Author: Jon Fetherston

Maine’s first affordable senior housing development designed specifically to provide an LGBTQ+-affirming community will celebrate its grand opening Wednesday in downtown Portland, adding 54 income-restricted apartments amid an ongoing shortage of affordable housing for older Mainers. Equality Commons, a five-story apartment building at 25 Casco Street, was developed adjacent to the Equality Community Center and is intended to provide affordable housing for residents 55 and older, with additional programming and services geared toward LGBTQ+ seniors. Despite its stated mission, the publicly supported housing development is not restricted to LGBTQ+ residents. Anyone who meets the age and income requirements can apply,…

A Guilford man initially arrested on an aggravated assault charge is now facing murder after authorities say a 63-year-old man died from multiple sharp-force injuries and a second victim was left critically injured following a violent incident Sunday evening. Ryan Carleton, 49, of Guilford, was charged with murder Tuesday during his initial appearance at the Piscataquis County Judicial Center in connection with the death of 63-year-old Brent Doore, according to the Maine State Police. Carleton is being held at the Piscataquis County Jail. The investigation began shortly after 7:19 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, when the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office requested…

Maine State Police are investigating a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in Hermon Tuesday afternoon that sent a tractor-trailer and utility truck across the median and into oncoming traffic. Despite the severity of the crash, no injuries were reported. The crash happened at approximately 3:52 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, near Exit 180 after a pickup truck hauling a trailer attempted to merge onto northbound I-95 from Coldbrook Road, according to Maine State Police. Investigators said the pickup failed to yield the right of way while merging onto the interstate, causing its trailer to strike a utility truck traveling in the…

President Donald Trump dramatically escalated the war of words surrounding the Strait of Hormuz this week, posting an image portraying the strategically vital waterway as a “New US Territory” as hopes for a negotiated end to the nearly six-month conflict with Iran appeared to collapse. Trump said Tuesday that there are no negotiations currently underway with Tehran and none scheduled, contradicting suggestions from other officials that diplomatic contacts could still be taking place behind the scenes. “There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, according to Reuters.…

More than two years after 10-year-old Braxtyn Smith died following prolonged starvation, restraint and brutal abuse inside a Bangor home, Maine lawmakers are preparing to confront a question that has remained largely unanswered since his death: Did the Maine Department of Health and Human Services know anything about Braxtyn or the conditions inside his home before he died? The Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee is scheduled to consider a request Wednesday from Sen. Jeff Timberlake concerning any involvement by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Child and Family Services in Braxtyn’s case. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m.…

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) traveled to Maine Monday to campaign alongside former Gov. Paul LePage (R), bringing one of the Republican Party’s most powerful figures to Auburn as the GOP sets its sights on flipping Maine’s open 2nd Congressional District seat in November. Johnson joined LePage at Auburn Concrete, where the former two-term governor is campaigning to succeed Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, who is not seeking reelection. LePage will face Democratic State Auditor Matt Dunlap in November in a contest expected to draw significant national attention as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of the U.S. House. For…

BIDDEFORD, Maine — Inside the Little Theater at Biddeford High School Monday, the conclusions came quickly. Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero had been “murdered.” Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be abolished. President Donald Trump was responsible for a campaign of fear. Republicans had abandoned congressional oversight. And before the hearing adjourned, those gathered were reminded that voters would have an opportunity to do something about it on Nov. 3. Outside that theater, however, Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey’s office was offering a considerably more cautious assessment. The investigation isn’t finished. Frey issued a statement Monday specifically “prompted by the shadow hearing,”…

Maine congresswoman previously called for a “thorough, objective accounting” of the fatal shooting, but Democrats will convene a hearing Monday focused on ICE’s alleged “abuse of power” before investigators have publicly reached their conclusions U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) will join some of the highest-ranking Democrats in the U.S. House on Monday for a congressional-style “shadow hearing” examining the fatal shooting of a Colombian national by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Biddeford. But the timing of the hearing raises a significant question. Why are Pingree and congressional Democrats publicly examining what they are already describing as ICE “abuse…

Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson received tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded travel and lodging payments while maintaining his official residence nearly 300 miles from Augusta, even after purchasing a home just minutes from the State House. The Maine Wire drove the route, spoke with residents in Jackson’s hometown and found that one central question remains unanswered. Six hours after leaving Augusta, The Maine Wire finally arrived in Allagash. By then, the State House felt a long way away. Interstate highway had given way to rural roads. The cities and larger towns of central Maine were long behind…

Former Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner is preparing to return to the public stage, reportedly reaching out to former allies and proclaiming his innocence, and while it is too late for him to reappear on Maine’s November ballot as an independent, one potentially consequential option remains open: a write-in campaign. Is Graham Platner planning a political comeback? It is a question Maine Democrats may soon have to confront as the former Democratic U.S. Senate nominee prepares for his first major public appearance since abruptly abandoning his campaign in July. Platner is scheduled to headline a Labor Day rally at…

Fourteen motorists called 911 Saturday afternoon to report an allegedly dangerous driver traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph on Interstate 295, helping Maine State Police track the vehicle north until troopers were able to make a traffic stop in Waterville. The reports began around 3:35 p.m. on Aug. 15, when the Bangor Regional Communications Center started receiving calls about a vehicle traveling northbound on I-295 in the Bowdoinham area. Callers reported that the vehicle was traveling more than 100 mph and being driven erratically, according to Maine State Police. As the vehicle continued north, additional motorists called 911 and provided…

Screenshot MADAWASKA, Maine — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins will take her reelection campaign deep into northern Maine on Sunday, walking in Madawaska’s 48th annual Acadian Festival Parade as her “All of Maine” bus tour reaches the St. John Valley, the political backyard of Democratic challenger Troy Jackson. Collins’ campaign announced Saturday that the Republican senator will participate in the parade beginning at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16. The parade is scheduled to begin at NorState Federal Credit Union and conclude at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Main Street. The appearance provides a high-profile northern Maine conclusion to the opening…

A Bridgton man who spent nearly seven months in federal immigration detention after being pulled over during a January ICE enforcement operation in Portland has been released and granted lawful permanent resident status. Marcos Gaspar Da-Silva, 32, was released Thursday from immigration detention in Arizona following a Wednesday hearing in which an immigration judge granted him lawful permanent residency. He and his wife, Alessia Gaspar Da Silva, are expected to arrive at the Portland International Jetport at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16. His release concludes a case that became increasingly controversial in Maine because Da-Silva’s detention did not stem…

Federal court clears Trump administration to terminate protections for nearly 1,100 Somalis nationwide, but officials have yet to say how many live in Maine A federal judge on Friday cleared the way for the Trump administration to end more than three decades of Temporary Protected Status for Somalia, potentially stripping deportation protections and work authorization from nearly 1,100 Somali nationals across the country. In Maine, where Somali immigration has reshaped parts of Lewiston and Portland over the past quarter-century, the ruling raises an immediate question that neither federal officials nor immigration advocates have publicly answered: How many people in Maine…

More than 80 percent of Maine is now abnormally dry or in drought, with severe drought returning to the Midcoast and southern communities beginning to restrict water use Maine’s brief early-summer reprieve from drought is disappearing fast. More than 82 percent of the state is now classified as abnormally dry or experiencing drought conditions, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, as weeks of limited rainfall have once again pushed portions of southern and coastal Maine into severe drought. Approximately 841,800 Mainers are now living in areas classified as drought, according to federal drought data. The deterioration comes after an…

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has increased its presence at Portland International Jetport, where immigrant advocates say federal agents have arrested at least five people in recent weeks as the Trump administration expands immigration enforcement at airports and other transportation hubs nationwide. The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition has reported at least five arrests at the Jetport, including detentions occurring during passenger check-in and boarding. The figure comes from the advocacy organization and has not been independently confirmed by ICE. The activity appears to be part of a more coordinated effort involving ICE and the Transportation Security Administration. A Portland city…

Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage picked up a major business endorsement Thursday as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce threw its support behind the Republican in his campaign for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. The Chamber announced its endorsement during an Aug. 13 press conference at Sheridan Construction in Fairfield, where representatives highlighted LePage’s record as governor and his decades of experience in the private sector. The organization praised LePage for efforts during his two terms as governor to reduce regulations, balance state budgets and promote a business-friendly environment in Maine. For LePage, who spent decades working in the private sector before…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Kentucky woman is facing two federal felony charges after authorities say she spray-painted the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and poured soap into its fountain before posting videos of the vandalism on social media. https://twitter.com/chicago1ray/status/2088393980278919191?s=46 Melissa L. Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was charged Friday by criminal complaint with depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans’ memorials, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Both charges carry a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The charges stem from an incident Thursday, Aug. 13,…

By Jon Fetherston Walk into almost any restaurant today and look around. A family of four sits together, but all four are staring at their phones. A couple waits for dinner while scrolling separately. Teenagers sit inches apart but communicate through screens. Somewhere else, two people who have never met are calling each other vile names on Facebook because they disagree about politics. We have never had more ways to communicate. So why does it feel like we have forgotten how to talk? Technology was supposed to make our lives easier. It was supposed to bring us closer together. In…

AUGUSTA, Maine — As Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Troy Jackson faces fresh scrutiny over allegations of past violence and abuse, a newly released statewide poll shows his race against Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins remains virtually deadlocked. A Fox News poll released Wednesday found Jackson leading Collins 48 percent to 46 percent among registered Maine voters, a two-point advantage that falls within the survey’s margin of error and leaves one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate contests essentially tied. The poll was conducted Aug. 6-10 among 1,000 registered Maine voters, just before a series of reports brought renewed attention…

BANGOR, Maine — Three out-of-state men are facing felony drug trafficking charges after Maine drug agents say a weeklong investigation uncovered an alleged crack cocaine operation centered in downtown Bangor. The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Bangor Police Department announced the arrests of Diany Garcia, 28, and Arismendi Acosta, 27, both of Paterson, New Jersey, and Jeremy Rodriguez, 30, of the Bronx, New York. Garcia was charged with Class B trafficking in Schedule W drugs, specifically cocaine base. Acosta and Rodriguez were each charged with Class A aggravated trafficking in Schedule W drugs. According to MDEA, agents with the agency’s…

Most parents would probably agree that getting children off their cellphones during the school day is a good thing. Fewer distractions, less social media, more face-to-face interaction and more attention in the classroom are difficult goals to argue against. But as Maine schools prepare to open their doors for the 2026-27 school year, a new statewide “bell-to-bell” cellphone restriction is raising another question that has received considerably less attention: Can a public school require a student to surrender a cellphone that, in many cases, actually belongs to the student’s parents? And if the school takes possession of that privately owned…

The Maine Office of State Fire Marshal is investigating an intentionally set fire inside a Waterville memory care facility that forced residents to evacuate early Thursday morning. Investigators responded during the early morning hours of Aug. 13 to Woodlands Memory Care Unit, located at 141 West River Road, after a fire was reported inside the facility. According to the Fire Marshal’s Office, investigators interviewed witnesses and conducted a detailed examination of the scene before determining that the fire originated inside a resident’s bedroom and had been intentionally set. The circumstances surrounding the fire have since been referred to the District…

After months of shootings, juvenile arrests and growing concern over repeat offenders, Lewiston officials are moving toward a more visible, neighborhood-based policing strategy aimed at putting officers directly into some of the areas most affected by the city’s recent violence. The Lewiston Police Department on Wednesday launched its new C.E.A., Community Engagement and Accountability Initiative, beginning with officers conducting foot patrols and staffing the department’s Mobile Command Unit in the Sunnyside Park neighborhood. The initiative represents another step in what has become a noticeably more proactive response from City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath and the Lewiston Police Department under Chief Carly…

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins will hit the road Friday morning for the latest edition of her traditional “All of Maine” bus tour, beginning a campaign swing that will eventually take the Republican incumbent through all 16 Maine counties ahead of the November election. Collins will kick off the tour Friday morning at the Kittery Trading Post before traveling north through the state, with the campaign planning to reach Madawaska during the opening weekend. The Kittery-to-Madawaska route, stretching from Maine’s southern border to the northern reaches of Aroostook County, is intended to underscore a central theme of Collins’ reelection campaign: that…

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey’s office is looking for a new director to lead the state’s Healthcare Crimes Unit at a moment when Maine’s Medicaid system is facing intense scrutiny from federal officials, lawmakers and investigators over allegations of fraud and millions of dollars in questioned payments. The timing raises an obvious question: Why now? The Attorney General’s Office posted the Assistant Attorney General position on July 28, seeking an attorney to serve as director of the Healthcare Crimes Unit, which is Maine’s federally designated Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Applications closed Aug. 11. The salary range is $71,843 to $139,110…

Portland police officers will join law enforcement agencies from across Cumberland County in a coordinated effort aimed at getting impaired drivers off Maine roads and reducing serious crashes. The Portland Police Department announced that approximately 10 of its officers will participate in upcoming enforcement details through the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety’s Regional Impaired Driving Enforcement, or RIDE, program. The initiative brings officers from multiple departments together for high-visibility patrols and targeted enforcement in areas where crash data indicates an increased risk of impaired driving. Portland officials said the effort also supports the city’s Vision Zero initiative, which seeks to…

A Standish man has been arrested and charged with intentionally setting two fires at his own home last month, including a blaze that destroyed an attached garage, according to the Office of State Fire Marshal. Timothy Nickels, 42, of Standish, was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with two counts of arson and one count of failure to report a fire. Fire Marshal investigators met with Nickels at approximately 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, following his release from a local hospital, where authorities said he had been undergoing an evaluation. Nickels was taken into custody and transported to the Cumberland…

An Allagash man who has known Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson for decades says he personally witnessed Jackson strike his longtime partner, Lana Pelletier, in an incident outside a St. Francis retail store years ago, an allegation that comes as Jackson faces renewed scrutiny over a separate 1988 assault documented in a police report. https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/2087875295235776585?s=20 Kim McBreairty of Allagash recently sat down with The Maine Wire for an interview in northern Aroostook County, where Jackson has built much of his political identity around his roots as a logger and working-class advocate. During the interview, McBreairty described an encounter he…

The Justice Department has dramatically expanded its criminal case against the Southern Poverty Law Center, arresting a former senior official and accusing the prominent civil rights organization of secretly funneling more than $4 million in donated money to individuals associated with extremist groups while allegedly concealing how the money was being used. A federal grand jury in Montgomery returned a second superseding indictment on Aug. 11, adding 59-year-old Heidi Beirich, a former director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project, as the first individual defendant in the case. The indictment was unsealed Wednesday, Aug. 12, as Beirich was served with an arrest…

BIDDEFORD, Maine — U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) will be joined by two high-ranking House Democrats in Biddeford on Monday for a congressional “shadow hearing” examining the fatal shooting of Colombian national Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent last month. The hearing, titled “Seeking Justice in Biddeford: Oversight of ICE’s Use of Force in the Death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero,” is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 17, at 11 a.m. at the Little Theater at Biddeford High School, according to an official announcement from Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security. The event…

Maine election officials have repeatedly assured voters that the state’s elections are secure, pointing to paper ballots, offline vote-counting machines and layers of local oversight. But behind the paper ballots sits a statewide computer system that determines who is registered, where they are registered, which legislative district they belong to and how voter records are maintained. And a growing series of questions, including allegations that roughly 110 Windham voters were shifted between legislative districts without moving, the unexplained difficulty of producing detailed same-day registration reports and last year’s discovery of 250 official ballots inside a package delivered to a Newburgh…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine State Police are investigating after a suspicious package was opened Wednesday afternoon inside the Maine Revenue Services building in Augusta, prompting an evacuation and a response from the state’s bomb squad. Capitol Police were called to Maine Revenue Services at 51 Commerce Drive at approximately 4:56 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, after receiving a report that a suspicious package had been opened inside the building. According to Maine State Police, the person who handled the package moved it outside before contacting authorities. Capitol Police requested assistance from the Maine State Police Bomb Squad, and the building…

Lewiston police arrested two juveniles Tuesday evening following a foot chase that began after teenagers were allegedly caught smashing apartment windows and one was reported to be carrying a gun, marking the second police pursuit involving juveniles in the city in less than 24 hours. The latest incident unfolded Tuesday, Aug. 11, when police were called to an area of Lewiston following reports that a group of teenagers was breaking apartment windows, according to information obtained by The Maine Wire. A witness also reported seeing one of the teenagers displaying what appeared to be a firearm. When officers arrived, the…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine health officials say the state will not alter its childhood vaccination guidance following a new executive order from President Donald Trump that substantially changes federal recommendations and places a greater emphasis on parental choice. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday that it will continue following childhood vaccine recommendations issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics rather than adopting the Trump administration’s newly announced “Gold Standard Childhood Vaccine Recommendations.” “Maine will continue to follow the science and the facts, and our approach to vaccines remains unchanged by yesterday’s executive order,” Democratic Gov. Janet…

GENEVA, Ohio – President Donald Trump made a high-profile appearance Tuesday at the finale of the inaugural Patriot Games in Geneva, Ohio, where teenage athletes from across the country competed for $250,000 in college scholarship money as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. Among the competitors was Lewiston High School junior Liam Jones, who represented Maine during the three-day tournament at SPIRE Academy. Trump attended the Aug. 11 championship round alongside ESPN personality and former NFL punter Pat McAfee, watching as the remaining competitors battled through a final obstacle course designed to test strength, speed, agility and endurance. https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2087309616300364211?s=20…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration finalized a sweeping new rule Tuesday that will prohibit federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program funding from being used for puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone treatments, and gender-transition surgeries for minors. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule, finalized Aug. 11, applies to children under 18 enrolled in Medicaid and individuals under 19 covered through CHIP. The restrictions are scheduled to take effect Oct. 13. The policy does not make the procedures illegal nationwide. Instead, it prevents states from receiving federal matching dollars when Medicaid or CHIP pays for the covered treatments. States…

Motorists traveling southbound on the Maine Turnpike faced delays Monday after a tractor-trailer spilled several hundred gallons of diesel fuel across a stretch of highway in Cumberland, forcing the closure of the right travel lane for hours. Maine State Police responded at approximately 1:20 a.m. Monday to the southbound side of the Turnpike near mile marker 58 after a tractor-trailer hauling asphalt suffered a mechanical failure. According to police, the truck, owned by Lowe and Bassett LLC, was transporting asphalt for a paving project when an axle broke and punctured the vehicle’s diesel tanks and hydraulic lines. Despite the damage,…

A young Maine woman who stepped forward at just 18 years old to save a threatened candlepin bowling alley from demolition is now receiving national attention for what she has built in the years since, not simply a surviving business, but a gathering place for a Maine community. CBS News’ Sunday Morning featured Autumn Mowery and the Ellsworth Candlepin Bowling Alley on Sunday, highlighting her unlikely journey from teenage employee to business owner and community advocate. Mowery, now 24, took responsibility for the aging bowling alley six years ago after learning the building could be demolished. According to CBS, the…

LEWISTON, Maine — Lewiston endured another chaotic Monday as police investigated an early-morning shooting before officers were later drawn into an unrelated high-speed pursuit that ended with a police cruiser crashing into a suspect vehicle and multiple people reportedly being taken into custody. The two incidents came as Maine’s second-largest city continues struggling with a surge in gun violence that has increasingly involved juveniles and repeat offenders — and as residents continue asking what more can be done to restore order to neighborhoods where gunfire has become an unsettlingly familiar occurrence. By Monday night, police had spent hours responding to…

Hawes, Fish and Mallar oppose Yellen Pines deal as residents question costs, drug use and long-term financial risk BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor City Council voted 6-3 Monday night to approve a controversial 30-year tax arrangement for a permanent supportive housing development intended for some of the city’s chronically homeless population, despite warnings from residents and three councilors that Bangor taxpayers could be assuming a costly long-term obligation without enough financial certainty. Council Chair Susan Hawes and Councilors Carolyn Fish and Wayne Mallar voted against both the credit enhancement agreement and creation of the tax increment financing district for Yellen…

Maine politicians mobilized after an ICE shooting and the detention of a Portland nurse. A Maine Wire review found a dramatically different public response when victims were killed or allegedly assaulted in cases involving people federal authorities say were unlawfully present in the United States. Within hours of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shooting Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford last month, hundreds of people were gathering in the streets. Candles were lit. Flowers were placed near the site where the 25-year-old Colombian national died. Hundreds gathered for a vigil in Biddeford and another demonstration in Portland. Elected…

Israeli prime minister refuses Gaza withdrawal until Hamas is fully disarmed as Washington confronts simultaneous crises involving Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and renewed Houthi attacks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rejected President Donald Trump’s 15-point Gaza peace proposal Sunday, opening a rare and potentially consequential disagreement between two leaders who have otherwise remained closely aligned throughout the widening Middle East conflict. “Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu told his Cabinet, according to the Associated Press, while making clear that Israeli forces will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas has been fully disarmed. The rejection puts Netanyahu directly at…

Shake Shack denies that refusing to leave a gratuity triggers higher prices and says it is investigating the incident at a Salt Lake City airport location. A viral video showing the price of a Shake Shack order apparently increasing moments after a customer selected “No Tip” at a self-service kiosk is fueling fresh outrage over America’s increasingly aggressive tipping culture. The video, recorded at a Shake Shack inside Salt Lake City International Airport, shows a customer and his wife ordering three Classic Shakes priced at $5.99 each. One of the shakes included a 49-cent whipped cream add-on. Everything appeared routine…

Nearly a dozen sharks were spotted near Pine Point over a two-day stretch as researchers investigate whether juvenile great whites are beginning to treat southern Maine waters as a regular summer home. Great white sharks are no longer an occasional curiosity off southern Maine. They are becoming increasingly familiar summer visitors in Saco Bay — and some are showing up remarkably close to beaches packed with swimmers, surfers, paddleboarders and families. Nearly a dozen great whites were spotted near Pine Point Beach in Scarborough over a two-day period last week, including juvenile sharks estimated at six to eight feet long…

“Jesus Is King” was rejected while “Allah Is King” and even “Satan Is King” were reportedly allowed to advance through Coca-Cola’s personalization system, according to a viral video that has ignited accusations of anti-Christian bias against the beverage giant. Is Coca-Cola anti-Jesus? It is a provocative question, but one the beverage giant is now being forced to confront after its personalized “Share a Coke” program became the center of a growing controversy over what customers can — and cannot — put on a Coke can. A video reviewed by The Maine Wire appears to demonstrate dramatically different results depending on…

Lorri Nandrea’s writings for Communist Party USA include pieces on Marxist theory, “green socialism” and class consciousness; Jackson is now challenging Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a pivotal U.S. Senate race Months before Troy Jackson became the Democratic nominee seeking to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine activist with a documented history of writing for Communist Party USA was among the hosts of a campaign event organized to support Jackson’s political ambitions. Lorri Nandrea of Canton was listed as one of four hosts of a June 5 campaign brunch for Jackson at the Local 14 Solidarity Center in…

Twelve maternity units have closed since 2015. As Hannah Pingree calls for a moratorium, her six years inside the Mills administration — along with Maine’s spending on reproductive health and its troubled child-welfare record — are coming under new scrutiny. For generations of families in Lincoln County, having a baby could begin and end close to home. That is about to change. On Thursday, MaineHealth’s Board of Trustees voted to close the labor and delivery unit at Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, ending months of uncertainty, community opposition and pleas to preserve one of the increasingly scarce places in rural Maine…

By Jon Fetherston For years, Maine taxpayers were told everything was under control. This week, Washington made it clear it wasn’t. Christmas came early this week. It began with a phone call Monday morning. “Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, wants to meet with you in Portland. He wants to discuss fraud in Maine’s home health care and autism billing system.” That meeting confirmed what The Maine Wire has been reporting for months. The federal government believes Maine has a serious problem. Dr. Oz made it clear that CMS intends to aggressively pursue…

A Lewiston High School student-athlete is heading to Ohio this weekend to represent Maine on a national stage, competing against some of the country’s top high school athletes for a share of $250,000 in college scholarships. Liam Jones, a junior at Lewiston High School, has been selected to represent Maine in the 2026 Patriot Games, a national athletic competition being held Aug. 9-11 at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio. Lewiston Public Schools celebrated Jones’ selection this week, with Superintendent Jake Langlais congratulating the young athlete before his trip. “Congratulations to LHS Junior Liam Jones headed to Ohio to represent Maine…

President Donald Trump’s proposed $400 million White House ballroom has hit another legal roadblock after a divided federal appeals court upheld an injunction blocking above-ground construction while a lawsuit challenging the project moves forward. In a 2-1 decision, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit declined to lift a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration from proceeding with above-ground construction of the roughly 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The ruling represents a significant setback for one of Trump’s most ambitious plans for the White House grounds and leaves the future of the project tied up in…

The U.S. Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in a 50-49 vote at approximately 4:31 a.m. Saturday, elevating President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney to permanently lead the Department of Justice after a contentious confirmation fight. The overnight vote came shortly before senators were expected to leave Washington for their August recess and capped weeks of uncertainty surrounding Blanche’s nomination. Every Senate Democrat voted against Blanche, while two Republicans — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — broke with their party and also voted no. The defections left Republicans with virtually no…

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced legislation Friday aimed at strengthening oversight of the Medicare home health program, combating fraud, and protecting legitimate home health agencies from reimbursement losses caused by fraudulent billing schemes. The Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act would provide the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with expanded authority to identify and prevent fraud before taxpayer dollars are paid out, while also making changes intended to stabilize reimbursement rates for legitimate providers, particularly those serving rural communities. The legislation comes as federal officials have intensified their focus on home health fraud nationwide. Earlier…

A Cumberland man suffered critical injuries Thursday night after a motorcycle carrying two people crashed into a wooded area in Falmouth, according to police. Falmouth Police responded at approximately 9:59 p.m. on Aug. 6 to the intersection of Leighton and Brook roads following a report of a motorcycle crash into the trees. Officers arriving at the scene found two people who had been riding on the same motorcycle and required immediate medical attention. A preliminary investigation found that the motorcycle lost control while navigating a curve before entering the tree line. Police said the operator struck a tree, throwing both…

Screenshot The timing could hardly be worse for Old Orchard Beach businesses. A significant water main break on West Grand Avenue near the Mount Royal Motel forced road closures, traffic detours, and disrupted access to one of the busiest sections of the resort town on Thursday evening—just as thousands of visitors were expected to arrive for the community’s weekly fireworks display. According to the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, the break occurred on West Grand Avenue near the Mount Royal Motel, prompting officials to immediately close the roadway to through traffic from Old Orchard Street. Police said vehicles are being…

HOLDEN, Maine – Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) has received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund, adding the influential gun-rights organization’s backing to his campaign for Maine’s open 2nd Congressional District seat. The endorsement was announced during a campaign event Thursday at Maine Military Supply in Holden, where LePage made the Second Amendment a central focus of his congressional campaign. Speaking to supporters, LePage pledged to oppose any new restrictions on gun ownership, describing the right to keep and bear arms as a fundamental constitutional freedom. He said he would fight legislation that he believes…

President Donald Trump signed two new executive orders on Thursday aimed at narrowing the scope of birthright citizenship, marking the administration’s latest effort to reshape U.S. immigration policy just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his broader attempt to end automatic citizenship for many children born in the United States. The new directives, take a more targeted approach than Trump’s original executive order issued on his first day back in office. Rather than broadly denying citizenship to children born to undocumented immigrants or temporary visa holders, the administration is focusing on specific categories it argues fall outside traditional…

With high temperatures expected across southern Maine on Friday, the City of Portland is opening a cooling center to help residents escape the heat. City officials announced that the downtown Portland Public Library, located at 5 Monument Square, will serve as the city’s designated cooling center on Friday, August 7, following a heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service. The library will be open during its normal operating hours, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing an air-conditioned space for residents who need relief from the expected heat. In addition to the cooling center, the city is encouraging residents…

PORTLAND, Maine — The release of Maine Medical Center nurse Debora Kapisha from federal immigration custody Thursday has not resolved a central question surrounding the case: What exactly is her current immigration status, and when did she apply for asylum? Kapisha, a Zambian national and registered nurse at Maine Medical Center, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while traveling through Boston Logan International Airport last week. Her detention sparked a protest outside Maine Medical Center Wednesday, where union leaders, nurses and Democratic politicians demanded her release and described Kapisha as an asylum seeker who was legally authorized to…

A Lewiston Lyft driver is being held at the Androscoggin County Jail after being charged with gross sexual assault in connection with an alleged assault inside his SUV. Court records indicate the suspect had been released from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility just days before the alleged incident. According to police affidavits, Aguid Mahamat, 31, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman after she entered his SUV following a night out in Lewiston. Investigators allege the assault occurred in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven convenience store. Lewiston police identified Mahamat after reviewing surveillance footage from…

Wednesday’s accusation by State Rep. Deqa Dhalac that President Donald Trump and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller “don’t want any Black or Brown people in this country”, is the latest flashpoint in a political career that has repeatedly drawn statewide and national attention. https://twitter.com/themainewire/status/2085030100966203433?s=46 Dhalac, a Democrat representing House District 120 in South Portland, made national headlines in 2021 when she became the first Somali-American mayor in the United States after being selected by the South Portland City Council. A licensed social worker, she has often described herself as an advocate for immigrants, refugees and Maine’s Somali…

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has now publicly confirmed that the nurse at the center of a high-profile immigration protest in Portland remained in the United States after her visa expired, raising new questions about whether prominent Maine Democrats and labor leaders who rallied in her defense will respond to the agency’s statement. According to ICE, Kapisha entered the United States on May 14, 2024, on a visa that was valid until November 13, 2024. The agency said she failed to depart before the visa expired, placing her in violation of federal immigration law. https://twitter.com/themainewire/status/2085063985322184750?s=46 ICE said she will remain…

The Lewiston City Council rejected a proposal to extend the city’s temporary moratorium on mobile home park lot rent increases Tuesday, with a majority of councilors concluding that property owners should not be barred from adjusting rents while the city continues work on a permanent rent stabilization ordinance. The six-month extension failed on a 5-2 vote following a lengthy debate that exposed competing concerns over protecting residents living on fixed incomes and preserving the property rights of mobile home park owners facing rising operating costs. Mayor Carl Sheline and Councilor Roy voted in favor of extending the moratorium. Councilors Longchamps,…

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after the former federal health official repeatedly refused to answer questions about the origins of COVID-19 and the government’s handling of the pandemic. The committee’s business meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 6, according to the committee’s official calendar. Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., announced the contempt proceedings after Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 111 times during a contentious July 29 hearing. Fauci, who served as director of the National Institute of…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R) announced Tuesday that she will vote against the confirmation of Todd Blanche to serve as the next Attorney General of the United States, saying she believes the Department of Justice has become increasingly politicized and that Blanche’s actions have further weakened the agency’s independence. In a statement explaining her decision, Collins said she conducted an extensive review of Blanche’s qualifications, including examining his record, his testimony during the Department of Justice Appropriations hearing, his Senate confirmation hearing, and his written responses to lawmakers in the weeks that followed. “I have carefully reviewed…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Assistant Senate Republican Leader Matt Harrington is urging MaineHealth to halt any immediate decision to eliminate labor and delivery services at Lincoln Hospital’s Miles Campus in Damariscotta, saying another rural maternity ward closure would further erode healthcare access for Maine families and place additional strain on neighboring hospitals. In a letter dated Aug. 3 to the MaineHealth Board of Trustees, Harrington asked the healthcare system to reconsider its plans and pause any final decision while state leaders, healthcare providers, and community stakeholders work together on a long-term solution. “The loss of maternity care in rural Maine has…

LEWISTON, Maine — After nearly two hours of debate and emotional public testimony, the Lewiston City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a $200,000 supplemental appropriation to fund additional police overtime in response to an unprecedented spike in shootings and violent crime. The 7-0 vote came after city officials painted a sobering picture of public safety in Maine’s second-largest city, where 20 shooting incidents have occurred during the first seven months of 2026, a number City Administrator Brian Kaenrath described as unacceptable for a community of just 37,000 residents. “We’ve had 20 shootings in our city this year,” Kaenrath…

Editor’s Note: CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz met with Maine Wire reporter Jon Fetherston in Maine on Monday to discuss the federal government’s ongoing review of MaineCare oversight, home health care spending and suspected Medicaid fraud. Less than 24 hours later, Oz publicly expanded on those concerns during a Department of Justice press conference in Philadelphia. Screenshot Less than 24 hours after meeting with Maine Wire reporter Jon Fetherston in Maine to discuss concerns over suspected Medicaid fraud, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz publicly revealed that federal investigators have found what he described as…

Maine joined a coalition of 25 states on Monday in filing a federal lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration’s latest round of tariffs on dozens of countries and the European Union. The lawsuit, filed Aug. 3 in the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, argues that the administration acted illegally and exceeded its constitutional authority when it imposed double-digit tariffs on imports from 59 countries and the European Union. The states contend that the administration used a rapidly conducted investigation into the use of forced labor overseas as a pretext to impose a new tariff system after…

New York City taxpayers will spend at least $70 million to establish five government-backed grocery stores offering steeply discounted food to anyone who walks through the doors—including tourists and people who do not live in the city. Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration has confirmed that shoppers will not be required to show identification, demonstrate financial need or provide proof of New York City residency to receive discounts subsidized through city-owned property and public financing. The plan, a signature initiative of Mamdani’s democratic socialist agenda, calls for opening one municipal grocery store in each of the city’s five boroughs by the end…

President Donald Trump warned Monday that Iran is facing its “last chance” to reach an agreement with the United States, saying devastating military consequences could follow if Tehran refuses to make a deal. Trump said he had temporarily called off a massive new round of American strikes against Iran to give diplomatic efforts one final opportunity to succeed. The president said any agreement must begin with the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that has been disrupted during the months-long conflict. A second phase would require Iran to address U.S. demands concerning its nuclear program.…

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is set to appear Tuesday in Philadelphia alongside senior federal law enforcement officials to announce what the U.S. Department of Justice is describing as a significant health care fraud takedown and the launch of a new anti-fraud initiative. The 11 a.m. press conference at the William J. Green Jr. Federal Building will bring together Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Attorney General…

The first of Maine’s controversial $300 “affordability” checks are now in the mail, nearly seven months after Gov. Janet Mills introduced the payments as the centerpiece of her final State of the State address. Maine Revenue Services began mailing the one-time paper checks in late July, meaning some eligible residents could receive their payments during the first weeks of August. The money will not be distributed through direct deposit, even to residents who previously received state tax refunds electronically. Checks are being mailed to the address listed on each recipient’s 2025 Maine individual income tax return. Maine Revenue Services said…

President Donald Trump has called off planned “massive strikes” against Iran and announced that diplomatic negotiations will resume through intermediaries, marking a major shift in the administration’s handling of the escalating conflict. The decision followed intense pressure from regional partners, including a phone call between Trump and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trump has said an agreement is “imminent,” although Iranian officials have publicly downplayed the likelihood of immediate face-to-face negotiations and said they are not currently hosting a U.S. delegation. The emerging agreement, reportedly brokered primarily by Qatar and Pakistan, would include the “immediate, complete, and total…

As Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Troy Jackson campaigns across Maine as a champion of working families and rural communities, one of the most significant ethics controversies of his political career has quietly returned to the spotlight. Nearly three years after the Maine Ethics Commission declined to pursue an investigation into Jackson’s residency filings, the underlying questions surrounding his Augusta home, a federally insured mortgage and thousands of dollars in legislative travel reimbursements continue to generate debate, not because the commission found wrongdoing, but because several of the central issues were never fully examined. At the center of the controversy is…

Maine Republican lawmakers are blaming years of Democratic healthcare policies for the proposed closure of the labor and delivery unit at MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital, arguing the move is the latest consequence of chronic underfunding of the state’s hospital system. The criticism comes after members of the 132nd Maine Legislature sent a letter to the MaineHealth Board of Trustees urging the organization not to move forward with plans to close the birthing unit. Lawmakers noted that 11 hospital labor and delivery units have closed across Maine since 2015 and said preserving access to maternity care in rural communities should be a…

BATH, Maine — General Dynamics Bath Iron Works christened the future USS William Charette (DDG 130) on Saturday, marking another milestone for the Maine shipyard and the U.S. Navy’s next generation of guided missile destroyers. The ceremony, held in Bath Iron Works’ dry dock, celebrated the ship that will become the yard’s second Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the 43rd destroyer of the class built in Bath. The vessel is named in honor of Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Charette, a career Navy corpsman who received the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism during the Korean War. Approximately…

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Troy Jackson sharply criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), President Donald Trump, and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins during a veterans-focused rally in Biddeford on Saturday, accusing the federal agency of operating without sufficient accountability and arguing Collins enabled its expansion by supporting additional funding. The event, organized by the Maine People’s Alliance, brought together veterans and activists to protest ICE operations in Maine following the fatal July shooting involving an ICE agent in Biddeford. Jackson delivered prepared remarks while reading from his cellphone throughout the entirety of his speech, seldom looking away from the screen.…

State fire investigators have determined that a Friday morning fire at Chasse Marine Company in Damariscotta was accidental and likely originated from one of two potential ignition sources. The Damariscotta Fire Department responded at approximately 10:09 a.m. on Friday, July 31, to a reported structure fire at 460 Main Street, home to Chasse Marine Company. When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy fire conditions and requested assistance from the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office to determine the cause of the blaze. According to investigators, the fire originated in an area where a worker had been performing grinding operations. Officials said they…

By: Jon Fetherston What has happened to leadership in Maine? Somewhere along the way, we stopped expecting our elected officials to solve problems and started rewarding them for producing viral moments. Politics has become performance art. Press conferences, profanity, outrage, and social media videos now dominate the conversation, while many of Maine’s most pressing problems continue to worsen. Leadership has been replaced by likes, shares, and sound bites. Look no further than Lewiston. Maine’s second-largest city continues to struggle with violent crime, drug trafficking, homelessness, discarded needles, and an alarming rise in youth gun violence. Residents have watched neighborhoods change…

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Transportation has selected JetBlue to continue providing Essential Air Service (EAS) between Presque Isle International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport for the next two years. Under the agreement, which runs from Sept. 1, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2028, JetBlue will operate seven round-trip flights each week between Presque Isle and Boston using a 140-passenger Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The Essential Air Service program provides federal support to ensure rural communities maintain access to commercial air travel, helping connect residents and businesses to the national transportation network. “Reliable access to…

Portland police will deploy additional officers throughout the city Monday as part of an enhanced traffic enforcement operation aimed at reducing crashes and improving safety for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. The operation, scheduled for Monday Aug. 3, will focus on neighborhoods and roadways where police have received traffic complaints or identified patterns of crashes and unsafe driving, according to the Portland Police Department. Officers will target speeding, distracted and impaired driving, failure to yield, stop sign and traffic signal violations, and other behaviors that place people at risk. “Our goal is simple: to reduce crashes and make our streets safer…

The Maine Secretary of State’s Office is declining to determine whether Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Troy Jackson is eligible to appear on November’s ballot under Maine’s so-called “sore loser” law, leaving the increasingly contentious legal dispute to the political parties and potentially the courts. In a response to a challenge raised by State Rep. White, Deputy Secretary of State Kate O’Brien said the Secretary of State’s Office will not issue a legal opinion on Jackson’s eligibility. Instead, O’Brien wrote that the issue is one for the political parties to resolve, not the Secretary of State’s Office. She added that, as…

Legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) to prevent the Department of Education from transferring several major offices to other federal agencies advanced Thursday with bipartisan support. The bill cleared the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee by a 13-9 vote and will now move forward for further consideration. Collins, a Maine Republican, introduced the legislation alongside Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. The measure would prohibit the Department of Education from transferring four offices to other federal agencies: the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, the Office of Postsecondary Education, the Office of Elementary…

Elon Musk is preparing to put the financial power of the world’s largest personal fortune behind Republican candidates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. America PAC, the super PAC founded and primarily funded by Musk, is reportedly planning to spend between $100 million and $120 million on an expansive voter-turnout operation designed to help Republicans maintain control of Congress. The planned effort would represent one of the largest outside political spending campaigns of the election cycle and mark Musk’s return as a major force in Republican politics following a brief retreat from political involvement. Rather than directing most of the…

Former Gov. Paul LePage’s congressional campaign fired back Thursday after Democratic candidate Matt Dunlap used a Bangor press conference to promote Medicare for All and attack LePage’s record on healthcare. Dunlap held the event to mark the 61st anniversary of the creation of Medicare and Medicaid, arguing that the federal government should expand Medicare into a universal healthcare system. He also accused LePage of supporting federal policies that would reduce Medicaid funding and threaten healthcare access in Maine. Brent Littlefield, a senior advisor to LePage’s campaign for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, dismissed the event as an attempt by Dunlap to…

Two people were arrested Thursday after state and federal law enforcement officers simultaneously raided properties in Harrington and Cherryfield following a month-long investigation into suspected methamphetamine trafficking. Agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency’s Downeast Task Force, assisted by the Maine State Police Tactical Team, executed search warrants on July 30 at 81 Wilson District Road in Harrington and 29 Campbell Hill Road in Cherryfield. The investigation included controlled purchases of methamphetamine at both properties, according to the MDEA. Matthew Small, 47, of Hancock, was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated trafficking in Schedule W drugs, specifically methamphetamine,…

An 18-year-old Belfast man has been charged with arson after investigators determined that a basement fire at a City Point Road residence was intentionally set, according to the Maine Office of State Fire Marshal. The Belfast Fire Department responded to 53 City Point Road at approximately 8:10 p.m. on Wednesday following a report of a basement fire. When firefighters arrived, they found that the homeowner had already extinguished the small fire. The residence was filled with smoke, prompting crews to ventilate the building. Investigators from the Office of State Fire Marshal responded to determine the fire’s origin and cause. Authorities…

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced Thursday that his administration’s Board of Peace has reached what he described as a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups operating in the Gaza Strip, marking what could become one of the most significant diplomatic developments in the region in decades. According to Trump, senior Hamas officials have agreed to a phased plan that would ultimately require the terrorist organization to surrender all of its weapons, dismantle its military infrastructure, and transfer civilian governance to a new Palestinian administration. If fully implemented, it would represent the first time…

During the reporting period, unlawful drug possession and violations of court-ordered release conditions topped the department’s arrest categories, while 911 hang-up calls remained the most common call for service. Police reported the following as the week’s most frequent arrest charges: PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Police Department has released its latest weekly public safety statistics, providing a snapshot of arrests and calls for service as part of its ongoing transparency initiative. Unlawful Possession of Drugs: 14 Violating Condition of Release: 14 Warrants: 11 Criminal Trespass: 9 Assault: 9 The department also responded to a high volume of routine and proactive…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination Wednesday during a contentious Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, refusing to answer more than 100 questions about the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the virus’s origins. The hearing, which lasted roughly three hours, was held under subpoena by committee chairman Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has spent years scrutinizing Fauci’s handling of the pandemic and federal funding tied to coronavirus research. Before questioning began, Fauci explained that he was invoking the Fifth Amendment on the advice of his attorneys, arguing…

SCARBOROUGH, Maine — The Scarborough Town Council unanimously approved a proclamation this week urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Maine’s congressional delegation to review, relocate or close the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility at 40 Manson Libby Road, adding another chapter to Maine’s increasingly contentious debate over federal immigration enforcement. While the vote was unanimous, it carries no legal authority. The ICE processing center is owned and operated by the federal government, leaving the town without the power to close the facility, terminate its lease or direct its operations. Instead, the proclamation asks federal officials to…

LEWISTON, Maine — Lewiston City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath has unveiled a new initiative aimed at curbing the city’s escalating youth gun violence while pursuing changes to Maine’s juvenile justice system that he says will help end the “revolving door” allowing repeat violent offenders to quickly return to the community. The initiative, known as C.E.A. — Community Engagement and Accountability, combines increased police enforcement with a legislative agenda designed to strengthen accountability for juveniles accused of serious violent crimes. “The people of Lewiston deserve better,” Kaenrath said in announcing the plan. “We deserve neighborhoods where children can play without fear. We…

Troy Jackson’s rapid elevation as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate has brought renewed attention to a political record marked by mortgage questions, unpaid taxes, acknowledged outbursts, ideological reversals, and his continued support for former nominee Graham Platner despite a growing list of controversies. Jackson, a longtime Augusta insider who began his legislative career as a Republican before becoming an independent and eventually joining the Democratic Party, has increasingly aligned himself with the progressive wing of his party. That evolution has helped transform Jackson from a rural, pro-life, NRA-backed legislator into a Bernie Sanders-aligned candidate who supports abortion rights, expanded…

A brief pause in the five-month-old war between the United States and Iran has come to an abrupt end after Iran launched a surprise ballistic missile attack targeting U.S. forces in the Middle East, prompting a joint U.S.-Saudi military response. The renewed fighting follows President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily halt a 13-night U.S. bombing campaign in hopes of creating an opening for diplomacy. That effort unraveled after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired multiple ballistic missiles at U.S. military positions across the region. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), all of the incoming missiles were successfully intercepted, and…

Former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci is scheduled to testify Wednesday morning before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, setting the stage for another high-profile confrontation with Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), one of Fauci’s most persistent congressional critics. The hearing is expected to focus on the origins of COVID-19, taxpayer-funded biomedical research, and allegations surrounding federal recordkeeping during the pandemic.  The hearing follows the release of more than 1,100 pages of Fauci’s personal pandemic-era journal entries, published over the weekend by Paul after the documents were turned over by the…

SCARBOROUGH, Maine — What began as a vacation for two Connecticut firefighters quickly turned into a life-saving rescue Tuesday afternoon when they pulled two sleeping brothers from a burning home before local crews arrived. According to the Scarborough Fire Department, Brandon Seney and Dylan Vincent of the East Putnam Fire Department were driving past a home at 4 Sea Meadows Lane around 12:25 p.m. on July 28 when they noticed smoke coming from the property. At first, the pair believed the smoke was coming from a backyard grill. But as it rapidly intensified, they stopped to investigate and discovered flames…

The wartime leaders traveled to Washington for the funeral of the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham before holding separate meetings with President Donald Trump President Donald Trump is hosting separate, high-stakes Oval Office meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday as the White House confronts a rapidly converging series of global conflicts. Both wartime leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the funeral service of the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime champion of their respective causes. Their parallel visits come as the escalating war in Iran increasingly intersects with the ongoing…

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has endorsed Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine’s U.S. Senate race, drawing immediate comparisons between Jackson’s last-minute nomination and Harris’ own abbreviated campaign for president in 2024. Harris announced the endorsement in a fundraising email sent to supporters, emphasizing the limited amount of time Jackson has to build a statewide campaign before the November general election. Jackson now has fewer than 100 days to mount a statewide campaign after Maine Democrats selected him as their replacement nominee during a special party convention. The former Maine Senate president entered the race after Democratic primary winner Graham Platner…

The Trump administration has filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to reinstate a controversial executive order aimed at tightening mail-in voting procedures ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, setting up another major legal battle over federal authority in election administration. The administration is asking the nation’s highest court to lift a lower court injunction that has prevented key provisions of President Donald Trump’s March executive order, titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” from taking effect in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Among its provisions, the executive order directs the Department of…