries or the cause of the crash as of Friday afternoon.

For years, Maine’s legacy media landscape operated with a familiar hierarchy: big newspapers and TV stations decided what mattered, and smaller outlets followed their lead. That hierarchy is now broken, and The Maine Wire is the reason why. Once dismissed as an upstart, The Maine Wire has become one of the most consequential investigative forces in Maine and New England, breaking major stories that now routinely shape state, regional, and even national news cycles. And as its influence has grown, so has an uncomfortable reality for legacy outlets: they are no longer leading, they are following. Increasingly, they are doing…

LEWISTON, Maine — Iman Osman, a Lewiston city councilor-elect and current school committee member, is heading toward a collision with City Hall as he faces a felony firearm indictment, unresolved residency questions, and mounting pressure from the mayor to step aside, pressure Osman says he intends to ignore. Osman, who was appointed to the Lewiston School Committee in December 2024 by Mayor Carl Sheline, won election to the Lewiston City Council and is scheduled to be sworn in this January. Despite the legal cloud hanging over him, Osman told this reporter he plans to serve on the council and has…

State fire investigators have arrested two men in connection with a house fire in Augusta that authorities say was intentionally set, with both suspects allegedly committing the crime while already out on bail for other cases. Investigators with the Office of the State Fire Marshal arrested 27-year-old Samuel Howard of Pittston and 32-year-old Trevor Shorette of Augusta following a month-long investigation into a November 15, 2025, fire at a residence on Lilac Lane. According to investigators, Augusta Police Dispatch received a 911 call at approximately 5:16 a.m. reporting a house fire at 16 Lilac Lane. The Augusta Fire Department and…

Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Sen. Mark Warner (D) aimed at strengthening the security of U.S. elections has been signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The election security provision originates from the Strengthening Election Cybersecurity to Uphold Respect for Elections through Independent Testing (SECURE IT) Act, which Collins and creepy Warner introduced in May. Language from the bill was incorporated into the annual defense authorization and directs the Election Assistance Commission to require penetration testing for election systems seeking federal certification. The testing is designed to…

The federal government will resume wage garnishment for student loan borrowers in default beginning in early 2026, ending a pandemic-era pause on one of the most aggressive federal debt collection tools. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the government will begin sending notices the week of January 7, 2026, informing borrowers that their employers may soon be required to withhold a portion of their paychecks to collect overdue federal student loan debt. Initial notices will go out to roughly 1,000 borrowers, with the number expected to increase monthly. Federal student loan borrowers are considered in default after 270 days…

Governor Janet Mills has ordered all State of Maine government offices closed Wednesday, December 24, as an overnight storm system is expected to bring hazardous travel conditions across much of the state. The National Weather Service has forecast widespread snowfall for most of Maine and warned that some areas could experience extremely dangerous travel conditions. The storm is expected to impact travel beginning this afternoon, continuing overnight and into Wednesday morning. “This storm is anticipated to create slick travel on Christmas Eve. If you’re traveling on Tuesday or Wednesday, please take necessary precautions to arrive safely at your holiday destination,”…

Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services has suspended MaineCare payments to Gateway Community Services after a newly completed state audit found the Portland-based nonprofit overbilled the Medicaid program by more than $1 million, sharply escalating a years-long controversy now drawing state, federal, and political scrutiny. According to DHHS, the payment suspension was imposed because of suspected fraud, a designation that automatically triggers a referral to the Office of Attorney General for potential investigation. The attorney general’s office declined to confirm whether it is actively investigating the company. The audit, which had not previously been publicly disclosed, is the third…

A powerful congressional committee is demanding federal financial records tied to a Maine nonprofit that has come under scrutiny following allegations of MaineCare fraud and whistleblower complaints. U.S. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has requested Suspicious Activity Reports from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent related to Gateway Community Services, a Maine-based organization that billed MaineCare $28.8 million between 2019 and 2024. Gateway has recently drawn public attention after a former employee alleged improper billing practices that may constitute fraud against the state’s Medicaid program. Gateway Communities representatives in both their Portland and Lewiston offices declined to comment to the…

The City of Portland has secured a $2.12 million federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to carry out a slate of roadway, pedestrian, and bicycle safety changes along Brighton Avenue. The funding will support the Brighton Avenue Safety and Demonstration Project, a six-month pilot covering a one-mile stretch between City Hospital Drive and Wayside Road. The project includes quick-build safety measures such as roadway reconfiguration, restriping, a center turn lane, buffered bicycle lanes with green conflict markings, delineators, planters, improved lighting, and vehicle feedback signs. Pavement leveling will also be completed to ensure proper installation and visibility of…

Over the past five years, the Maine Attorney General’s Office, led by Aaron Frey (D) has secured more than $260 million for the state through settlements with pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic. While the office has played a central role in negotiating those settlements and helping guide how other entities spend their shares, details about how the attorney general’s own portion of the money has been used have remained largely out of public view. Newly released data obtained by The Maine Monitor shows that the attorney general’s office has spent roughly $10 million of the $17.2 million…

The City of Portland Public Art Committee has announced an open call for artists to submit qualifications for a new public artwork commission at the forthcoming Portland Harbor Common Park. Construction on the park – to be located by the Ocean Gateway terminal and Maine State Pier near India Street – is expected to begin in March 2026, with an anticipated opening in September 2026. The city is also preparing to undertake a naming process to rename the park. According to the announcement, the Public Art Committee is seeking a work that honors, reflects, and celebrates Portland’s distinctive sense of…

President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. military has launched large-scale attacks on ISIS targets in Syria, one week after two American service members and a U.S. interpreter were killed in an attack in the city of Palmyra. Speaking Friday night, Trump said he personally ordered what he described as a “massive strike on the terrorists that killed our three great patriots last week.” “It was very successful. It was precision,” Trump said. “We hit every site flawlessly and we are restoring peace through strength all over the world.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation amounted to a “declaration…

What began as a routine traffic stop Friday night quickly escalated into a serious drug arrest, with police seizing large quantities of narcotics, cash, and filing multiple criminal charges against a local man. Nelson Gomes, 48, of Old Orchard Beach, was stopped by officers conducting traffic enforcement at approximately 7:32 p.m. on December 19. According to police, the investigation uncovered roughly 43.7 grams of packaged cocaine and 22.4 grams of compressed methamphetamine pills resembling Adderall, along with a significant amount of cash. Gomes was arrested and charged with two counts of unlawful trafficking of Schedule W drugs, operating under the…

A fire tore through the RSU 20 bus garage in Searsport Saturday afternoon, destroying the building and prompting an active investigation by state fire officials. According to authorities, the blaze was reported at approximately 3:35 p.m., drawing a response from the Searsport Fire Department. The first fire unit on scene reported smoke coming from the structure, a sagging roof on the right side of the building, and heavy fire conditions just inside the front door on the right-hand side. The building was ultimately destroyed by the fire. Investigators from the Maine State Fire Marshall’s Office responded to the scene and…

The Trump White House is predicting what it calls the largest tax refund season in U.S. history, with senior economic officials saying Americans could soon see massive checks and higher take-home pay. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Thursday that the administration expects a historic refund cycle next spring as tax changes take full effect. “We are going to see the biggest refund cycle ever in the history of America, and people are going to get massive refund checks,” Hassett said during an appearance on FOX Business’ Varney & Co. He said refunds tied to recent tax changes alone…

Portland police are asking for the public’s help in an unsolved fatal incident that left a 33-year-old man dead following a large altercation outside a city nightclub sixteen years ago. Police said Than Yim, 33, died from injuries sustained during a confrontation involving a large group of people in the parking lot of the Thanh Thanh Bida Club at 250 Read Street during the early morning hours of Dec. 20, 2009. Authorities never released the cause of death. Despite the passage of time, investigators continue to seek information that could help resolve the case. Anyone with information is urged to…

Lewiston police are investigating two residential fires that broke out Saturday night, one of which was initially treated as an “active crime scene” after witnesses reported hearing what sounded like gunshots or small explosions moments before flames erupted. Police and firefighters were dispatched around 8:45 p.m. to a single-family home at 146 Grove St., according to the Lewiston Police Department. Witnesses told authorities they heard loud popping or explosive noises coming from the home shortly before the fire became visible. Crews from the Lewiston Fire Department battled the blaze for much of the night. After conditions were deemed safe enough…

The controversies surrounding Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows continue to pile up, raising serious questions about competence, accountability, and whether Maine’s top elections and motor vehicle official is focused more on her official duties or politicking. The most recent questions followed a legislative oversight committee hearing, on Wednesday, examining the deaths of Mainers linked to drivers who allegedly used paid interpreters to fraudulently pass driver’s permit tests. Whistleblower Jon Moran has stated that the system is riddled with fraud and abuse involving interpreters, failures that fall squarely under the authority of the Secretary of State’s office. Bellows did not…

Maine’s red-hot housing market showed fresh signs of volatility in November, as the statewide median home sale price dropped below $400,000 just one month after hitting a record high. According to data from the Maine Association of Realtors, the median sale price fell to $399,000 in November, down from October’s record-setting $426,000. While prices were still up roughly 3.6 percent compared to November 2024, the month-to-month decline of about six percent underscored the market’s ongoing instability. Sales activity also slowed sharply. Just 1,160 homes were sold statewide in November, a 12 percent decrease from the same month last year and…

Governor Janet Mills (D) has again opted not to sign a controversial piece of legislation, allowing new “ghost gun” regulations to become law in Maine without her signature. The bill, LD 1126, updates state law to require serial numbers on homemade firearms and bans guns that cannot be traced. The measure is scheduled to take effect in January 2027 and includes exemptions for rare and antique firearms. The ghost gun bill is the second contentious measure in recent weeks that Mills has declined to sign while still allowing it to become law. Earlier this month, she took the same approach…

Nearly half of a Bangor-area school board abruptly resigned this week, leaving the district without a quorum and unable to conduct official business. Four of the eight members of the Regional School Unit 63 School Board submitted their resignations Thursday, effectively shutting down the board. Those who stepped down were Linda Graban of Clifton, Heather Grass of Eddington, and Holden representatives Heather Lander and Cherie Faulkner. In their resignation letters, the departing members cited what they described as a lack of leadership, fiscal responsibility, and clear direction within the district. Several said ongoing conflicts with fellow board members and members…

A Pittsfield man already accused of sexually assaulting a dog – an attack that left the animal paralyzed and ultimately euthanized – is now facing federal child exploitation charges, according to court records. Christopher Colson, 24, was charged last week in federal court in Bangor with possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child. Records show Colson was arrested Thursday and later released. Court documents describe a troubling timeline. In April 2024, a then 6-year-old girl reported at school that Colson had touched her inappropriately. Police interviewed Colson, who denied the allegations, and the case was closed. Months later, in…

The Portland City Council voted unanimously on December 15 to broaden how the city spends its Opioid Settlement Funds, expanding the allocation to support five remediation programs aimed at addressing the ongoing opioid crisis and its impact on Portland. The vote amends the city’s original spending plan to fund five initiatives: continuation of Portland Public Health’s Syringe Redemption Program, a new pilot day space program, housing support for unsheltered individuals, community paramedicine substance use support, and contingency management treatment for people with substance use disorders. City officials said the changes are intended to better target on-peninsula needs and provide immediate…

President President Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing all executive departments and federal agencies to close on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and Friday, December 26, 2025, the days immediately before and after Christmas. Under the order, federal employees will be excused from duty on those dates. Agency heads are authorized to require certain offices to remain open and some employees to report to work on Dec. 24, Dec. 26, or both, if necessary for reasons of national security, defense, or other public needs. The order specifies that Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 will be treated as falling within the…

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday directing major changes to federal marijuana and cannabinoid policy, aiming to expand research, improve guidance for patients and doctors, and remove long-standing barriers created by federal drug classifications. The order instructs the attorney general to expedite the process of rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, a shift that would formally recognize accepted medical use and ease restrictions on scientific research. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, a category reserved for substances deemed to have no medical value and a high potential for abuse. In addition,…

A once-quiet coastal town has been thrown into turmoil after local officials voted to allow an 8-year-old biological boy who identifies as a girl to compete on a recreational girls’ basketball team, triggering a parent revolt, police-monitored meetings, and the creation of a costly private alternative league. Parents say concerns surfaced immediately after learning a biological boy would be placed on the girls’ team. “Initially, we were concerned,” Katy Miller, whose daughter previously played in the league, told Fox News Digital. “We talked to our daughters and kind of got a read from them on how they felt. And we…

The widening rift between Maine’s Democratic leadership and federal immigration authorities intensified Thursday after state Sen. Matt Harrington (R) posted a sharply worded statement to social media from Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, blasting Gov. Janet Mills’ (D) decision to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Harrington shared Lyons’ comments online following the Mills administration’s move restricting how state and local law enforcement agencies may assist federal immigration officers, a policy shift praised by progressive activists and criticized by opponents as cementing Maine’s status as a sanctuary state. In the statement posted by Harrington,…

President Donald Trump on Thursday endorsed former Maine Gov. Paul LePage for Congress in a post on Truth Social, praising LePage’s record and backing him to represent Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. In the post, Trump said LePage “will be a tremendous Congressman for the amazing people of Maine’s 2nd Congressional District,” calling him a “proven America First fighter” and citing his tenure as governor. Trump said LePage would work to grow the economy, cut taxes and regulations, advocate for Maine’s lobstermen, promote U.S. manufacturing, expand domestic energy production, safeguard elections, strengthen border security, address migrant crime, bolster the military and…

Across Maine, unanswered questions are no longer isolated mysteries but instead form a pattern, one marked by official silence, selective outrage, and a growing sense among residents that accountability has quietly vanished from public life. Here are some recent examples: There has still been no clear public explanation for how a child from Fryeburg went missing for six hours earlier this month. No timeline. No corrective action. No reassurance to parents that safeguards failed, were fixed, or even properly examined. Likewise, there has been no meaningful update on the 250 ballots that appeared in Newburgh inside an Amazon box, an…

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of a commercial building fire that destroyed a garage and damaged a nearby apartment building early Wednesday morning in Patten. The Patten Fire Department was dispatched at 4:37 a.m. to a fire at 6 Main St. Upon arrival, firefighters found the Outback Garage fully engulfed in flames. Two tenants who lived in an apartment above the garage were able to escape safely. The building is considered a total loss. The fire spread to a nearby apartment building, causing significant damage and displacing eight tenants. Investigators said the fire originated toward the…

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that members of the U.S. military will receive $1,776 checks before Christmas, a one-time payment he dubbed the “Warrior Dividend,” tying the amount to the nation’s founding year. In a televised address to the nation, Trump said approximately 1.45 million service members would receive the payments, which he credited to higher-than-expected federal revenue from tariffs. “1,450,000 military service members will receive a special, we call, warrior dividend before Christmas,” Trump said. “In honor of our nation’s founding in 1776, we are sending every soldier $1,776. And the checks are already on the way.” Trump did…

Some car owners in Maine may now benefit from having joined a 36-state coalition forcing Hyundai and Kia to provide free, hardware-based anti-theft upgrades for thousands of vehicles sold without basic security protections, following a multi state consumer protection investigation into the automakers’ practices. The settlement, announced by New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella and joined by Maine and dozens of other states, covers Hyundai and Kia vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2022 that were sold in the United States without engine immobilizers, a standard anti-theft feature used across much of the auto industry. State attorneys general said the lack of immobilizers…

A sweeping $900.6 billion national defense bill backed by Susan Collins (R) has cleared Congress and is headed to the president’s desk, locking in major military funding priorities and delivering direct wins for Maine’s defense workforce and service members. The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the U.S. Senate 77–20 and the House of Representatives 312–112, authorizing defense spending levels and setting policy for the U.S. military amid escalating global security threats. While the NDAA establishes policy and authorized funding levels, the actual dollars for the Department of Defense will be provided through a separate appropriations process. That…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is pushing back hard against a federal lawsuit seeking voter information, even as she continues to refuse to address a growing list of unanswered election integrity questions inside her own state. The State of Maine on Friday filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Portland seeking to dismiss a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit that demands access to sensitive voter data. The case, United States of America v. Shenna Bellows, centers on whether the federal government can compel Maine to turn over personal voter information. [RELATED: Maine Files Motion to Dismiss DOJ Lawsuit…

In a unanimous 7–0 vote Tuesday night, the Lewiston City Council approved a non-binding resolve urging the incoming council to review the residency qualifications of councilor-elect Iman Osman, keeping a long-running and highly charged controversy alive just weeks before the new council is sworn in. The resolve was placed on the agenda by Councilor David Chittim. ”I can’t let it go by, as I will say this, and I can say it until I’m blue in the face, this not about racism. It’s not about the color of a man’s skin or the mosque or church or cathedral he worships…

In a unanimous vote that underscored deep public skepticism and mounting concerns over transparency, the Lewiston City Council voted Tuesday night to halt a proposed joint development agreement that would have green-lit a Tier 3 artificial intelligence data center inside Bates Mill No. 3. The proposal, brought forward by city staff and developer MillCompute LLC, sought approval for what backers described as a “knowledge center” occupying roughly 85,000 square feet of the historic mill building. The agreement was framed as a necessary first step toward a broader public-private partnership involving long-term tax incentives and infrastructure commitments. Instead, councilors, facing overwhelming…

If Maine voters were looking for a warning sign about the direction of Janet Mills’ U.S. Senate bid, they just got one, from Massachusetts. Tuesday, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D), widely regarded by critics as one of the worst governors in America, formally endorsed Janet Mills (D) in her campaign to unseat longtime Maine Senator Susan Collins (R). Healey’s endorsement reads less like a ringing endorsement of leadership and more like a checklist of progressive policy failures exported from Massachusetts to Maine. This is the same Maura Healey who oversaw the explosion of what critics now call the “Healey Hotels”,…

Lewiston Police arrested a man early Sunday following a reported domestic altercation in which a gun was fired inside a residence, authorities said. Police were dispatched shortly after midnight December 14 to a home at 148 Old Webster Road, where officers investigated reports of an altercation involving a firearm. Following the investigation, Kenneth Foster was arrested and charged with criminal attempt to commit murder, reckless conduct, domestic violence aggravated assault, and domestic violence criminal threatening. Authorities said no one was struck by the gunfire.

The U.S. Mint will introduce special circulating coins in 2026 to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, renewing a tradition that last drew widespread public attention during the bicentennial celebrations nearly five decades ago. The coins will mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s adoption of the Declaration of Independence, an event that laid the foundation for the United States in 1776. Mint officials unveiled the designs Thursday, saying quarters, dimes and nickels produced during 2026 will feature distinctive imagery and markings tied to the country’s founding era, along with the dual dates “1776 ∽ 2026.” Five different quarter designs will…

President Donald Trump said Monday that he plans to classify the deadly drug fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction,” a step he said would escalate his administration’s campaign against drug smuggling. “There’s no doubt that America’s adversaries are trafficking fentanyl into the United States in part because they want to kill Americans. If this were a war, that would be one of the worst wars,” Trump said in the Oval Office while presenting medals to U.S. troops who have patrolled the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump compared illicit fentanyl smuggling, which has killed nearly 330,000 Americans over a five-year period ending…

Iman Osman quietly completed his term on the Lewiston School Committee Monday night, attending his final meeting without participating as unresolved questions surrounding his residency, ethics, and pending criminal charges continued to dominate public concern. Osman remained present for the entirety of the meeting but did not take part in deliberations on several agenda items, including discussions over flag policies, the selection of a new school committee chair, or public comment. His silence and perceived lack of knowledge of the issues came as members of the public used the comment period to directly challenge both Osman and school leadership over…

Portland Mayor Mark Dion warned Monday night that looming federal budget cuts could strain city services while raising sharp concerns about the effectiveness of Portland’s needle exchange program, urged renewed conversations on school safety and signaling possible reforms to the city’s housing policies. In his 2025 State of the City address, Dion said potential reductions to federal programs, including SNAP benefits, Medicare access, housing vouchers and higher Affordable Care Act premiums, would place added pressure on city finances and residents, particularly seniors and those living on fixed incomes. He said affordability must be a central focus as the city enters budget season,…