Author: Jon Fetherston

AUSTIN, Texas — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. used a March 2026 “Eat Real Food” rally in Austin to take direct aim at the sugar content in popular coffee-chain beverages, singling out Dunkin’ iced drinks that can contain as much as 115 grams of sugar. Kennedy questioned how drinks with sugar totals that high can be considered safe and challenged Dunkin’ and Starbucks to provide “safety data” to justify the sugar loads, particularly for younger consumers, including teenage girls. https://twitter.com/WFLA/status/2029362777769259092?s=20 A Broader “MAHA” Push Beyond Dunkin’ The Dunkin’ critique is part of Kennedy’s wider “Make America…

AUBURN, Maine — The State Fire Marshal’s Office, working with the Auburn Police Department, is continuing an investigation into the death of a man found outside his tent on Washington Street North on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. On Wednesday, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta confirmed the man was identified as 47-year-old Jaime Jimino, formerly of Portland. Authorities said Jimino had recently been an unhoused individual in the Auburn area. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner will continue investigating to determine the cause and manner of death. Final results are expected to take several weeks. At this time,…

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) issued a statement following her vote on the Iran War Powers Resolution, arguing that the measure would undermine U.S. resolve at a time when the Iranian regime continues to pursue nuclear capabilities and expand its military arsenal. Collins said the United States “cannot tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran,” citing Tehran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities, ballistic missile development, and backing of terrorist proxies as “serious and longstanding threats” to U.S. national security and that of American allies. She emphasized Iran’s stockpiles of missiles and one-way attack drones, as well as what she described as the…

PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Police Department held its annual awards ceremony at Ocean Gateway, handing out dozens of commendations to officers, civilian staff, and partner agencies as the department highlighted what it called “outstanding service, professionalism, and dedication” among its ranks. Police said the department presented 13 Distinguished Unit Commendations and five Life-Saving Awards, along with additional honors recognizing performance, teamwork, and commitment to the community. The annual ceremony, the department said, is intended to formally recognize efforts ranging from critical incident response to day-to-day work in the city. Detective Garrick Rogers was named the Portland Police Department’s 2025…

PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland Police Department released new crash statistics on Wednesday showing that hundreds of traffic accidents have already occurred in the city during the first two months of 2026, including a significant number of hit-and-run incidents. According to police data, officers responded to 232 crashes in February alone, the majority of which involved property damage. Police reported 207 crashes that resulted in property damage, 85 were classified as hit-and-run incidents, and 37 crashes involved injuries. When looking at the year-to-date numbers, Portland police say they have already responded to 489 crashes in 2026. Of those incidents, 422…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Rep. Deqa Dhalac (D) is heading for the exits. After months of mounting scrutiny tied to Gateway Community Services, including MaineCare fraud allegations, Lewiston shooting-related grant questions, and expanding federal interest, Dhalac announced on Jan. 29, 2026, that she will not seek reelection, blaming what she called an “increasingly hostile and unsafe” environment for Black and brown public servants. Speaking to this reporter Tuesday at the State House, Dhalac leaned on the same core defense: she says she worked on the “non-profit” side of Gateway and had no knowledge of billing practices now at the center of…

LEWISTON, Maine – A Lewiston-area nonprofit says it is redirecting tens of thousands of dollars originally awarded through a recovery fund connected to the October 2023 Lewiston mass shooting, after learning more about the broader controversy surrounding how those funds were distributed. The organization, The Root Cellar, announced Wednesday that it has transferred $65,521.79, the amount it originally received through the Lewiston–Auburn Broad Recovery Fund administered by the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF), to VictimsFirst, a national network that supports victims of mass casualty crimes. The money will now be made available directly to survivors and families affected by the shooting.…

LEWISTON, Maine — The Lewiston City Council voted Tuesday night to delay action on a proposed resolution that would assess the ongoing needs and financial burdens of people impacted by the October 25, 2023, mass shooting, choosing instead to wait for a presentation from the Maine Resiliency Center later this month. The council agreed to postpone any decision until Tuesday, March 17, when representatives from the Maine Resiliency Center are scheduled to brief councilors on their work supporting victims and recovery efforts following the tragedy. The resolution, formally titled “Resolution Authorizing and Directing an Assessment of Shooting-Related Needs and Financial…

PORTLAND — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Nirav Shah is branding his campaign around what he calls “Maine’s Affordable Future,” unveiling a multi-pronged platform aimed at housing, higher education, energy costs, childcare, and property taxes. Shah argues Maine families are being squeezed from every direction. “Maine is facing an affordability crisis,” reads campaign material released alongside his announcement. “Families are being squeezed by rising housing costs, energy bills, childcare expenses, and education debt, and too many feel like help hasn’t come fast enough.” He says his focus as governor would be “lowering everyday costs and building a stronger, more affordable future…

PORTLAND, Maine — After months of political delay, public paranoia, and repeated second-guessing, the Portland City Council on Monday finally approved the Portland Police Department’s request to acquire its first drone, ending a debate that should have been settled long ago. The department plans to purchase the drone from Axon so it can work with its existing body and cruiser camera systems. https://portlandme.portal.civicclerk.com/event/8376/media The council rejected the proposal in November 2025 in a 4-3 vote, despite police arguing the drone would be used for basic public-safety functions such as search and rescue, accident reconstruction, and responses involving barricaded suspects. Instead…

PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland City Council is once again staring down a politically charged vote over whether to let the Portland Police Department acquire a drone, reviving a proposal that already failed once and exposed a clear divide inside City Hall over policing, surveillance, and basic public safety tools. The measure, Order 88-25/26, would give Portland police the approval they need under Maine law to acquire an unmanned aerial vehicle. That is not optional paperwork. Under 25 M.R.S.A. §4501, a police department cannot acquire a drone unless the governing body overseeing the agency signs off first, which means the…

WASHINGTON — With President Donald Trump bringing it to the forefront during his 2026 State of the Union address, a controversial proposal known as the Dalilah Law is poised to reshape how commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) are issued and enforced across the United States, especially for non-citizens and English-language proficiency standards. The proposal, now under consideration in Congress following Trump’s speech, would bar states from issuing CDLs to undocumented immigrants and compel all current CDL holders to be recertified under new federal criteria within 180 days of enactment. From Tragedy to Lawmaking The law takes its name from Dalilah Coleman,…

MAR A LAGO, Florida – President Donald Trump, on Sunday, said the United States and its partners have launched “Operation Epic Fury,” describing it as one of the largest, most complex, and most overwhelming military offensives the world has ever seen. In remarks delivered after what he characterized as 36 hours of sustained action, Trump said U.S. forces have struck hundreds of targets in Iran, including Revolutionary Guard facilities and Iranian air defense systems. He also claimed U.S. strikes “knocked out nine ships plus the naval building” in a matter of minutes. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116155951478473608 Trump said Iran’s former supreme leader is…

LEWISTON, Maine — More than two years after Maine’s deadliest mass shooting, the central outrage has not changed: while victims, survivors, and grieving families were still struggling to rebuild their lives, $1.9 million raised in the aftermath was distributed to nonprofits instead of remaining fully centered on those most directly harmed. Public reporting has put the overall fundraising at roughly $6.6 million to $6.8 million, with about $4.7 million going to victims and families and the remaining $1.9 million split evenly among 29 nonprofits. That split is the heart of the controversy, and for many families, it always has been.…

FORT KENT — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins issued a statement reacting to the U.S. airstrikes in Iran, pointing to what she described as the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions, ballistic missile development, and support for terrorist proxies as serious threats to U.S. national security, American allies, and stability in the Middle East. “The Iranian regime’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, ballistic missile development, and support for terrorist proxies pose serious threats to America’s national security and that of our allies, as well as to stability in the Middle East,” Collins said. Collins also said U.S. service members involved in the mission are…

PORTLAND, Maine – Cumberland County has adopted a new emergency notification system, replacing its previous CodeRed platform with Rave Alert, powered by Smart911, as of February 20. County officials said anyone who wants to continue receiving emergency alerts must sign up for the new system. Residents can register at: https://www.cumberlandcountyme.gov/departments/regional_communications_center/emergency_alert_notifications.php or call 207-893-2810 for assistance. The new alert system is designed to send important instructions during disasters affecting the area through calls, texts, or emails. The Emergency Alert Program, powered by Smart911, is intended to help public safety officials better communicate with residents during emergencies by providing critical information quickly…

WASHINGTON- President Donald J. Trump announced in a Truth Social post, Saturday afternoon, that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is dead, calling him “one of the most evil people in History” and declaring the development “Justice for the people of Iran” and for Americans and others around the world killed or injured by the Iranian regime. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116150413051904167 “This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS,” Trump wrote. The president…

WASHINGTON – Early Saturday morning, a joint U.S.-Israel military attack on Iran began, striking 14 sites as the operation got underway.  President Donald Trump confirmed on February 28, 2026, that the United States and Israel has launched what he described as a “massive and ongoing” military campaign against Iran. In a video message posted to Truth Social, Trump said the primary objective was defending the American people by eliminating “imminent threats” from the Iranian regime. The Department of War is calling it Operation Epic Fury. https://twitter.com/WallStreetApes/status/2027668515810120029?s=20 President Donald Trump confirmed on February 28, 2026, that the United States and Israel had…

LEWISTON — A 22-year-old Lewiston woman is facing multiple felony charges after police say she fired several rounds during a street altercation Thursday evening near Pine and Howard streets. According to the Lewiston Police Department, officers responded at 5:36 p.m. on February 26 to reports of gunshots in the area. When they arrived, officers located several witnesses who described an argument that had just taken place in the street moments before the shots were fired. Witnesses told police that a woman involved in the dispute pulled out a firearm and fired multiple rounds at a group she had been arguing…

LEWISTON, Maine — Lewiston police shut down a section of Pine Street near Howard Street Thursday evening after residents reported hearing at least two shots fired, prompting officers to canvas for evidence and witnesses as investigators worked to determine what happened. Lewiston police responded at about 6:30 p.m., cordoning off the area while searching for shell casings and interviewing people nearby. Witnesses also reported hearing screaming around the same time, though authorities had not said whether that was connected to the gunfire. As of 7 p.m., police said no injuries had been confirmed. A city divided: council rushes emergency ICE…

PORTLAND, Maine – Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing another entirely avoidable controversy after amplifying a post from far-right figure Stew Peters, in an episode first reported by The Hill. The backlash erupted after Platner shared Peter’s message about bipartisan applause tied to President Donald Trump’s remarks on Iran, then added his own now-deleted line accusing both parties of sending “other people’s children to die in stupid wars in the Middle East.” https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5757567-platner-stew-peters-post-controversy The problem for Platner was not merely the anti-war message. It was the fact that he chose to boost Peters at all. Peters has been…

PORTLAND, Maine – Portland Mayor Mark Dion is throwing his support behind Senate President Troy Jackson in the race for governor, framing the endorsement as a call for unified Democratic leadership in Maine. Dion said the moment calls for leadership capable of bringing together the full spectrum of the Democratic Party, from liberal Democrats to Democratic socialists and everyone in between. He argued that if Democrats are going to move forward on substantive issues in the state, the party must be willing to “shake hands with itself.” According to Dion, that kind of internal unity will be critical to advancing…

AUBURN, Maine – A gubernatorial debate that opened with promises of structure and civility quickly slid into sharp personal attacks, with Democratic candidate Troy Jackson repeatedly invoking former state Rep. Deqa Dhalac as he accused Republican Bobby Charles of “race baiting,” and later branding The Maine Wire “the main liar” during a blowup over fraud and corruption allegations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWKDl6dqXo0 The debate was moderated by Andy O’Brien, communications director for the Maine AFL-CIO, and Carol Conley, the retired executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine. The moderators laid out the rules at the start: strict time limits, no moderator…

SCARBOROUGH, Maine – Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is drawing fresh scrutiny after promoting the claim that legal residents in Maine were “picked up based solely on the color of their skin” during recent immigration enforcement activity. In a social media post promoting her “People’s State of the Union,” Pingree said her guest would be “Jenny Beverly, an immigration lawyer from Maine,” and described what she called “truly horrific circumstances.” Among the claims included in the post: “Families ripped apart,” “Legal residents picked up based solely on the color of their skin,” and “People released into the freezing cold without adequate…

WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump delivered what was described as the longest State of the Union address in recent memory Tuesday night, using a sweeping, victory-lap speech to declare that “our nation is back” and that “the golden age of America” is underway. The speech began around 9:11 p.m. Eastern and opened with Trump greeting Speaker Johnson and Vice President J.D. Vance, along with the First Lady and Second Lady, before launching into a broad argument that the country has undergone a historic turnaround in just one year. “Five months from now,” Trump said, the United States will mark…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump used his Tuesday evening State of the Union address to launch what he described as a national “war on fraud,” putting Maine in the crosshairs and naming Vice President J.D. Vance to lead the administration’s enforcement push. https://twitter.com/themainewire/status/2026493196994261391?s=46 The president’s message comes as Maine is already facing growing federal pressure over MaineCare spending, particularly autism services billing, and as high-profile providers tied to MaineCare are drawing scrutiny. Dr. Oz Puts Mills on 30-Day Notice Over Autism Billing Earlier this month, Maine Wire reported that CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz publicly warned Gov. Janet Mills that…

AUGUSTA, Maine -A group of Maine Senate Republicans is raising alarms over a planned conference at the University of Southern Maine, questioning both the safety implications and the university system’s decision-making process. In a Feb. 19 letter to University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel P. Malloy, Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart and Assistant Senate Republican Leader Matthew Harrington, joined by 12 other Republican senators, called out the upcoming “The Consequence of Palestine” conference scheduled to be held at USM’s Abromson Center . According to the letter, the event is being hosted by the Maine Coalition for Palestine, and the USM Department…

PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland City Council has approved an extension of the city’s moratorium on theater and performance hall projects with capacities exceeding 2,000 people, giving officials more time to review how large entertainment venues could affect traffic, parking, public safety, and other city infrastructure. The meeting was held via Zoom due to the snow storm, adding an unusual setting to one of Portland’s most closely watched development debates. The action involves Order 131-25/26, sponsored by City Councilor Wesley Pelletier, which extends for 179 days the moratorium first established under Order 9-25/26. The extension is intended to give the…

AUGUSTA, Maine – A late-session rewrite of LD 2174 is drawing fresh scrutiny at the State House after Rep. Liz Caruso (R–Caratunk) warned the bill could override local ordinances and weaken town authority over major energy developments. During a radio discussion Monday on the Ric Tyler/George Hill Show on WVOM, Caruso described LD 2174 as a textbook “strike and replace” maneuver, where a bill’s contents are swapped out while keeping the original number. Caruso said the bill was initially presented under a title referencing waterways — “An Act to Replace the Maine Waterway Development and Conservation Act with the Maine…

LEWISTON, Maine — Voters in Maine House District 94 head to the polls Tuesday, Feb. 24 in a special election between Republican Janet Beaudoin and Democrat Scott Harriman, a race with consequences beyond Lewiston as Augusta Democrats cling to a narrow governing margin. Beaudoin, a Lewiston School Committee member, is running on a “Safety & Affordability” platform and pitching herself as the candidate of tighter oversight, transparency, and taxpayer relief. Harriman, a sitting Lewiston city councilor, is asking voters to promote him from City Hall to the State House, but his record on the council has become a case study…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump hosted a remembrance ceremony in the White House East Room on Monday morning, bringing together “Angel Families”, relatives of Americans killed in crimes involving illegal immigrants , and using their stories to sharpen his administration’s message on border enforcement and sanctuary-city crackdowns. During the event, Trump signed a presidential proclamation designating Feb. 22, 2026 as “National Angel Family Day,” calling on Americans to honor victims “killed by illegal aliens” and to support families devastated by violent crime and drug overdoses. The ceremony centered on Laken Riley, the 22-year-old Georgia nursing student killed Feb. 22, 2024,…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills (D) ordered all State of Maine offices closed statewide on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, as a powerful nor’easter moved toward Maine with heavy snow, strong winds, and dangerous travel conditions, according to a Sunday press release from the Governor’s Office. The Governor’s Office said the storm is expected to begin Sunday night and continue through Monday, with the National Weather Service forecasting 7 to 14 inches of snow in parts of Maine and wind gusts up to 40 mph in some areas. The release warned that periods of moderate to heavy snow and blowing…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Rep. Barbara Bagshaw (R-Windham), is warning that state education leaders are steering Maine toward a costly showdown with the federal government, one that could strip schools of millions in federal dollars, shift the bill onto property taxpayers, and leave lawmakers debating bureaucracy and “parental rights” fights while student test scores continue to slide. Bagshaw, a member of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee in the Maine House of Representatives, has raised concerns about Maine’s refusal to comply with Title IX, alleged FERPA issues, and what she describes as a pattern of the Department of Education seeking less…

WATERVILLE, Maine — A pedestrian was killed Sunday after a vehicle left Upper Main Street and crashed into another vehicle at the gas pumps of The Big Apple Convenience Store, Waterville police said. Police and Waterville Fire Department/Rescue responded around 11:20 a.m. to 364 Main St. for the crash, according to a department statement. Investigators said a motor vehicle traveling east on Main Street left the roadway, struck a vehicle parked at the gas pump, and hit a pedestrian in the parking lot. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. Names of those involved were not immediately released pending…

PORTLAND, Maine — The City of Portland is recruiting residents to serve on its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Priority Setting Task Force, a volunteer panel that will review city priorities, research community needs, and recommend how roughly $2 million a year in federal CDBG funding should be allocated. The application is available here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePR_sHIAb6qpOIY0iJdKWbpRUORnpN0teo0VRoSm2u1SwWmg/viewform The task force will also have the opportunity to review and revise the city’s selection policies and procedures for the CDBG program, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. According to the application, Portland is seeking a diverse group of residents…

PORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s new “red flag” gun law took effect Saturday, creating a broader legal pathway for temporarily removing firearms from people deemed a danger to themselves or others and marking a significant shift from the state’s existing “yellow flag” system. The law, approved by voters in November 2025, allows family and household members, in addition to law enforcement, to petition a court directly for an Extreme Risk Protection Order, or ERPO. If a judge finds sufficient evidence that a person poses a significant risk of causing physical injury, the court can order the temporary surrender of firearms and…

MILAN — Jack Hughes ripped the overtime winner 1:41 into extra time Sunday, lifting the United States past Canada 2-1 and delivering Team USA its first Olympic men’s hockey gold medal since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980. The win ends a 46-year drought for U.S. men’s hockey at the Winter Games, and it didn’t come quietly. It came the hardest way possible: in sudden death, against Canada, after a full game of absorbing pressure and refusing to break. In a tightly contested championship matchup, the Americans weathered wave after wave from Canada before Hughes buried the winner and set…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is pushing Republicans to go all-in on what he’s calling the “SAVE America Act,” and he put the central message in all caps: end mail-in ballots. In a Truth Social post, Trump said the U.S. should have “NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS” ,allowing them only in limited cases such as illness, disability, military service, or travel and urged Congress to force the issue through the Senate using the filibuster, or at minimum a “talking filibuster” in the style of *“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” Trump also reiterated two other planks he wants locked into federal law: mandatory…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he is directing the Secretary of War and other federal departments and agencies to begin identifying and releasing government files related to “alien and extraterrestrial life,” unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), citing what he called “tremendous interest” in the subject. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116100300268316472 In a Truth Social media statement, Trump said the effort would cover “any and all other information” connected to what he described as “highly complex, but extremely interesting and important” matters, ending with “GOD BLESS AMERICA!” The announcement lands amid a renewed wave of national attention on UAPs and…

LEWISTON, Maine – Lewiston City Council President David Chittim sent a note to fellow councilors Thursday evening portraying the council chambers as a pressure cooker, and councilors as the ones forced to absorb “often unwarranted criticism” from residents they’re barred from answering in real time. “Greetings,” Chittim began. “In our jobs as City Councilors, we frequently deal with issues that become contentious and emotional. Passions can run high, particularly when we are subjected to often unwarranted criticism by a select few speakers at nearly every meeting and we are proscribed from responding.” Chittim continued by framing conflict on the dais…

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Republican Party headquarters in Augusta was evacuated Thursday afternoon after staff received an envelope containing an unidentified white powder, prompting a hazmat response and an on-site quarantine for people inside the building, party officials said. According to a new statement released by the Maine GOP, the envelope arrived in the mail and contained “an unidentifiable white powder.” The building was evacuated, and individuals who had been inside were required to remain on site in quarantine “until further evidence was uncovered regarding the substance.” Augusta emergency services responded to coordinate the investigation, and the National Guard’s…

LEWISTON, Maine — The campaign for gubernatorial candidate David Jones is raising new questions about how millions in charitable donations tied to the Lewiston mass shooting were distributed, alleging that tens of thousands of dollars went to immigrant-focused nonprofits that already had stable funding streams, rather than directly to victims and their families. In a press release issued Thursday, the Jones campaign said it uncovered that several organizations, including Gateway Community Services Maine, received $65,522 each from the Maine Community Foundation’s Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund, even though those groups were already supported by established grant programs . The Maine Community Foundation…

PORTLAND, Maine — Portland police are investigating an early-morning shooting outside Amigos Mexican Restaurant & Bar on Dana Street that left a 32-year-old man wounded. Police said officers responded at 1:03 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, to 9 Dana Street for a report of shots fired. After arriving, officers determined an altercation happened outside the establishment and the 32-year-old male was shot in the leg. He was taken to Maine Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EA3GzSFdE/?mibextid=wwXIfr Officers searched the area but did not find a suspect. Witnesses described the suspect as a white male in his 20s, about…

WASHINGTON — The United States and Iran are again on edge, months after a brief but intense military confrontation that marked the most direct clash between the two nations in years. As of Feb. 19, 2026, tensions remain high following what became known as the “Twelve-Day War” in June 2025, when the United States intervened in an Iran–Israel conflict by launching stealth bomber strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. The strikes represented a rare, overt U.S. military action targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and sharply escalated an already volatile regional standoff. Diplomatic efforts resumed earlier this…

PORTLAND, Maine — Portland’s housing market hit the brakes in January as record cold and heavy snowfall pushed the city into its usual winter slowdown. But the seasonal “hibernation” didn’t bring much relief for buyers: prices stayed high, inventory stayed tight, and demand still showed up for the homes that hit the market. The median sale price in Portland climbed to $630,000 in January 2026, an 8.7% increase compared to January 2025, even as total transactions slipped. The city recorded 43 closed sales, down slightly from 44 a year earlier. Despite the lower volume, homes that did sell moved faster…

LEWISTON, Maine — The Lewiston City Council voted 5–2 Tuesday night to approve an “emergency” ordinance restricting city employees, including the Lewiston Police Department, from assisting federal immigration enforcement, after a tense council debate and more than an hour of packed public comment that exposed a city sharply divided over ICE’s recent presence in Maine. Supporters framed the measure as a temporary “bridge” until a similar state law takes effect this summer. Opponents blasted it as political theater that undercuts public safety and demonizes law enforcement, while doing nothing to stop ICE from operating in Lewiston. A 60-Day “Emergency” Ordinance…

LEWISTON, Maine — Survivors of the Lewiston mass shooting and family members of victims delivered emotional testimony before the Lewiston City Council this week, pressing for greater transparency and accountability over how millions of dollars raised in the aftermath of the tragedy were distributed. After more than an hour of public comment and debate, councilors voted 7–0 to table a proposal that would have directed city officials to explore unmet needs among victims and survivors and identify available resources. The measure will return to the agenda at a future meeting after review by the city’s legal counsel. The discussion comes…

LEWISTON, Maine — Hundreds of tips about adult autism group homes have poured into The Maine Wire in recent days after the outlet reported on conditions inside a residence managed by Lighthouse Health Services in Auburn. Conditions were so severe that one resident’s sister removed her brother herself. In that case, the sister told The Maine Wire that promises made by Lighthouse Health Services about her brother’s care turned out to be fictional. She said staff were not administering his medication or monitoring his diabetes. She described a bedroom so cold his bananas froze. She said her brother was left…

CHICAGO — The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the American civil rights movement who carried the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. into national politics and spent decades advocating for racial equality, economic justice and voting rights, has died. He was 84. Jackson was one of the most recognizable civil rights leaders of the late 20th century, a preacher-activist whose rallying cry to “keep hope alive” became a defining refrain of American political life. A protégé of King, Jackson rose to national prominence in the 1960s as an organizer with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He…

WASHINGTON — A Texas Republican’s proposal to halt most immigration from Somalia for 25 years is pouring gasoline on a national debate over welfare use, fraud prosecutions, and the political rhetoric surrounding Somali communities, with Maine now pulled squarely into the crosshairs. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) introduced what he calls the “Somalia Immigration Moratorium Act,” a sweeping country-specific freeze that supporters are pitching as a response to alleged systemic abuse of public benefit programs and repeated failures of government oversight. The bill caught fire online this week after a clip circulated on X showing Gill pressing witnesses about welfare participation…

PORTLAND, Maine — More than a dozen residents at Portland Center for Assisted Living say they have been living with what they describe as a year-long bed bug problem, allegations flatly denied by facility representatives, as broader questions intensify about Maine’s oversight of assisted living and home health care providers. The Maine Wire visited the facility Thursday after receiving multiple tips as part of an ongoing investigation into health care facilities across the state. Residents gathered in the parking lot and main lobby to share accounts of repeated complaints, ongoing concerns and what several described as frustration over a lack…

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine’s winter electricity pain isn’t a fluke, it’s a structural problem, according to a February 2026 Brattle Group report commissioned by the Maine Department of Energy Resources. The report lands after a January 2026 deep freeze, described as part of one of the most demanding winter periods since 2017-2018, pushed New England’s power system into high-stress mode. As temperatures plunged, electricity demand surged, natural gas supplies tightened, and wholesale power prices spiked across the region. Maine ratepayers, already facing some of the highest retail electric prices in the nation, are now absorbing yet another round of increases.…

LEWISTON, Maine — The Lewiston City Council is poised to fast-track an emergency ordinance aimed at limiting how city employees and departments interact with federal immigration authorities, a move proposed by City Council President David Chittim that is landing with jarring timing after U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) said the recent wave of stepped-up Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Maine had been de-escalated. Chittim’s ordinance, scheduled for a public hearing and a first-and-final passage vote on Tuesday, Feb. 17, is framed as an urgent response to “the presence and current practices” of certain U.S. Department of Homeland Security components…

AUGUSTA, Maine – A string of overnight gunfire incidents left damage at three Central Maine Power substations in Kennebec County early Sunday, prompting a multi-agency investigation and an arrest. Between roughly midnight and 4:15 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, officers responded to reports of shots fired at substations in Windsor, Winslow, and Augusta. Maine State Police troopers were dispatched at about 12:15 a.m. to the Coopers Mills substation off Barton Road in Windsor after receiving a report of gunfire. Nearly four hours later, at approximately 3:59 a.m., Winslow Police responded to the CMP substation on Benton Avenue. About 16 minutes…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills and her allies in the Legislature have often pitched LD 210 as routine budget mechanics, the kind of “implementation” bill most people don’t read, but everyone lives under. In practice, LD 210 is a sweeping policy-and-revenue package that helped lock in the Mills-era approach to governing: bigger state commitments backed by new taxes and new taxable categories. And that approach is now colliding head-on with the tax-cut direction coming out of Washington under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” including one of the most politically potent provisions in the country: “no tax on tips,”…

PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland International Jetport announced Thursday that 2025 was the busiest year in the airport’s history, with 2,593,067 passengers flying in and outbreaking the record set in 2024 of 2,438,054. The Jetport said passenger traffic has rebounded quickly since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Airport officials noted the Jetport was the first airport in New England to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2023, as service continued to build in the years that followed. “Another record setting year is in the books,” said Airport Director Paul Bradbury. “We can’t emphasize enough how unusual it is for northern New England to…

LEWISTON — The Maine Community Foundation is facing fresh blowback in the Lewiston shooting fund controversy after emails surfaced showing the foundation’s own consultant told victims’ families that “100% of all donations” would go to victims and survivors, without mentioning nonprofit grants that later became the center of an intensifying public scandal. The emails, dated Nov. 22, 2023, were sent by Dan Levey, who identified himself as a “Mass Violence Response Consultant” working with the Maine Community Foundation (MCF). In messages to grieving families, Levey offered condolences and assured recipients that “100% of all donations go to the victims/survivors of…

LEWISTON, Maine – A coalition of mass shooting families from across the country, including one of the largest private donor groups to the Lewiston relief effort, is publicly calling on the Maine Community Foundation to reverse course and reclaim grant money distributed to local nonprofits in the aftermath of Maine’s deadliest mass shooting. In a statement released Friday, the group said it raised more than $240,000 specifically for Lewiston victims and their families and is deeply troubled by how the broader Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund was structured and administered. The Oct. 25, 2023 shooting in Lewiston left 18 people dead…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Susan Collins (R) said fraud in federally supported child care programs doesn’t just waste taxpayer money ,it directly reduces the help available to working families who rely on child care services, particularly in rural areas where options are already limited. Collins made the remarks during a hearing focused on preventing fraud in child care programs, tying the issue to her longstanding support for federal child care initiatives. She said she has backed programs ranging from the Child Care Development Block Grant to tax credits and workforce legislation in an effort to strengthen the nation’s network of…

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – Maine’s most prominent astronaut is back in space, and she’s in charge. Dr. Jessica Meir, a Caribou native, served as spacecraft commander as NASA and SpaceX launched the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station early Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, sending four crew members to an orbiting lab that has been running well below normal staffing levels. A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 5:15 a.m. EST from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying the crew aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/2022259898352800190?s=20 The launch comes after a medical issue forced the previous station crew…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Democrats are moving legislation that would create a new legal pathway, and a taxpayer-funded legal defense fund, for people they say were wrongly detained during the Trump administration’s recent immigration enforcement surge in Maine, branded by the Department of Homeland Security as “Operation Catch of the Day.” The bill, LD 2176, sponsored by Sen. Jill Duson (D-Cumberland), would establish a $2 million fund for civil legal service providers that represent people who can’t afford counsel in immigration-related cases, according to coverage and public statements on the proposal. But the bill also goes further than funding. https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0881&item=1&snum=132…

AUGUSTA, Maine — State Rep. Reagan Paul (R) introduced a joint resolution Thursday, in the Maine House honoring Turning Point USA founder Charles “Charlie” James Kirk, praising his faith and activism while condemning what the measure describes as his assassination in Utah last year. Paul announced the move in a social media post, writing that she was “honored to sponsor and introduce” the resolution in the House. The measure is filed as House Paper 1485 in the 132nd Maine Legislature’s Second Regular Session and is titled, “A JOINT RESOLUTION TO HONOR THE LIFE, FAITH, LEADERSHIP AND LEGACY OF CHARLES ‘CHARLIE’…

PITTSTON, Maine — A parent is demanding answers from Pittston-Randolph Consolidated School after a 5-year-old kindergartener brought home an LGBTQ-themed picture book from the school library, reigniting a debate that has turned school shelves into a national political battleground. The book, Prince & Knight by author Daniel Haack, is a fairy-tale story in which a prince rejects potential princesses, teams up with a male knight, defeats a dragon, and later marries the knight. In a message shared publicly, the parent said the book is inappropriate for young children and criticized the school for allowing it to circulate to kindergarten students…

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — An early-morning house fire on Ginn Road in Presque Isle left one adult male dead Wednesday after firefighters arrived to find heavy fire conditions on the second floor, according to officials. The Presque Isle Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 139 Ginn Road at approximately 3:43 a.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. When crews arrived, flames were heavily involved on the second floor of the residence. Two occupants were able to escape the house safely. Firefighters were told a third occupant was unaccounted for and believed to be on the second floor. A…

OXFORD, Maine — The superintendent of Maine School Administrative District 17 defended the suspension of 19 Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School students following a bus-loop incident that has drawn sharp criticism from parents who say the situation involved an autistic student being bullied. In a Feb. 7 email to families, Superintendent Heather Manchester said 19 students were suspended for coming together as what she described as a “disruptive and potentially dangerous group” to respond to a rumored incident of violence near the school’s bus line. School leaders “cannot tolerate acts of student bullying or physical retribution in our schools, no…

WASHINGTON — House Republicans are again moving to overhaul voter registration rules for federal elections, passing a renewed version of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in a largely party-line vote that now sends the bill into a Senate buzzsaw. The legislation, commonly called the SAVE America Act in its 2026 form, is a reboot of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R. 22), which the House first passed in April 2025. Both versions require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections, a change supporters frame as a necessary safeguard…

AUGUSTA, Maine — State Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) is escalating her public push for Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) to step aside while pursuing the Democratic nomination for governor, arguing that Maine’s top election official cannot credibly oversee an election in which she is a candidate. “Maine voters should be able to trust that our Secretary of State is a nonbiased referee, without personal political motivations. Unfortunately, Shenna Bellows has proven herself to be a partisan political actor, and therefore an untrustworthy steward of our elections. She should resign in order to restore voter trust and integrity to the…

LEWISTON, Maine – The Maine Community Foundation’s Feb. 9 website update meant to answer criticism over how Lewiston shooting-related donations were handled is now drawing even more scrutiny, not only for what it says, but for what it doesn’t. https://www.mainecf.org/initiatives-impact/additional-initiatives/lewiston-auburn-area-response-fund-2 MCF’s post, framed as a response to criticism over the handling of money connected to the Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund and related nonprofit grants, points to just four “stories” of impact. For critics demanding transparency, that limited showcase has become part of the problem: if the foundation is confident in its decisions, why highlight only four examples while leaving other…

EL PASO, Texas — The Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice to pilots Wednesday morning temporarily restricting airspace over El Paso and the neighboring community of Santa Teresa, New Mexico, classifying the area as “national defense airspace” under Defense Department control and citing “special security reasons.” The notice, a Notice to Airmen known as a NOTAM, sets the restrictions for Feb. 10–20, 2026, and states that pilots who do not follow the procedures “may be intercepted, detained, and interviewed” by law enforcement or security personnel. It also warns that “THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MAY USE DEADLY FORCE AGAINST THE AIRBORNE…

WASHINGTON — House Republicans are preparing to bring to the floor Wednesday, Feb. 11, a far-reaching elections bill that would require Americans to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. Supporters say the measure is meant to prevent noncitizens from voting and to restore confidence in election results, while opponents warn it would create new hurdles for eligible voters and impose major new administrative demands on states. https://twitter.com/ScottPresler/status/2021017285326934241?s=20 The proposal is commonly known as the SAVE Act, short for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. At its core, it would amend the National Voter…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she secured $13,085,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for health care workforce training in the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. The legislation was approved by both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives and has been signed into law. The funding is aimed at addressing ongoing shortages of trained health care workers in Maine and supporting programs designed to meet increasing demand for medical services across the state. The funding secured includes $1,000,000 for Central Maine Community College in…

BATH, Maine — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited Bath Iron Works on Monday, delivering an energetic, wide-ranging speech to shipyard workers and urging faster production and a sharper focus on warfighting priorities as part of what he called the “Arsenal of Freedom” tour. Hegseth opened with a quick greeting, “What a crew. How are we doing today?”, before laying out what he described as the tour’s two purposes: “I’m here to thank you for what you do, the job you do, the way you do it, and I’m here to tell you to keep going.” He framed Bath Iron…

LEWISTON, Maine — More than two years after Maine’s deadliest mass shooting, the fight over who benefited from donations raised in the tragedy’s aftermath is escalating again, in City Hall, in Augusta, and now on national television. On Oct. 25, 2023, gunman Robert Card opened fire at Just-In-Time Recreation and Schemengees Bar & Grille, killing 18 people and injuring 13. The community response that followed was historic: millions were raised as Mainers and donors nationwide tried to help survivors and families rebuild. But the distribution of those funds — including money routed to a nonprofit “broad recovery” pool, has sparked…

WASHINGTON – Maine is back in the national crosshairs after CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz publicly warned late Friday that Gov. Janet Mills (D) has 30 days to answer federal questions about MaineCare billing tied to autism services, and that “CMS is ready to take action” if Washington isn’t satisfied with what it sees. Oz’s warning follows a new federal audit from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) concluding Maine made at least $45.6 million in improper fee-for-service Medicaid payments for “rehabilitative and community support” services provided to children diagnosed with autism. The…

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine residents are sounding the alarm about a basic government service that’s supposed to be boring, reliable, and invisible: the mail. Instead, across parts of the state, Mainers report long gaps in delivery that are blowing up household budgets, delaying prescriptions, and leaving people guessing when, if ever, the next truck shows. And now the question many are asking is unavoidable: If the U.S. Postal Service can’t consistently handle everyday operations, how can it be trusted with one of the most important functions in a democracy, voting? “One day of mail in four weeks” In South Portland’s…

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Saturday touted what he called “another BIG WIN for Maine, and all of New England,” saying he signed a presidential proclamation aimed at expanding commercial fishing access in the Atlantic Ocean. In a statement, Trump accused Democrats and what he called the “Radical Left” of imposing “burdensome and unnecessary restrictions on everything,” including commercial fishing. He said he reversed prohibitions on commercial fishing during his first term, but claimed Joe Biden, “or whoever was using the AUTOPEN,” as Trump put it, reinstated the restrictions. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116026924108392447 Trump said that “since Day One,” he has taken…

SURRY, Maine – Maine State Police are investigating a fatal three-vehicle crash that occurred Friday afternoon on Blue Hill Road in Surry. Troopers responded at about 2:44 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, after reports of a crash involving three vehicles. The initial investigation indicates a 2015 Subaru Forester was traveling northbound when it crossed the center line for an unknown reason and struck two southbound vehicles, a 2018 Honda Fit and a 2024 Ram 2500. The operator of the Subaru sustained critical injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified the deceased as 47-year-old Mark Nevells of…

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Trump administration’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), led by Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, is escalating its scrutiny of Maine under Gov. Janet Mills (D) , alleging the state has left taxpayer-funded programs vulnerable to abuse and warning that federal officials are now moving to clamp down. In a social media message circulating this Friday, CMS pointed directly at Maine, saying the state “needs to clean up its act” amid broader national alarms about Medicaid fraud. Behind the public messaging is a paper trail: a letter from CMS Administrator Dr. Oz dated Nov. 25, 2025,…

PORTLAND, Maine — A public clash between Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce and federal immigration officials has intensified into a high-stakes standoff, with ICE pulling its detainees out of the Cumberland County Jail and Homeland Security Investigations issuing a subpoena for employment verification records after Joyce criticized the arrest of a corrections recruit as “bush league.” Joyce confirmed his office received a subpoena from ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, compelling Cumberland County’s human resources department to provide Form I-9 records to demonstrate compliance with federal employment verification requirements. ICE pulls detainees after Joyce blasts arrest…

It’s become far too easy to call it fraud. The word rolls off the tongue, sounds bureaucratic, and feels almost sterile, like a paperwork violation or accounting error. But let’s call it what it really is. Theft. Blanket theft of taxpayer dollars. Theft of resources that should be helping Maine families, Maine children, Maine veterans, and those who genuinely need a hand up instead of a handout manipulated by bad actors. Across Maine, case after case has revealed a disturbing pattern. From the growing scrutiny surrounding Gateway Community Services, to the ongoing controversy over the Lewiston shooting relief fund, to…

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has launched TrumpRx.gov, a new federal website pitched as a direct shot at what it calls “price gouging” by major pharmaceutical companies — and a bid to bring U.S. prescription drug costs in line with prices paid in other developed countries. The site markets “Most-Favored-Nation” (MFN) pricing, a policy framework rooted in a May 12, 2025 executive order directing federal agencies to pursue drug pricing that matches the lowest levels paid by comparable nations. A new portal and a new political weapon against Big Pharma TrumpRx.gov functions as a public-facing price and access portal, displaying…

PORTLAND, Maine – Portland City Hall is asking residents to help name a new park planned for the city’s Eastern Waterfront, a 3.5-acre public green space that will replace the Ocean Gateway queuing lanes and incorporate the nearby area known as the Amethyst Lot. The project has been referred to as “Harbor Common Park” during planning, but officials say that title is temporary. Construction is scheduled to begin in March. The city’s Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department and the Planning and Urban Development Department have been working with the Portland Parks Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to engage the public in…

PORTLAND, Maine – The City of Portland’s Housing & Economic Development Department says it has hired a new Waterfront Coordinator, bringing Heather Moretti into the role just before the holidays in December 2025. The Waterfront Coordinator organizes, facilitates, and promotes balanced economic development along Portland’s waterfront, and administers the Portland Fish Pier Authority Board of Directors as well as represents the City on various boards and committees related to waterfront and maritime activity. Moretti brings a decade of experience in marine resource management, fisheries and aquaculture, and the seafood industry to the position. “I am delighted to be serving as…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump delivered remarks at a national prayer gathering Thursday, joining elected officials, religious leaders, and invited guests for an event that has long served as a symbolic intersection of faith and government leadership. The annual prayer event, traditionally held in Washington each February, dates back to 1953 and has become a fixture in the nation’s political calendar. Established during the Cold War era, the gathering was designed to bring together leaders from both political parties and various faith traditions to emphasize prayer, reflection, and spiritual guidance in public service. Over decades, presidents from both parties have…

AUGUSTA, Maine — ICE wasn’t created by Donald Trump. It was created by Congress in 2003 under the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11, built to enforce immigration law and investigate cross-border crime. What’s changed isn’t the agency’s story of origin, or even the fact that it enforces laws written by Congress. What’s changed is the narrative, and in Maine, that narrative has turned ICE from a federal law enforcement agency into a culture-war villain, with Gov. Janet Mills (D) and public schools increasingly drawn into the conflict. The irony is that modern deportation enforcement was built with bipartisan fingerprints…

FORT PIERCE, Florida – Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, was sentenced Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, to life in federal prison, plus a consecutive 84 months (seven years) on firearms-related counts, for the attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and related violent offenses. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon in the Southern District of Florida, after a federal jury convicted Routh on all five counts in the indictment. The September 2024 incident Federal prosecutors said Routh spent weeks preparing for the attack and tracked Trump’s movements before positioning himself near Trump’s Florida golf course in…

BIDDEFORD, Maine – A garage fire at a Biddeford home Tuesday morning was traced to an electrical outlet issue, sending one firefighter to the hospital with minor injuries, officials said. The Biddeford Fire Department responded around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, to a report of a possible working fire at 297 Elm Street. Crews arrived to find heavy fire and smoke pushing from the garage door and quickly launched suppression efforts, extinguishing the blaze. One firefighter sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where they were treated and released. No other injuries were reported. Biddeford…

PORTLAND, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills (D) said her administration will review Portland’s request to declare a state of emergency and impose a 60-day statewide eviction moratorium, a move city leaders say is needed to keep renters housed after recent federal immigration enforcement left some families afraid to leave home or go to work. This was reported by WGME, no official statement from the Governor has been released, yet. The Portland City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 2, 2026, approving a resolution that urges Mills to temporarily pause evictions, effectively seeking a breathing room period for tenants who have missed…

LEWISTON, Maine — Lewiston’s school superintendent Jake Langlais, told school committee members this week that immigration enforcement activity has not occurred at district schools, bus stops, buses or school events “to any of our knowledge,” while acknowledging that fear tied to rumors and federal policy changes has been “very real and ongoing” for some students and families. In a wide-ranging update, the superintendent said the district has been closely monitoring reports of increased immigration enforcement in Maine and Lewiston since early January, describing a surge of rumors and inquiries that he likened to “October 23 level of inquiry” and “post-mass…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Susan Collins (R) says she secured new funding and legislative language aimed at combating Chinese-linked illicit drug operations in Maine as the Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Act heads to President Donald Trump’s desk to be signed into law. The bill passed the Senate last week and was approved by the House of Representatives today, according to Collins’ office. Collins, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the measure is intended to support efforts to disrupt drug and money laundering operations tied to PRC-linked criminal syndicates. “PRC-linked…

LEWISTON, Maine — Residents and elected officials returned once again to the Lewiston City Council chambers this week, urging city leaders to investigate the handling of millions of dollars raised after the Lewiston mass shooting, a tragedy widely regarded as the deadliest in Maine history, as frustration over the shooting fund controversy continued to spill into public comment. Much of the testimony centered on the fundraising and distribution overseen by the Maine Community Foundation, with speakers arguing that survivors and families of those killed received far less than nonprofit organizations that were not required to help victims. Several residents framed…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills is backing emergency legislation that would block federal immigration officers from entering private areas of Maine schools, hospitals, childcare centers and libraries, or accessing nonpublic records, unless they produce a judicial warrant. In written testimony submitted Thursday, Mills urged lawmakers to pass LD 2106, An Act to Prohibit the Disclosure of Nonpublic Records Without Proper Judicial Review, sponsored by Rep. Ellie Sato (D-Gorham). The bill would prohibit turning over personal records to federal immigration officers without a judicial warrant and would restrict access to private areas of schools, institutions of higher education, health care…

AUGUSTA, Maine — A citizen group seeking to bar transgender students from competing in girls’ school sports in Maine says it has validated enough signatures to force a statewide referendum in November 2026, setting up a high-stakes political fight that has already drawn national attention and collided with competing state and federal rules on sex and gender identity. Leyland Streiff, from the Protect Girls Sports in Maine ballot effort and a co-lead of Maine Girl Dads, said Monday the campaign “officially cleared, and far exceeded, the 67,682 signatures needed” to qualify a citizens’ initiative for the 2026 ballot. Streiff said…

PORTLAND, Maine -The Portland City Council and Mayor Mark Dion voted unanimously Monday night to send a letter to Janet Mills (D) urging her to declare a state of emergency and impose a 60-day moratorium on evictions, citing what speakers described as mounting fear and instability tied to increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Maine. The vote followed a wave of public testimony from residents, service providers and members of the Portland Tenants Union who described families staying home, missing work, and quickly falling behind on rent and basic necessities. Speakers told councilors that requests for emergency…

AUGUSTA, Maine – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ended its recent “enhanced” enforcement operations in Maine, according to Sen. Susan Collins, but federal officials and state leaders are still locked in a fight over what that means on the ground. Collins said she spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and was told there are no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations in the state. She also stressed that routine immigration enforcement is still in place. The shift comes after weeks of heightened activity in Maine tied to what federal officials described as an “enhanced” operation. The scope of…

The Lewiston shooting fund scandal isn’t going away. As the controversy goes nationally on NewsNation and Fox News, survivors and families say the growing attention is only reinforcing what they’ve been arguing for months: the public still doesn’t have clear answers about where the money went, and why. The dispute stems from the fallout after the Oct. 25, 2023, mass shooting in Lewiston, when a gunman opened fire at Just-In-Time Recreation and Schemengees Bar & Grille, killing 18 people and injuring 13. In the aftermath, Maine Community Foundation established the Lewiston–Auburn Area Response Fund as donations poured in and later…

LEWISTON, Maine — Confusion and mistrust continue to surround the appointment of a new city councilor in Lewiston, as officials have offered conflicting or incomplete explanations about how an applicant who withdrew from consideration ultimately secured a seat. At the center of the dispute is Chrissy Noble, whose application for the vacant council position was withdrawn but later resurfaced in the final candidate pool. The episode has fueled growing frustration among councilors and the public, raising questions about internal decision-making and accountability at City Hall. David Chittim, the council president, told The Maine Wire, on Friday that he “did not…

WASHINGTON – President Donald J. Trump said Monday that he reached a new trade deal with India after a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and that the agreement takes effect immediately. In a statement, Trump said the United States will lower its “reciprocal” tariff on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, while India will “move forward” to cut its tariffs and non-tariff barriers against the United States to zero. He also said Modi agreed to stop buying Russian oil and instead purchase substantially more energy from the U.S., and “potentially” Venezuela, a shift Trump argued would help end…

WASHINGTON – President Donald J. Trump on Thursday night signed an executive order declaring a national emergency tied to Cuba and creating a process to impose additional tariffs on goods imported from countries that sell or otherwise provide oil to the island, framing the move as necessary to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy from what the order describes as the Cuban regime’s malign actions. The order establishes a new tariff system that allows the United States to levy additional duties on imports from any country that “directly or indirectly” provides oil to Cuba. It also authorizes the Secretary…

PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland City Council is set to vote Monday, February 2, 2026, on an emergency resolve that would authorize Mayor Mark Dion to participate in litigation tied to a recent surge of federal immigration enforcement activity in Maine. The measure, Resolve 7-25/26, sponsored by the mayor, cites what it describes as an “unprecedented” escalation that began January 20, when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security initiated stepped-up enforcement activity. In the resolve, Portland officials say the sudden increase has fueled fear and uncertainty among residents, with schools reporting drops in attendance and businesses and health care providers…