Author: Jon Fetherston

“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…

Another day, another shooting has shaken Lewiston, as police continue to grapple with a wave of gun violence that has plagued the city throughout the year. At approximately 6:00 p.m. Monday, July 27, Lewiston Police responded to the area of Bartlett Street and Walnut Street after receiving reports of gunfire. According to investigators, a brief altercation involving several males preceded the shooting. During the confrontation, a 21-year-old man was shot in the leg. His identity has not been released. The victim was transported to Central Maine Medical Center, where he remains in serious but non-life-threatening condition. Following interviews with dozens…

AUGUSTA, Maine — The latest campaign finance filings in Maine’s gubernatorial race are drawing renewed attention to the differing fundraising strategies employed by the state’s two major-party nominees. According to the Maine Republican Party, the 42-day post-primary campaign finance reports show Democratic nominee Hannah Pingree relying heavily on out-of-state financial support, while Republican nominee Bobby Charles is drawing a larger share of contributions from small-dollar donors within Maine. The Maine GOP said Pingree’s latest filing includes 66 out-of-state donors who contributed the maximum amount allowed under Maine law, arguing that her campaign is increasingly dependent on support from outside the…

For more than a decade, Jama Mohamed has been one of the most influential figures in Lewiston’s Somali immigrant community. He has served as Lewiston’s first Somali elected School Committee member, a city councilor, co-founded one of the city’s largest immigrant service organizations, sat on the board of the Bartlett Street mosque, and built a reputation as a community advocate whose voice has carried weight in City Hall and throughout Lewiston’s growing immigrant community. Today, that same community is confronting another difficult question. Early Sunday morning, Lewiston Police arrested Mohamed’s 20-year-old son, Zakaria Aden, after officers allegedly found him carrying…

A Swiss International Air Lines flight traveling from Zurich to New York City was forced to make an emergency landing at Bangor International Airport on Monday after the flight crew declared an in-flight emergency while crossing the Atlantic. Swiss International Air Lines Flight LX16, an Airbus A330-300 operating between Zurich Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, diverted to Bangor after the crew transmitted a 7700 squawk code, the internationally recognized signal indicating a general emergency requiring immediate assistance. The aircraft landed safely at Bangor International Airport at approximately 12:13 p.m., where emergency crews were already positioned along…

Dr. Anthony Fauci will return to Capitol Hill this week for what could become one of the most closely watched congressional hearings since the COVID-19 pandemic, as lawmakers prepare to question the former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director about his handling of the pandemic, federal funding for coronavirus research, and newly released personal diary entries that have reignited political and legal scrutiny. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to hear Fauci’s testimony on Wednesday. The hearing comes as another controversy continues to build around former President Joe Biden’s preemptive pardon of Fauci, particularly…

Maine hospitals are facing an urgent need for blood donations after the American Red Cross declared a national emergency blood shortage and supplies fell nearly 25 percent in June. AUGUSTA, Maine – In Maine, approximately 61 percent of upcoming blood donation appointments remain unfilled, even as trauma centers across the state confront increased demand during the busy summer months. Type O blood — particularly O-negative and O-positive — and B-negative blood are critically needed, although donations from people with all blood types are welcome. The shortage comes as MaineHealth and other regional hospitals report a seasonal increase in serious accidents…

EAGLE LAKE, Maine — A structure fire that broke out Wednesday evening at a home on Albert Street has been ruled accidental, according to the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Eagle Lake Fire Department responded to 67 Albert Street at approximately 6:50 p.m. on July 22 following a report of a structure fire. After the flames were extinguished, the department requested assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s Office to determine where and how the fire began. Investigators worked alongside Eagle Lake firefighters and determined that the blaze originated in the kitchen, specifically in the area around the stove. Officials…

Five children and two adults escaped injury after a residential fire caused significant damage to the second floor of an Oakland home early Sunday morning. The Oakland Fire Department responded to the fire at 87 Libby Hill Road before requesting assistance from investigators with the Office of State Fire Marshal at approximately 1 a.m. on July 26. Initial observations indicated the fire began inside a juvenile’s bedroom, according to state officials. The blaze caused extensive damage to the second floor of the residence. All seven people who were inside the home at the time of the fire were able to…

LEWISTON, Maine — Two Lewiston men were arrested early Sunday after police recovered three loaded 9mm handguns during a traffic stop on Sabattus Street, including one from a passenger who was prohibited from possessing firearms due to probation conditions stemming from a previous shooting conviction. According to the Lewiston Police Department, officers conducted the traffic stop at approximately 1:52 a.m. on July 26. Police identified the driver as Mohamed Abdi, 20, of Lewiston, and the passenger as Zakaria Aden, 20, of Lewiston. During the investigation, officers determined that Aden was on probation for a reckless conduct conviction related to a…

BOWDOIN, Maine— The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating an apparent attempted arson after someone allegedly broke into an abandoned mobile home in Bowdoin and tried to set it on fire. According to investigators, the incident occurred at 243 John Tarr Road sometime between Sunday, July 19, and Saturday, July 25, 2026. The property owner discovered the break-in and apparent fire-setting attempt on Saturday before notifying authorities. The State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene on July 25 and determined that while the fire caused only minor damage, the case remains an active criminal investigation. Investigators are now…

An underground electrical vault exploded Sunday afternoon at a busy intersection in downtown Portland, blowing a manhole cover from the ground, sending sidewalk bricks flying and sparking a small fire. The explosion occurred shortly before 1 p.m. on July 26 at the intersection of Middle and Exchange streets in Portland’s heavily traveled Old Port district. Officials said the blast originated inside an underground Central Maine Power electrical manhole vault. The force of the explosion dislodged the manhole cover and scattered bricks from the surrounding pedestrian sidewalk. Despite the location’s popularity with tourists and pedestrians, no one was struck by the…

The federal government is reviewing Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s employee-vetting procedures following the fatal July 13 shooting of a Colombian immigrant in Biddeford and subsequent reports concerning the ICE agent involved. White House border czar Tom Homan announced the internal review after allegations surfaced that ICE agent David Brouillette had previously struggled with serious mental health issues and faced accusations of domestic violence. Brouillette has been identified as the agent involved in the shooting death of 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero. Speaking Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Homan said that, should the allegations concerning Brouillette’s past prove accurate,…

A 9-year-old boy suffered serious burn injuries Sunday after a dirt bike crash in Biddeford triggered a flash fire, according to investigators with the Maine Office of State Fire Marshal. The incident occurred on July 26 at 23 St. Joseph Street, where investigators responded at the request of the Biddeford Fire Department following a fire involving a small dirt bike. According to the investigation, the juvenile was operating a dirt bike with an engine displacement of less than 50cc in a parking lot when the crash occurred. Firefighters arriving at the scene found the dirt bike heavily damaged by fire,…

Maine ended the 2026 fiscal year with a General Fund revenue surplus of more than $148 million, delivering a major infusion of cash for delayed highway projects while temporarily restoring the state’s Rainy Day Fund to its statutory maximum. The Mills administration announced the year-end figures Friday, marking the fifth consecutive fiscal year in which state revenues exceeded budgeted spending. “Throughout my time in office, my administration has worked hard with the Legislature to produce responsible state budgets that invest in Maine people and improve our economy while living within our means,” Gov. Janet Mills said in a statement. The…

Former White House COVID-19 adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci is returning to Capitol Hill this week under subpoena, where he is expected to face some of the toughest questioning of his public career as Senate investigators revisit the origins of COVID-19, U.S. funding of coronavirus research in China, and whether Congress was misled during the pandemic. Fauci is scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday, July 29, at 8:30 a.m., after Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) compelled his appearance. The hearing is expected to focus on the National Institutes of Health’s relationship with…

Before delegates formally handed former Senate President Troy Jackson the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate on Saturday, Maine Democratic Party Chairman Charlie Dingman began the state convention with a familiar progressive ritual: declaring that the event was being held on the ancestral homeland of Maine’s Indigenous people. The land acknowledgment lasted only moments, but it immediately became one of the most talked-about parts of the convention outside the nomination itself. Within hours, Dingman’s remarks were circulating online, where critics ridiculed what they described as yet another performative display from a Democratic Party that routinely speaks about “stolen land” while continuing…

Another overnight shooting has rattled Lewiston, adding to a growing series of gunfire incidents that continue to plague the city’s downtown neighborhoods and raise fresh concerns about public safety. At approximately 2:20 a.m. Saturday, July 25, Lewiston police officers patrolling the downtown area heard numerous gunshots coming from the Oak Street area. Officers immediately responded while additional 911 calls flooded dispatchers reporting shots fired. As officers searched the neighborhood, they discovered three unoccupied vehicles that had been struck by gunfire. Investigators also found bullet damage to two buildings at 75 Oak Street and 62 Oak Street, evidence that rounds traveled…

Maine State Police are assisting the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office with an investigation after a woman was shot during a child pickup on Jobie Road in Avon. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call on July 24 from a man who reported that his mother had been shot while he was attempting to pick up his children from members of his ex-wife’s family, according to police. The man drove away from the scene and eventually stopped near 420 Avon Road, where he met responding law enforcement officers and emergency medical personnel. The woman was transported by LifeFlight of…

A 22-year-old Falmouth man has been charged with assault after Portland Police say he followed a woman walking along Forest Avenue before allegedly throwing bodily fluids on her in what the victim described as a disturbing, unprovoked attack. The incident occurred at approximately 6:12 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, near 417 Forest Ave., at the corner of Dartmouth Street. According to the Portland Police Department, a 33-year-old woman reported that a man exited a pickup truck, followed her for a short distance, and threw a substance from a small container onto her. A witness corroborated the woman’s account, telling officers…

The general election campaign for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat officially shifted into high gear Sunday after Democrats nominated former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in November. Within hours of Jackson securing the nomination at the Maine Democratic Party’s convention in Bangor, the Collins campaign issued a sharply worded statement criticizing both the process that elevated Jackson to the ballot and his record during more than two decades in Augusta. The nomination comes after Democrats were forced to select a replacement candidate following the withdrawal of former nominee Graham Platner, setting the stage for…

Screenshot Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson officially secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate on Sunday, capping off a fast-moving replacement process that began after Democratic nominee Graham Platner withdrew from the race earlier this month. Meeting at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Democratic delegates overwhelmingly selected Jackson as their nominee, giving him 566 votes to 5 votes for fellow candidate Saundra Pelletier. The decisive margin ended weeks of speculation over who would replace Platner on the November ballot and sets up a high-profile general election against six-term U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Jackson accepted the nomination…

President Donald Trump returned to the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Friday night, delivering an hour-long address that mixed tributes to the law enforcement officers who stopped an attempted assassin with sharp attacks on journalists, Democratic politicians and some of the president’s longtime critics. The July 24 dinner was held exactly three months after the association’s original April 25 gathering was disrupted by gunfire and abruptly evacuated. Federal prosecutors have charged 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of California with attempting to assassinate Trump after he allegedly opened fire near the security checkpoint outside the Washington Hilton. Friday’s make-up event was moved…

By Jon Fetherston Here is a nickel’s worth of free advice for every Republican running for office in Maine: Stop campaigning like Democrats deserve the benefit of the doubt. They do not. Every Republican candidate should spend the rest of this election reminding working Mainers exactly who fought to let them keep more of their own money—and who stood in the way. Talk directly to bartenders, waitresses, barbers, hairdressers, hotel employees, delivery drivers and every other Mainer who depends on tips to pay the bills. Remind them that President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans delivered a new federal income-tax deduction…

Just hours before Maine Democrats are scheduled to meet in Bangor to select a replacement nominee for the U.S. Senate, a Republican state lawmaker is asking Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to determine whether former Senate President Troy Jackson is legally eligible to receive the nomination at all. In a letter dated July 24, State Rep. James White (R-Guilford) formally requested that Bellows immediately investigate whether Jackson—or any candidate who sought and lost a race for another federal, state, or county office in Maine’s June primary, is legally eligible to become a replacement nominee under Maine election law. White argues…

The Maine Democratic Party will gather Saturday in Bangor to select a replacement for former U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner, but one question remains unanswered ahead of the closely watched convention: Will The Maine Wire be permitted to cover it? This reporter submitted a request for media credentials to attend the July 25 nominating convention. As of Friday, the Maine Democratic Party had not approved, denied or otherwise responded to the request. The lack of communication comes as party officials prepare to oversee what they have repeatedly described as a representative, transparent and inclusive process for replacing Platner on the…

Another late-night shooting has rattled a Lewiston neighborhood after gunfire struck an occupied apartment building on Pierce Street, underscoring the city’s continuing struggle with violent crime. According to the Lewiston Police Department, officers responded at approximately 11:19 p.m. Thursday to multiple reports of shots fired in the Blake Street area. As officers investigated, they determined that an apartment building at 119 Pierce Street had been struck by gunfire. Police said at least one round penetrated the exterior wall of the building and entered a second-floor apartment. Fortunately, no one inside the residence was injured, and all occupants were reported safe.…

Approximately 20 clergy members and faith leaders from across Maine gathered Thursday morning at Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse to condemn recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, call for increased federal oversight, and urge elected officials to oppose additional funding for the agency. The event, organized by the Greater Portland Multifaith Clergy Organizing Group in partnership with the national advocacy organization Faith in Us, was held in coordination with similar demonstrations in Texas and Florida following several recent immigration-related deaths. The rally centered on the July 13 fatal shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 25-year-old Colombian national who was…

Conservative grassroots organization Common Sense for Maine gathered Republican activists, candidates and supporters Thursday afternoon at Dunegrass Country Club, where founder Domenic Pugliares welcomed the crowd, unveiled a new slate of campaign advertisements, and introduced Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles, who laid out his vision for Maine ahead of the November election. Pugliares, the owner of Dunegrass Country Club and founder of Common Sense for Maine, opened the event by thanking attendees and Republican candidates before outlining the organization’s grassroots efforts heading into the final months of the campaign. He also premiered several television and digital advertisements developed by Common…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is close to deciding whether to launch a major new attack against Iran, signaling that the United States could soon expand a military campaign that has already entered its sixth month and disrupted two of the world’s most important shipping corridors. In an interview with Axios, Trump said the potential operation would be “bigger than ever before” and suggested that Iran had not yet suffered enough damage to force its leaders to end their attacks on commercial shipping or accept an agreement with the United States. “They have not received…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is rolling out a sweeping new round of tariffs against dozens of American trading partners, reinforcing a protectionist trade agenda that has become one of the defining policies of his second term. The latest action imposes tariffs of either 10 percent or 12.5 percent on imports from 60 trading partners following investigations into foreign governments’ failure to prohibit or effectively enforce bans against goods produced with forced labor. The tariffs replace a temporary global levy that expired Friday and cover the overwhelming majority of goods imported into the United States, subject to exemptions for…

A USA Today opinion column comparing the rhetoric surrounding WNBA star Caitlin Clark to the circumstances surrounding the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till has ignited a firestorm of criticism, prompting the newspaper to revise the article and its author to publicly acknowledge shortcomings in her argument. The controversy has fueled renewed scrutiny of sports media’s coverage of Clark, whose meteoric rise has transformed women’s basketball while also making her one of the most polarizing figures in American sports. https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/2080445416458399848?s=20 A Superstar Who Changed Women’s Basketball Since entering the WNBA as the No. 1 overall draft pick, Caitlin Clark has become…

By allowing the deadline to challenge the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ finding of a “credible allegation of fraud” to pass without filing an appeal, Gateway Community Services has left the state’s suspension of its MaineCare payments in place and moved one step closer to potentially being permanently excluded from the Medicaid program. The July 17 deadline came and went without an appeal from Gateway Community Services LLC, despite the company’s repeated public denials that it intentionally defrauded the MaineCare system. The decision is significant because it leaves DHHS’s fraud determination intact while state and federal investigations continue…

AUGUSTA, Maine – A software error that mistakenly registered thousands of noncitizens to vote in New Jersey is renewing debate over election security across the country and raising fresh questions in Maine, where election integrity has remained a politically charged issue following several high-profile controversies. New Jersey officials announced in July that approximately 6,600 noncitizens were improperly added to the state’s voter rolls between June 2023 and June 2024 after a software malfunction in the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) voter registration system. According to state officials, the individuals did not attempt to register illegally. During routine driver’s license or…

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is once again at the center of the national debate over transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, saying this week that protecting girls’ athletics is simply “common sense” despite the backlash her comments have generated. Cunningham, one of the WNBA’s fastest-rising stars, reiterated her position after an ESPN profile sparked widespread discussion across the sports world. “I said what I said,” Cunningham told reporters. “I think it’s kind of common sense, and I think I’ll always believe in that.” She added that she believes it is important to protect children and opportunities for biological women…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Democratic gubernatorial nominee Hannah Pingree has built a commanding fundraising advantage over Republican Bobby Charles and Independent Rick Bennett, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. The reports, covering campaign activity through July 14, show Pingree has raised more than $3 million since launching her campaign, compared with approximately $1.3 million for Charles and just under $800,000 for Bennett. During the latest reporting period, Pingree raised nearly $900,000, while Charles reported raising approximately $217,000 and Bennett about $114,000, widening the financial gap heading into the fall…

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing renewed criticism after declaring that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “not welcome in New York City,” saying the Israeli leader should face trial at The Hague under an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. Mamdani made the remarks in a recently released video statement and podcast interview, where he described Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and argued that he belongs before the ICC over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The comments come ahead of Netanyahu’s expected visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly this September.…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued one of his strongest warnings yet to Iran, declaring that any future attack by the Islamic Republic on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz will result in direct U.S. military strikes against Iranian infrastructure, including targets near Tehran. In a statement posted to his Truth Social account, Trump announced a new policy of immediate retaliation. “From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States…

CHINA, Maine — A Lewiston man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after allegedly stabbing a 47-year-old Oakland man in the town of China, according to Maine State Police. Troopers responded to a report of a stabbing at approximately 12:54 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21. Investigators determined that 36-year-old Jacob Hebert of Lewiston allegedly stabbed the victim before fleeing the scene in a black Jeep Cherokee. The victim was transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. He was treated and later released. State Police said Hebert and the victim knew one another and that there was no…

BIDDEFORD, Maine — Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain called for a transparent investigation into the fatal shooting of Johann Sebastián Durán Guerrero during an emotional City Council meeting Tuesday, as residents filled the council chambers to demand accountability, stronger local safeguards, and an end to cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The July 21 meeting opened exactly one week after Durán Guerrero was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on a Biddeford street. LaFountain said he had met the previous day with Durán Guerrero’s partner, Carolina Rojas Alvarez, and his sister, Daniela, at the site of the shooting…

LEWISTON, Maine — In a dramatic reorganization of city leadership Tuesday night, the Lewiston City Council voted 6-1 to remove Councilor David Chittim as council president following weeks of controversy over his behind-the-scenes efforts to revisit the council’s decision to eliminate the city’s economic development director position. Chittim cast the lone vote against his removal. Moments later, the council unanimously elected Councilor Joshua Nagine to serve as council president for the remainder of the current term, which expires Jan. 4, 2027. The discussion among councilors and public testimony centered on whether Chittim and Mayor Carl Sheline improperly worked behind the…

Melissa Dunn has spent years presenting herself as a peace activist, tenant advocate and community organizer in Lewiston. But her increasingly visible role at political events, outside a Lewiston Mosque and during confrontations with reporters, residents and law enforcement has raised questions about whether Dunn’s activism is reducing tensions in Maine’s second-largest city, or contributing to them. Those concerns intensified last Friday when the Lewiston Police Department brought additional officers into the Bartlett Street area amid concerns about potential trouble between Dunn’s self-described safety team and members of the general public, according to information provided to The Maine Wire. The…

PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Police Department reported warrants and violations of conditions of release as the city’s most common arrest charges during the past week, according to statistics released Tuesday. The department publishes weekly calls-for-service data as part of what it described as an ongoing effort to provide greater transparency. Weekly arrest logs and daily media logs are also available through the city’s police statistics webpage. Police recorded 19 warrant-related arrests during the reporting period, followed by 17 arrests for violating conditions of release. Unlawful possession of drugs was the third-most common charge, with 12 arrests. Criminal trespass and…

LEEDS, Maine — Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles is calling on Democratic nominee Hannah Pingree and independent candidate Rick Bennett to participate in a series of five issue-focused debates this fall, arguing that Maine voters deserve longer, more substantive discussions than the traditional televised debate format. In a challenge released Tuesday, Charles proposed holding each debate in a community directly affected by the issue under discussion, with questions coming primarily from local residents rather than media moderators. “Every election cycle, Mainers get the same thing. One or two debates in a studio somewhere, ninety-second answers, and a moderator more interested…

AUBURN, Maine — Following more hours of testimony from state officials, healthcare providers, city staff, addiction recovery advocates and residents, the Auburn City Council voted 5-2 Monday night to approve a new ordinance regulating syringe service programs, concluding months of debate over how the city should balance public health initiatives with growing concerns about public safety and quality of life. The ordinance establishes Auburn’s first local regulatory framework for syringe service providers and comes as neighboring Lewiston prepares for a November referendum that would impose significantly stricter restrictions on syringe exchange programs. Together, the Twin Cities have become the center…

A coalition of 39 U.S. senators, including Maine Independent Angus King and 38 Democratic senators, is demanding answers from the Department of Homeland Security following two fatal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shootings, including the July 13 death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford. In a letter sent to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the senators called for immediate changes to ICE vehicle stop policies, additional officer training, and greater transparency following the fatal shootings in Maine and Texas. The letter comes just days after White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced ICE will require agents conducting vehicle stops to…