Author: Jon Fetherston

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gov. Janet mills (D) announced on Monday she will allow a bill restricting how Maine law enforcement may cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to become law without her signature, advancing a controversial policy change opposed by law enforcement advocates and Republicans. The legislation, LD 1971, limits when state, county, and local police may investigate, detain, or search individuals solely for immigration enforcement purposes. The bill passed the Maine Legislature largely along party lines at the end of the June session. Mills had delayed action on the bill, previously calling it overly broad and confusing. Under Maine’s lawmaking process, that delay carried the…

The City of Lewiston is preparing to vote next week on whether to approve an artificial intelligence data center at the historic Bates Mill, a proposal city officials are pitching as an economic win even as similar projects nationwide have drawn scrutiny over energy use and transparency. The proposed facility would be developed in two phases and occupy the first two floors of Bates Mill No. 3, totaling approximately 85,000 square feet of downtown space that has long sat vacant. Building owner Bill Johnson has partnered with MillCompute LLC, which described itself in a memo to city councilors as a…

The federal government is threatening to pull $73 million in transportation funding from New York over what officials say is the illegal and unsafe issuance of commercial driver’s licenses, a move that comes as Maine communities grapple with their own alarming trucking incidents involving drivers who reportedly cannot read English. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a warning Friday, giving New York 30 days to come into compliance with federal CDL requirements or face the loss of tens of millions of dollars. “Fifty-three percent of New York’s non-domiciled CDLs were issued unlawfully or illegally,” Duffy said at a press conference, describing…

No human is garbage. No human should ever be treated badly or cast out because of their country of origin. Never. Full stop. I strongly support! That belief is why I went to the Rally to Support the Somali Community, in Lewiston, curious, open-minded, and interested in what would unfold. Ahead of the event, multiple sources had reached out to say the rally appeared to function largely as a campaign stop for Kieran Majerus Collins, coinciding with the Democratic City Committee caucus immediately afterward. On Friday, Collins had gone to court seeking voting for the same day for unregistered voters.…

Governor Mills, Is It Me — or Is It You? Governor, I’ve asked myself this question more than once over the past few months. When I first met you at an event at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, just days after you announced your campaign for U.S. Senate, you laughed when I asked about the 250 ballots that mysteriously appeared in Newburgh inside an Amazon box, and how Secretary of State Shenna Bellows was handling, or not handling, the situation. It wasn’t a debate. It wasn’t a discussion. It was a dismissal. Days later, at a press conference…

A legal challenge over voter participation rules ahead of a Democratic caucus in Lewiston moved into court Friday, adding tension as both parties prepare for a Feb. 24 special election to fill the vacant House District 94 seat. Kiernan Majerus-Collins filed a complaint Friday morning in Maine Superior Court in Androscoggin County against the Lewiston Democratic Committee, seeking an injunction to block the committee from barring same-day voter registration at a Democratic caucus scheduled for Saturday afternoon. According to a public Facebook post by his mother, Jackie Majerus-Collins, the filing was prompted by the committee’s decision not to allow same-day…

Portland Public Health is expanding targeted outreach efforts after state health officials reported a sharp increase in new HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs in Cumberland County, a development that is renewing scrutiny of the city’s harm-reduction and needle exchange policies. The renewed effort follows a Public Health Advisory issued by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that Cumberland County recorded five new HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs as of November 17, 2025. From 2020 through 2024, the county averaged just one such case per year. In response, Portland Public Health said it…

A routine stop at a fast-food restaurant turned into a question of policy and principle this week after an Augusta customer said she was not given full change for a cash purchase. Tabatha said she visited the McDonald’s on Western Avenue and received a bill totaling just over $6. After handing the cashier $7, she was given 50 cents in change. According to Tabatha, the cashier told her the restaurant no longer uses pennies and that she would not receive the remaining 3 cents. While the amount itself was small, Tabatha said the situation stood out based on her past…

New accounts from former Bates College classmates are raising serious questions about the past conduct and political character of Democratic activist Kiernan Majerus-Collins (D), who is now running for Maine State Representative while simultaneously serving as the attorney for controversial Lewiston City Councilor-elect Iman Osman, a man under federal indictment for stolen firearms who continues to refuse to clarify his residency status. As scrutiny over Lewiston’s political turmoil intensifies, several Bates alumni, some willing to go on record, others speaking on background, describe what they say is a long-standing pattern of political manipulation, narrative control, and unsettling behavior by Majerus-Collins…

Portland city officials have hired a national consulting firm to review the city’s 10-year-old inclusionary zoning ordinance amid growing criticism from developers who contend the requirements are contributing to stalled housing projects. The Planning and Urban Development Department selected CZB LLC earlier this month to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the ordinance, which currently requires 25 percent of units in new developments to be designated “workforce housing,” affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the area median income. The review is funded by a $50,000 Housing Opportunity Program grant from the state. City planning officials have said the…

The Maine State Police will take over responsibility for the Capitol Police force, consolidating law enforcement operations at the State House under the state’s primary police agency. The change was announced Wednesday by Michael Sauschuck, commissioner of the Maine Department of Public Safety, which oversees both the Maine State Police and the Capitol Police. Sauschuck informed Capitol Police officers of the decision in an email sent Wednesday afternoon, according to reporting by the Bangor Daily News. The Capitol Police are responsible for public safety and security at the State House complex and nearby state-owned properties, including protecting lawmakers, staff, and…

Renys’ decision to close its Congress Street store on December 31 marks more than the end of a 15-year run for one of Maine’s most beloved retailers — it underscores a worsening pattern of empty storefronts, declining foot traffic, and stubborn post-pandemic challenges that Portland has yet to effectively address. The closure removes one of the few remaining anchor-style retailers in the downtown corridor and adds another darkened window to a stretch of Congress Street already hammered by business exits. For many residents, Renys served as the kind of practical, all-purpose store that made living downtown easier, a place to…

The Trump Administration has rolled out TrumpCard.gov, a new federal portal outlining the structure of the high-dollar immigration initiative known as the Trump Gold Card program, a sweeping departure from traditional U.S. visa systems and one that ties lawful residency directly to financial contributions. According to the site, the Gold Card promises a streamlined path to living in the United States for foreign nationals willing to pay a nonrefundable $15,000 processing fee and, following federal vetting, make a $1 million payment to the U.S. government. A corporate version allows employers to sponsor workers by contributing $2 million per employee. A…

The nomination of Judge Andrew Benson to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine cleared a major hurdle Wednesday, advancing out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with strong bipartisan support. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced that the committee approved Benson’s nomination by a 19–3 vote, sending it to the full Senate for consideration. Benson, a veteran Maine District Court judge and former senior homicide prosecutor, has been serving as interim U.S. Attorney since October. Collins said Benson’s decades of public service and prosecutorial experience make him well-suited to take on the escalating criminal challenges confronting Maine. “His many…

A New York City man has admitted he carried out a years-long scheme that combined mortgage fraud and an illegal marijuana grow operation in Saint Albans, pleading guilty in federal court to charges that could put him behind bars for decades. Federal prosecutors say Ken Yiu, 49, secured an $80,000 residential mortgage from a Maine bank after falsely representing on his loan application that he intended to make the Saint Albans house his primary residence. That declaration, a routine but legally binding requirement for residential mortgage lending was central to obtaining the loan. According to court records, Yiu never intended…

A Wood Road home was leveled Tuesday night after a fast-moving fire tore through the structure, prompting a multi-agency response and an ongoing investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Wayne Fire Department arrived at 29 Wood Road around 6:25 p.m. to find the residence already fully engulfed. Firefighters requested state investigators soon after reaching the scene. All occupants escaped the home, though one individual sustained a minor injury and was transported by Winthrop Ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation. Due to the extensive damage, investigators say the cause of the fire is currently undetermined. The inquiry remains…

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (I) of Maine on Wednesday announced their nominees to the nation’s military service academies. Applicants seeking admission to the United States Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, or Merchant Marine Academy must receive a nomination from an authorized source, including members of Congress. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require congressional nominations. “We are proud to have the honor to nominate such an impressive group of Maine students to our nation’s distinguished service academies,” Collins and King said in a joint statement. “The young people we have nominated…

The Federal Reserve enters its latest policy meeting under the heaviest political and economic pressure in years, with Chair Jerome Powell attempting to manage a deeply fractured committee while facing intensifying criticism from President Donald Trump, who has openly questioned Powell’s leadership and interviewed potential replacements. Persistent inflation, weakening job growth, and rising public frustration have split the Fed’s rate-setting board. More fiscally conservative officials warn that another rate cut risks further eroding the dollar’s strength and rewarding federal overspending, while others push for stimulus despite softening economic indicators. Analysts say as many as three officials could dissent from a…

Regional School Unit 24 voted Tuesday night to reaffirm its policy requiring students to use bathrooms and compete on sports teams according to their biological sex, becoming the latest district to hold its ground as the Maine Human Rights Commission pursues a lawsuit targeting schools with similar rules. Comprising Sullivan and a handful of other Hancock County towns, RSU 24 is one of a half dozen Maine school districts that voted to change its policies regarding who participates on what team in school sports, specifically surrounding the question of biologically-assigned gender versus self-identification. RSU 24 joined districts in Aroostook, Androscoggin,…

The political firestorm surrounding Gateway Community Services, the Somali-run nonprofit accused of defrauding Maine’s Medicaid system, is rapidly escalating, and the blast radius now fully engulfs the very legislators who attempted to shift national attention onto former President Donald Trump just days earlier. What began as a whistleblower complaint about fraudulent billing has evolved into a widening probe raising serious questions about the conduct, judgment, and transparency of three Somali-American state representatives, Deqa Dhalac, Yusuf Yusuf, and Mana Abdi, two of whom maintained direct professional ties to the organization now under scrutiny. Rep. Deqa Dhalac, who served as Gateway’s assistant…

Australia has become the first country in the world to impose a nationwide ban blocking children under 16 from using major social media platforms, launching an aggressive new effort to curb the impact of online content on minors. The ban, which took effect at midnight, requires platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat to verify users’ ages and deny access to anyone younger than 16. Companies must prove they have systems capable of screening out underage users or face significant penalties under the authority of Australia’s eSafety Commissioner. Australian officials said the measure is a response to growing alarm…

Another day in Lewiston brought yet another cascade of questions, contradictions, and controversies, from nonprofit leaders refusing to comment, to a school bus driver using a non-residential address on his state-issued license, to an indicted city councilor-elect insisting he will take office despite lingering residency concerns. The day began, for this reporter on Tuesday, with a stop at Gateway Community Services, the Lewiston nonprofit now making national headlines for alleged MaineCare overbilling. Staff appeared visibly unhappy at the sight of this reporter and declined to assist in arranging an interview. A request for comment was dismissed, and contact information was…

Portland’s Planning Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a 30-story tower that would become the tallest building in Maine, clearing the way for a sweeping redevelopment plan in the heart of the Old Port. The proposed high-rise at 45 Union Street, part of the Old Port Square project, would stand about 380 feet tall and include more than 70 residential units, an 88-room hotel, commercial space, and a top-floor restaurant. The project is the first major development to take advantage of Portland’s recent zoning changes allowing buildings of similar height downtown. Public testimony centered on concerns about traffic, the project’s impact…

Cameron Clark, photo from Facebook

A tense MSAD 72 school committee meeting Monday night erupted with calls for accountability after a seven-year-old special-needs student disappeared for more than five hours during district-arranged transportation last week. Kate Joy, the child’s mother, confronted the board with sharp, unanswered questions about where her daughter was taken, why the district failed to communicate with her as the hours passed, and why MSAD 72 continued using First Act, operated by First Transit, for days after the incident. Community activist Tricia Burnell sharply criticized the committee members over their handling of the incident, warning that voters expect transparency and consequences. “We…

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is partnering with Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) on new legislation aimed at reshaping Affordable Care Act subsidies by extending enhanced tax credits for two years while imposing new limits on who qualifies for federal assistance. The Consumer Affordability and Responsibility Enhancement (CARE) Act would continue the boosted ACA premium tax credits but gradually phase out the COVID-era enhancements to avoid sudden changes in coverage. The bill would also place an income cap on subsidy eligibility and eliminate zero-premium health plans by requiring a minimum monthly payment of $25. “Families in Maine and across the country…

A substitute teacher at Montello Elementary in Maine’s second-largest city is under fire after telling a room of third-graders that Santa Claus is “make-believe,” a moment that left many children in tears and set off a wave of anger among Lewiston parents. According to parents, the substitute “revealed to the class of 9-year-olds that Santa is not real” and even “invoked the wisdom of Siri,” which the teacher used to confirm to the students that Santa does not exist. One child reported that “most of the class was blubbering by the time the bell rang.” Parents told the Sun Journal…

State Sen. Matthew Harrington (R) is demanding immediate transparency from Gov. Janet Mills (D) after what he describes as a troubling pattern of unchecked no-bid contracts, shifting paperwork standards, and weakened oversight within Maine’s procurement system. In a detailed letter sent Monday, Harrington, the assistant minority leader representing the York County municipalities of Sanford, Lebanon, Waterboro and Alfred, said constituents across Senate District 33 have been raising alarms for months about the volume and nature of contracts awarded without competitive bidding under the Mills Administration. https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/1998095186782732578?s=20 Harrington said the latest concern involves a quiet but significant change to the state’s…

A growing chorus of frustrated Lewiston residents is demanding accountability from City Hall, accusing city leaders of failing to enforce basic residency laws as the controversies surrounding Councilor-elect Iman Osman continues to escalate. A new petition launched December 6, directly calls out the Lewiston City Clerk and Mayor Carl Sheline for what residents describe as a stunning lack of oversight. At the center of the petition is Osman’s use of 210 Blake Street as his registered address, a building condemned and ruled uninhabitable in October 2024 after a drug raid. Despite the property’s status, City Clerk and Registrar of Voters…

A Maine man who admitted to gunning down a Westbrook couple as their children watched from the backseat has been sentenced to life in prison, with an additional 50 years for attempting to kill one of the children. Marcel LaGrange, 26, appeared virtually Thursday for his sentencing at the Cumberland County Courthouse. He pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Brittney Cockrell, 36, and Michael Hayter, 41, in June 2023 while the couple sat in a vehicle with their 7- and 11-year-old children. Investigators said LaGrange had no connection to the victims. “They did not provoke or initiate this violence into their…

Five people were arrested Thursday in connection with a months-long drug trafficking investigation in Livermore Falls, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency said Friday. Agents with the MDEA’s Western District Task Force said the arrests followed an inquiry into a drug trafficking organization operating in the area. Officials said community tips and intelligence from local law enforcement helped lead investigators to a residence on Monroe Street. A search warrant was granted for 8 Monroe St. on Thursday. Before executing the warrant, agents stopped a vehicle tied to the residence and found 102 grams of suspected cocaine, officials said. Tanya Hill, 38,…

Bates College faculty have unanimously voted to delay a sweeping new mandatory curriculum on race, power, privilege, and colonialism, pushing implementation back three years after growing concerns about the timing and potential fallout. The requirement, known as RPPC, was originally approved in 2023 and scheduled to take effect for the Class of 2030. Faculty have now postponed it to the Class of 2033, citing what they called an “ethic of care” amid heightened national scrutiny of campus diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Under the plan, students would be required to take two RPPC-designated courses, including at least one within their…

An MSAD 72 elementary school student being transported to an out-of-district placement by a substitute van driver went missing for several hours Wednesday, prompting a police search before she was ultimately located safe. District officials called the incident “deeply concerning” and said the transportation company involved will no longer be used. MSAD 72 serves Fryeburg, Denmark, Sweden, Lovell, Stoneham and Stow, as well as Chatham, New Hampshire. According to a post the girl’s mother made on a private Facebook page, her special-needs child disappeared for roughly six hours while en route to her placement school in the Augusta area. She…

Lewiston residents will get a new primary in how the criminal justice process and local politics can intersect as a recently-elected, but not yet sworn-in, city councilor has been charged with the theft of a firearm. When a person is indicted, it means a grand jury has formally charged them with a crime after reviewing evidence in a closed proceeding. The indictment is not a determination of guilt, but it does signal that jurors found probable cause to believe a criminal offense occurred. That process is now unfolding for Lewiston Councilor-elect Iman Osman, whose indictment Wednesday on gun-related charges has…

A Cumberland County judge has rejected the state’s push to impose a sweeping 500-foot buffer zone around the Planned Parenthood clinic on Congress Street, dealing a setback to state officials seeking to restrict an anti-abortion street preacher who has protested outside the facility for years. The state had argued that John Andrade Jr.’s long-running Friday demonstrations, which included preaching and playing religious music through an amplified speaker, disrupted patient care and violated the Maine Civil Rights Act. Prosecutors said the noise routinely interfered with appointments and created challenges for clinicians working inside the building. Justice Darcie McElwee agreed the testimony…

In a seismic move that has rattled Democrats and immigration activists nationwide, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to birthright citizenship — a longstanding interpretation of the 14th Amendment that critics say has been exploited for decades to fuel illegal immigration and strain American communities. At the heart of the case is a simple but politically explosive question: Should the children of non-citizens, including those who cross the border illegally, automatically become U.S. citizens the moment they’re born? For more than a century, Washington has treated the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” as a blanket…

As Lewiston plunges deeper into the scandal surrounding councilor-elect Iman Osman, attorney and Democratic legislative hopeful Kiernan Majerus-Collins is once again emerging as one of the most pugnacious figures in the city, reviving a long trail of controversies from his years in local politics, school governance, and statewide activism. Majerus-Collins had already thrust himself into Osman’s defense just before the councilor-elect faced felony gun charges during the residency investigation stemming from his claim of living in a condemned building. When Majerus-Collins appeared before the Lewiston School Committee to pressure members into halting their residency review, without disclosing that he was…

A Republican candidate for governor is pushing back after the Maine Democratic State Committee accused him of racism in response to his recent criticism of alleged fraud within MaineCare and other state programs. In a lengthy video on social media, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles said Democrats are attempting to discredit him for calling attention to what he described as millions of dollars in taxpayer losses tied to improper billing, uncompleted contracts, and a lack of accountability across multiple state systems. He said his focus includes alleged fraud within MaineCare, in the state Legislature, and in publicly reported cases involving…

The fallout from the indictment of City Councilor-elect and school committee appointee Iman Osman continued to spiral Friday, triggering a fresh round of internal conflict among Lewiston School Committee members and exposing deep fractures inside city leadership. What began as a routine email exchange erupted into a public controversy after School Committee Chair Megan Parks accused unnamed individuals of “encouraging chaos” and said she had received threats against herself and her family. Parks told colleagues she intended to report the threats to Lewiston police. But by Friday afternoon, the Lewiston Police Department confirmed no threats had been reported by any…

An Iraqi national living unlawfully in the United States was arrested in Ellsworth after federal agents say he attempted to buy firearms, including a 9-mm pistol and an AK-47, using falsified information on required background-check paperwork. U.S. Border Patrol’s Houlton Sector said the man was taken into custody on October 20 in the parking lot of a Home Depot store, following an investigation that began in Holden before he traveled to Ellsworth. Agents say the man had overstayed his visa and was prohibited from possessing or purchasing firearms. It remains unclear for what purpose the Iraqi was seeking the weapons,…

President Donald Trump scored another major political victory Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Texas to move forward with a congressional map designed to expand Republican power in the 2026 midterm elections. In a sharply divided ruling, the Court halted a lower court decision that found the map likely discriminates against Hispanic and Black voters. The conservative majority said the lower court acted too close to primary season and overstepped its authority. “The District Court improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign,” the majority wrote, accusing the judges of disrupting the federal-state balance in election oversight. Justice Elena…

Children in town of Hallowell, on the Western bank of the Kennebec River, are asking Maine Governor Janet Mills for just one Christmas gift this year: clean drinking water. The request comes as the community remains under a “do not drink” advisory that has been in place since the spring, following test results showing elevated levels of PFAS — so-called “forever chemicals” — in the city’s public water supply. The Hallowell Water District has reported PFAS levels around 20 parts per trillion, exceeding the state’s regulatory standard and prompting months of growing frustration among residents. With long-term remediation not expected…

In what authorities are calling a brazen and costly theft, a Falmouth oyster farmer has lost years of work and nearly $20,000 in product after criminals made off with 14 aquaculture cages and roughly 40,000 oysters growing near The Brothers Islands in Casco Bay. Maine Operation Game Thief is now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case. Portland farmer Michael Scafuro discovered the theft on November 22 when he checked his aquaculture site and found the cages, many holding oysters ready for sale, gone. Marine Patrol officers searched the area to determine whether the…

A political firestorm in Lewiston is intensifying as Councilor-elect Iman Osman, now indicted on theft-related charges, insists he will take office in January despite mounting public pressure, residency questions, and calls for his removal from multiple city bodies. Osman has been ordered to appear for arraignment on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. at the courthouse on Lisbon Street. The indictment, handed out Wednesday, adds yet another layer to a controversy that has consumed city government for weeks. Osman’s attorney, Kieran Majerus-Collins, issued a statement Thursday declaring that Osman “denies these charges and intends to fight them” and “has…

Maine’s Revenue Forecast Committee delivered a fresh projection Monday showing state revenues continuing to climb over the next two fiscal years, setting the stage for another bitter fight over spending priorities when lawmakers return to the State House in January. The report caps a turbulent budget year in Augusta, where lawmakers clashed repeatedly over spending and revenue policy. The Legislature failed to pass a bipartisan supplemental budget in the spring, followed by both a biennial budget and a supplemental budget advanced on strictly party-line votes. Those divisions are widely expected to carry into the 2026 session, with both parties already…

A Lewiston man has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm, adding yet another case to the city’s growing list of gun-related incidents at a time when a newly elected city councilor faces indictment on separate firearms charges. Thirty-five-year-old Kulmiye Abukar Idris received the federal sentence on November 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine announced. The term will run consecutively to the 42-month state prison sentence Idris is already serving for a 2024 gross sexual assault conviction. He will also serve three years of supervised release. According to prosecutors, Lewiston…

Four members of the Lewiston School Committee on Thursday called for Ward 5 representative Iman Osman to resign following his indictment on stolen gun charges, adding to mounting pressure now echoed by the city’s mayor. The statement, signed by committee members Janet Beaudoin (Ward 2), Craig Charpentier (Ward 4), Meghan Hird (Ward 6), and Donna Gallant (Ward 7) — said Osman’s indictment makes his continued service untenable at a time when Lewiston is confronting rising gun violence, school disruptions, and strained community resources. “With the federal indictment now public, it’s clear that Iman Osman must resign,” the members wrote. “Our…

A suspect accused of placing two pipe bombs near the U.S. Capitol on January 5, 2021, is in federal custody after an investigation that stretched nearly five years, federal law enforcement officials said Thursday. The FBI arrested the man, who lives in Virginia, early Thursday morning, according to officials familiar with the case. Authorities discovered the devices outside both the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee headquarters on the eve of the January 6 certification of the 2020 presidential election. The bombs were found around the same time thousands of protesters began gathering several blocks away at the…

The political firestorm surrounding councilor-elect Iman Osman exploded this week after he was federally indicted on charges of receiving stolen firearms, an escalation that prompted Mayor Carl Sheline to break with tradition and publicly call for his resignation. Osman, who won the Ward 5 seat on Nov. 4, faces serious gun-theft charges that threaten not just his political future, but also the legitimacy of his recent election. The indictment was filed Wednesday. Compounding the legal jeopardy are longstanding questions about Osman’s official address: the condemned building at 210 Blake Street. The structure was ordered condemned by the city in October…

Lewiston, Maine, once stood as a monument to American resilience, a booming mill city powered by the Androscoggin River, strengthened by generations of hardworking immigrant families, and anchored by institutions like Bates College and the Saints Peter and Paul Basilica. Its French-Canadian heritage, its historic architecture, and its tightly woven working-class identity defined Maine’s second largest city for more than a century. Today, many residents look around and barely recognize the city they once knew. Crime and rampant drug abuse abound in Lewiston which, tragically, became the site of Maine’s first mass shooting just over two years ago. A City…

An early-morning fire at the former Noble Barbeque building on Forest Avenue brought a full Portland Fire Department response Wednesday, briefly blocking traffic and drawing attention to the long-vacant site. Crews arrived just before 7 a.m. after a smoker inside the building caught fire. Firefighters were seen moving in and out of the structure as they worked to contain the blaze. Traffic in the area was halted during the response but returned to normal shortly afterward. No injuries were reported, and firefighters cleared the scene soon after. The extent of the damage has not yet been determined. The incident adds…

More than 500 Portland-area high school students walked out of class Wednesday and marched through the city’s downtown in a coordinated protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), rallying in support of two classmates and their family who were recently detained by federal authorities. Students from Portland’s public high schools and the private Waynflete School gathered in Monument Square before marching to City Hall, chanting slogans opposing ICE enforcement and calling for “justice” for the detained students. Extra school buses were arranged to transport participants downtown. The demonstration followed the detention of siblings Joel Andre, 16, and Estefania Andre,…

Portland Public Schools Superintendent Ryan Scallon issued a forceful statement Wednesday denouncing President Donald Trump’s recent comments about Somali immigrants, comments that the White House has tied to Trump’s broader agenda on immigration enforcement, national security, and cultural assimilation. Scallon’s message comes as he continues to face mounting criticism over his own administration following a contentious Portland School Committee meeting on November 2. Trump’s remarks, made during a December 2 cabinet meeting, targeted Somali immigrants directly. He said he does not want Somalis in the United States, referred to the immigrants from Somalia as “garbage,” declared that their home country…

With temperatures expected to plunge into dangerous territory beginning Thursday, Portland officials will activate the city’s winter warming center, a facility located well outside the downtown core and accessible primarily by shuttle. The warming center, housed at 166 Riverside Industrial Parkway, will open on any night when temperatures fall to 15 degrees or below or when 10 inches or more of snow is forecast. On activation nights, the facility operates from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. and can serve up to 60 adults needing emergency overnight shelter. The site, already used as an migrant shelter, doubles as a winter refuge…

A Portland man accused of stabbing his roommate to death has pushed his bail hearing into next year after refusing to appear in court Wednesday, telling officials he didn’t want the public seeing him on television in jail-issued clothing. Domingus Nobrega, 49, has been charged with murdering 43-year-old Matthew Merrick on November 30, 2024, inside the pair’s West End apartment. Nobrega declined to enter the courtroom after learning members of the media were present, forcing the hearing to be rescheduled for January. He will be allowed to appear in civilian clothes at that time. The case has already included stark…

A Lewiston city councilor is sharply criticizing the city’s School Committee after it voted last Monday to block an investigation into whether member Iman Osman legally resides in the district he represents. That decision, which hinged on a single vote, paired with clear conflict-of-interest concerns and triggered frustration among residents, which prompted Councilor Tim Gallant to accuse the school board of failing its duty to provide transparency. “They failed the public,” Gallant said on Tuesday. The School Committee’s decision last Monday has become the latest flashpoint in Lewiston’s ongoing debates over ethics, residency requirements and proper parliamentary procedure. Osman Votes…

Iman Osman, 36, who was elected in November to represent Ward 5 on the Lewiston City Council, was indicted Wednesday on two counts involving the alleged theft of two firearms between November 2023 and October 2024. The charges compound an already volatile situation surrounding whether Osman legally resides in the ward he is set to represent. Condemned Blake Street Building at Center of Residency Dispute Osman’s voter registration and candidate affidavit both list 210 Blake Street as his residence, a building that was condemned in October 2024 following a police drug raid. The structure was stripped of its certificate of…

Trump administration officials said Tuesday they will move to withhold SNAP food aid from recipients in most Democratic-controlled states starting next week unless state officials turn over basic information on who is receiving the benefits. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told Cabinet officials that the action is underway because those states are refusing to provide requested data, including names and immigration status of aid recipients, information she said is necessary to detect fraud and protect taxpayer dollars. Democratic governors, including Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), have instead taken the issue to court in an effort to block the requirement. About one…

Federal authorities are preparing a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota aimed at Somali immigrants living unlawfully in the United States, a development announced just as President Donald Trump delivered his strongest public criticism yet of Somali migrants during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. The planned operation, confirmed by a person familiar with the federal strategy, is expected to begin in the coming days and will focus on individuals in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area with final deportation orders. Immigration agents are set to fan out across the Twin Cities in what the source described as a “directed, high-priority sweep.” The plans…

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire that broke out Monday evening at a home on Andrew Ham Road killing one elderly man, authorities said. Fire investigators responded to 133 Andrew Ham Road at about 5:10 p.m. on December 1 at the request of the Cambridge Fire Department, which had been battling the blaze together with neighboring departments. During early fire-suppression efforts, crews found a deceased person inside the home, officials said. The victim is believed to be the homeowner, 75-year-old Stuart Howe. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta will conduct an autopsy to confirm…

Residents in Lyman say tractor-trailers continue to travel down Route 35 southbound despite the road being clearly closed as crews work to replace a bridge, prompting renewed frustration and safety concerns in the community. According to residents, trucks have repeatedly bypassed 11 posted signs warning that the road is shut down. State Rep. Wayne Parry (R-Arundel), the ranking member of the Maine State Legislatures’ Transportation Committee, said the situation has become increasingly difficult to ignore. “It’s obvious that the road is closed, it’s not like you don’t know,” Rep. Parry said, adding that the only way to curb the problem…

A sweeping new childhood savings initiative backed by President Donald Trump is set to launch in 2026, offering millions of American children federally seeded investment accounts and attracting one of the largest philanthropic contributions in U.S. history. The program, known as “Trump Accounts”, provides a $1,000 federal deposit to every U.S. citizen born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. Supporters say the effort marks one of the most ambitious attempts in decades to boost family savings and provide every eligible newborn with a financial asset from the start of life. https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1995958155910808053?s=20 Financial analysts say the early seed money…

Three people with connections to Maine were killed over the weekend in a high-speed boating crash in the Florida Keys, authorities said. The victims, identified as Rebecca Knight, Brenna Millet, and Craig Millet died after the vessel in which they were riding struck a channel marker near Key Largo, according to local officials. The crash occurred late Saturday, and investigators said the impact threw all occupants into the water. Knight, a former Maine resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. Brenna and Craig Millet, who also had family and community ties in Maine, were transported to a nearby hospital, where…

Nearly $40 million in long-awaited home heating aid is finally headed to Maine after the Department of Health and Human Services released a major round of LIHEAP funding, following a written request led earlier this month by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). DHHS authorized $39,780,472 for Maine, including $38,321,610 for statewide assistance and $1,458,862 for the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet, and Mi’kmaq Tribes. The release comes after delays tied to the recent federal government shutdown. Sen. Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Sens. Jack Reed of Rhode Island (D) and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska (R), along with 28 other senators,…

Maine leaders are sounding alarms over a federal effort to tighten commercial driver’s license rules, but their warnings focus on workforce shortages, not the growing body of national evidence showing how lax CDL oversight, fraudulent trucking schools and English-proficiency failures have contributed to deadly crashes across the United States. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s interim rule would bar many non-U.S. citizens from obtaining or renewing CDLs, a move the Biden-era bureaucracy long resisted but that federal regulators revived after a string of high-profile accidents involving drivers who could not read or understand English, a requirement that has been federal…

The White House said it is “very optimistic” as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prepare to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday in an effort to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Kremlin said Tuesday the meeting was expected to begin at about 5 p.m. local time, or about 9 a.m. ET, and that Special Envoy Witkoff and Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, were expected to speak with Russia’s president. The high-stakes sit-down follows a series of meetings between top U.S. and Ukrainian officials, during which the parties sought to revise the original peace-plan proposal presented by the…

Portland has issued a full, overnight street-parking ban, due to the winter snow storm, beginning at 10:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 2, effective until 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 3, officials announced.  Vehicles left on city streets after the 10:00 p.m. deadline may be ticketed or towed at the owner’s expense. Residents are urged to move their vehicles as early as possible into one of the approved snow-ban parking lots. This winter, six additional lots have been added, offering over 750 extra spaces. Designated snow-ban parking areas include: –Dougherty Field Skate Park lot; –Deering Oaks (on Tennis Court Road, left side only);…

The controversy surrounding Ward 5 school committee member Iman Osman’s residency erupted into a full-scale public reckoning Monday night, as residents and even fellow school committee members accused the board of deliberately avoiding accountability and refusing to enforce its own basic eligibility rules. While the Lewiston school committee narrowly voted last week not to investigate whether Osman legally resides in Ward 5, the backlash has only intensified, and Monday’s meeting revealed a deeper crisis of trust. Reporter Asks Osman Where He Lives — He Refuses to Answer Before the meeting began, this reporter approached Osman, shook his hand, and asked…

The Trump administration’s sharp escalation of immigration enforcement is creating new uncertainty across Maine’s immigrant and refugee communities, recent reports suggest. A confluence of factors is leading to this new pressure. Federal officials have slashed refugee admissions, increased deportations and detention actions, and began reviewing immigration cases approved under the previous administration. At the same time, a large fraud scandal involving Somali-run nonprofits in Minnesota is adding pressure and scrutiny that community leaders in Maine say could have lasting effects. Maine is expected to receive only about 50 refugees in 2026 after the administration set the nationwide refugee ceiling at…

In a dramatic escalation of U.S. pressure on Nicolás Maduro’s socialist government, President Donald J. Trump declared over the weekend that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety,” a move that immediately triggered outrage from Caracas and renewed international scrutiny of the regime’s ties to drug-trafficking networks. Trump issued the directive on his social-media platform, warning airlines, pilots, “drug dealers” and “human traffickers” to avoid Venezuelan airspace. The declaration followed weeks of increased U.S. military and surveillance activity in the Caribbean, part of a broader effort to disrupt narcotics routes long associated with the…

An 81-year-old man from Kennebunk was seriously injured Tuesday evening when the Ford F-150 he was driving went veering off the road and crashed into a stone wall, authorities said.  According to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred just before 5:15 p.m. near 404 Bridgton Road. The man reportedly lost control on the soft shoulder, over-corrected, crossed both lanes of traffic and struck the wall. He was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland with serious injuries. Deputies said alcohol appears to have been a factor. Charges are pending and the crash remains under investigation. Don’t be a…

Portland ushered in the holiday season Friday night as crowds filled Monument Square for the city’s annual tree-lighting ceremony. The centerpiece this year: a 40-foot red spruce donated by Portland Housing Authority, which was installed in the square last week. Portland Downtown’s executive director, Cary Tyson, described the event as “one of the biggest parties in downtown Portland,” noting that each year’s celebration grows in scale and spirit. “We try to shake it up a little bit,” he said. “This year, we’ve got an extraordinary tree for you.” For those who were unable to attend in person, Portland Downtown streamed…

President Trump delivered one of the most direct and forceful warnings of his presidency this weekend, issuing a stark ultimatum to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro: flee the country immediately or face potential U.S. land operations, according to details first reported by Fox News. In a high-stakes phone call mediated by U.S. officials, Trump offered Maduro, his wife, and his son safe passage out of Venezuela, but only if he resigned on the spot. Maduro’s negotiators pushed for what they called “global amnesty” and demanded to maintain control of the Venezuelan military, conditions the United States immediately rejected. After the talks…

A Harrison man was taken into custody Thursday after leading police on a lengthy high-speed chase that began in Maine and continued across state lines into New Hampshire, authorities said. According to police, the pursuit began when officers attempted to stop a vehicle in Maine on Thursday afternoon. The driver refused to pull over, accelerating instead and prompting a multi-agency response as speeds climbed and the chase moved through several communities. Maine State Police said troopers pursued the vehicle as it headed toward the New Hampshire border, where additional law enforcement agencies joined the effort. Authorities said the driver continued…

Portland Mayor Mark Dion is sounding the alarm over the city’s worsening homelessness crisis, warning that the state’s largest city can no longer shoulder the burden alone as public safety concerns escalate. Dion, who has repeatedly pointed to growing encampments and rising shelter demand, said Portland is attempting to confront a problem that has far outpaced the city’s capacity. In recent remarks, he noted the city provided shelter to roughly 2,000 individuals last year, with more than 600 people filling Portland’s three primary shelters on any given night. Despite the opening of a 250-bed facility in 2023 on Riverside Street…

South Berwick police arrested three suspects after a reported home invasion and assault early Thursday morning, authorities said. Police responded to a residence on Agamenticus Road just before 1 a.m. for a report of a break-in and attack. Officers said the suspects forced their way into the home and assaulted the resident before fleeing the scene. According to police, the suspects were located a short time later and taken into custody. All three are facing charges connected to the break-in and assault. The resident was evaluated for injuries, police said. The incident remains under investigation.

An Army veteran from East Machias has entered the race for Maine’s Second Congressional District, joining the field challenging Democratic Rep. Jared Golden. James Clark , an Army Veteran, announced his candidacy this week. Clark, who operates a small business in Washington County, said he decided to run because he believes the district needs stronger leadership and a representative who better reflects the concerns of rural Maine. The East Machias man told The Maine Wire that he is “committed to serving only three terms, not trading stocks while in office, and maintaining total transparency.” The Second District, which covers much…

A rare and often misunderstood vomiting disorder tied to long-term marijuana use has gained formal recognition from global and U.S. health authorities, a move experts say could help clinicians better diagnose and track a condition that has quietly surged in emergency rooms nationwide. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS, was officially added to the World Health Organization’s global diagnostic manual on October 1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has now adopted the same coding in the United States, offering a standardized way for hospitals and doctors to classify cases. The change is expected to improve reporting accuracy, strengthen data…

Residents of Shady Oaks Mobile Home Park in Arundel are bracing for a sharp rent increase set to take effect December 1, raising fears that dozens of seniors and low-income homeowners could be forced out after the town declined to intervene. Roughly 70 households own their mobile homes but rent the lots beneath them, currently paying between $530 and $680 a month. Tenants say they were notified that rents will rise by as much as $130 per month – a jump many say they simply cannot afford. Longtime resident Jennifer Moreau, who relies on a fixed income, warned that “a…

A Portland man has been charged in connection with robberies at Walmart stores in Biddeford and Falmouth earlier this month, authorities said. Biddeford police said officers responded to a Nov. 9 robbery at the Biddeford Walmart, where a suspect fled the scene in a vehicle. Investigators later identified a potential suspect and vehicle through the department’s Criminal Investigations Division. On November 15, officers arrested 40-year-old Brian Gallerani of Portland on an outstanding probation revocation warrant with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies. He has been charged with robbery in the Biddeford case, and additional charges are pending. Police said further…

President Donald Trump declared Friday that he is nullifying a broad slate of executive actions issued under President Joe Biden, asserting in a social media post that any document Biden signed using an autopen is “terminated” and no longer valid. In a statement posted Friday afternoon on his Truth Social platform, President Trump claimed that Biden used the autopen to sign “approximately 92 percent” of executive documents and argued the device cannot be used without explicit presidential approval. Trump said he was canceling “all Executive Orders, and anything else that was not directly signed” by Biden, alleging without evidence that…

A 27-year-old Warren man suspected of robbing a Scarborough bank was arrested in New Jersey after being involved in a car crash, police said Wednesday. The Scarborough Police Department said Thomas Sawyer was taken into custody in Laketown, New Jersey, following the crash. His arrest came shortly after authorities responded to a report of a robbery at the Chase Bank at 1 Hannaford Drive. Dispatchers received a 911 call just before 1:40 p.m. reporting the robbery. When officers arrived, they learned the suspect had fled in a maroon Chevrolet Trailblazer with out-of-state plates. Witnesses later reported that a vehicle matching…