Author: Jon Fetherston

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…

A house on Oakland’s Lakeview Drive exploded Thursday afternoon, injuring a man and scattering debris across the neighborhood, officials said. The Oakland Fire Department said it received a report of the blast around 3:40 p.m. The State Fire Marshal’s Office also responded. A middle-aged man was inside the home at the time of the explosion. He was taken to Thayer Hospital in Waterville and later flown by LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Authorities have not released information about his condition. “There was one person inside the house at the time, everyone else has been accounted for,” Oakland Fire…

Single-family homes in Cumberland County, Maine became significantly more expensive in October, underscoring a growing inventory and persistent demand in coastal Maine, according to data released Tuesday.  The county’s median sale price jumped 10.79 percent, from $559,600 in October 2024 to $620,000 in October 2025.  Over the same period, the number of single-family homes sold rose 7.08 percent, signaling not just higher prices, but more transactions as well.  Leaders of the Greater Portland Board of Realtors pointed to growing inventory as a key factor in the market’s resilience. “The Greater Portland market is continuing to benefit from more inventory on…

Greater Portland Metro has won a $4.25 million federal grant to modernize its bus fleet and expand service, the transit agency announced Tuesday.  The award comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Buses and Bus Facilities Program.  Under the plan, Metro will acquire six new 35-foot buses, three to replace aging vehicles that have logged more than 500,000 miles, and three to support expansion into new areas including Scarborough and potentially South Portland.  “Receipt of this federal funding is an important step toward modernizing Metro’s fleet and meeting the region’s growing mobility needs,” Executive Director Glenn Fenton said. “These buses…

Scarborough police are searching for a man who robbed the Chase Bank on Hannaford Drive Wednesday afternoon before fleeing in a maroon Chevrolet Trailblazer with out-of-state plates. The robbery was reported around 1:40 p.m. Police said no weapon was shown, but the suspect escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. Authorities described the man as a white male in his late 20s with blond hair and stubble. He was wearing a gray sweater, black sunglasses, jeans and tennis shoes. Not long after the incident, a vehicle matching the suspect’s was reportedly involved in a hit-and-run crash on Gorham Road near…

Hancock County Commissioners have approved a four-day workweek for county employees but agreed to keep operating hours unchanged to preserve public access to services. Commissioners unanimously backed the plan at their most recent meeting, allowing employees to compress their hours into four days while maintaining the same customer-facing schedule for residents. The hours of operation for county services such as the Registry of Deeds, Registry of Probate and the Treasurer’s Office will not change. Those will still be available five days a week, eight hours a day, according to Josh Griffin, the county personnel manager. “Unlike many of the cities…

The State of Maine has joined a coalition of 20 other states in suing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), accusing the federal agency of illegally restricting access to long-term homelessness support.  At issue is a policy overhaul of HUD’s Continuum of Care grant program, which traditionally helps fund permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. Maine and the other states argue that new rules sharply limit how much of the grants can go toward permanent housing and renewals. The complaint also alleges HUD has imposed new, unlawful conditions on funding eligibility. These include requiring providers to…

Portland officials are launching a community survey aimed at gathering broad public input on city programs and services, inviting residents to share feedback that may help guide future policy decisions. The City of Portland is partnering with the ETC Institute, a national survey research firm that specializes in municipal-level assessments, to administer the effort. Officials said all responses will be anonymous and confidential. ETC will analyze the findings, present them to the City Council, and publish the full results on the city’s website. Because the firm conducts similar surveys across the country, Portland’s data will also be compared regionally and…

A portion of U.S. Route 302 in Westbrook was shut down Monday after a fire broke out in a building in the city’s Prides Corner neighborhood, police said. According to the Westbrook Police Department, the closure was announced at about 12:25 p.m. and affected Bridgton Road (Route 302) between East Bridge Street and the intersection of Pride and Brook streets. Traffic reopened shortly after 2 p.m., about 90 minutes after the road was closed. No further details about the fire were disclosed by police.

Portland Public Schools are facing a growing backlash from current and former staff, students, and community members who say the district’s ongoing restructuring under Superintendent Ryan Scallon has destabilized classrooms, weakened student support systems, and driven out multiple educators of color. Those concerns boiled over at Tuesday night’s school board meeting, where speakers accused district leadership of making sweeping changes without transparency or accountability. Adding to the tension, the district’s two student representatives announced they plan to stage a walkout on Tuesday, December 2, an action the school board chair openly encouraged, prompting critics to note that such an endorsement…

A Mexican national with a lengthy history of unlawful entries and repeated removals appeared in federal court Tuesday, pleading not guilty to a felony illegal reentry charge and waiving his right to a detention hearing. Edgar Mandujano-Aguilar entered the plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Wolf in Portland. By waiving a hearing of detention, he will remain in custody while the case proceeds. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 5, 2026. Mandujano-Aguilar was arrested on Nov. 6 after he contacted the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office from a job site and asked deputies for assistance returning to Mexico following…

The Lewiston School Committee on Monday conducted a closed door executive session listed on the agenda as “to enter into an executive session to discuss a complaint regarding a public official, Title 1 M.R.S. 405(6)(A).” After returning to public session, member Janet Beaudoin moved to open an investigation into the residency of fellow committee member. During the discussion and right after Beaudoin’s motion, committee member Elizabeth Eames stated she was Iman Osman’s campaign manager for his run for city councilor, effectively indicating the motion was concerning Osman. With Eames declaring her role in his campaign, some are questioning why she…

Southern Maine Community College’s new Turning Point USA chapter made its public debut Monday, hosting its first tabling event amid a surge of national attention surrounding the organization following the death of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk. A “tabling” event refers to setting up a table in a heavily-trafficked area of a college campus to draw discussion and debate. The chapter set up a red tent and branded tablecloth in one of the busiest spots on the South Portland campus, directly in front of the student center and the Seawolves Café, where chapter president Peter Bernaiche debated students and passers-by for…

A homeless encampment that appeared this week nearby Portland High School has renewed concerns about student safety, marking yet another incident in a year filled with encampments, discarded needles, and public-safety complaints across Maine’s largest city. Police asked individuals living along Lancaster Street to leave the site on Monday. The area sits directly beside a popular parking location for Portland High School students, heightening alarm for parents, residents, and school officials. Neighbors told local media they no longer feel safe walking in the area and want the city to step in. The city made the decision to remove the encampment,…

The school bus driver involved in a collision that killed a 12-year-old RSU 13 student Friday afternoon has been placed on administrative leave as state and local officials continue investigating the incident. The collision occurred around 2:20 p.m. at the intersection of Broadway and Eliza Steele Drive in Rockland. The student, identified by his family as Brayden Callahan, was first taken to a local hospital before being airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where he died from his injuries on Saturday. On Monday, the Rockland Police Department confirmed that 65-year-old bus driver Jeffrey Colburn has been removed from duty…

Maine’s largest union representing state employees has filed a formal complaint accusing the Mills administration of refusing to negotiate in good faith, escalating an already tense standoff over expired labor contracts. The Maine Service Employees Association Local 1989, which represents roughly 10,000 state workers, filed its grievance Monday with the Maine Labor Relations Board. The union says the administration violated state law by prematurely declaring an impasse in negotiations and refusing to engage on multiple unresolved proposals. According to the union, the administration halted talks last month without addressing its key priorities, including long-standing recruitment and retention issues tied to…

Conservative activist Nicholas Blanchard, known to many online Mainers as “Corn Pop”, is pushing ahead with a bid for the Augusta School Committee even as he challenges his recent arrest and the sudden suspension of his Facebook account. Blanchard has become a prominent figure in local education battles, frequently confronting Augusta school officials over parental-rights issues and student-policy decisions. His organizing efforts have included a petition to remove the Cony Middle and High School principal and regular appearances at school board meetings where he has pressed administrators on transparency and accountability. “Corn Pop from Maine”‘s profile grew further after an October…

Federal prosecutors on Thursday moved to dismiss charges against a woman who was shot multiple times by a Maine-based Border Patrol agent during an immigration enforcement operation on Chicago’s southwest side last month. Marimar Martinez, 30, had been accused alongside co-defendant Anthony Ruiz, 21, of using their vehicles to ram and box in the SUV of Border Patrol agent Charles Exum on October 4 during the federal crackdown in the city’s Brighton Park neighborhood. Agent Exum, who is stationed in Maine, exited his vehicle and opened fire on Martinez, striking her seven times. He was in Chicago as part of…

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mandami met at the White House on Friday in a session that both men described as far more cordial and more productive than many observers had anticipated. The two leaders said they found surprising common ground on issues ranging from housing to energy costs, with both identifying affordability in New York as their shared top priority. Asked about Mandami’s past criticisms, including calling him a “despot,” Trump brushed off the remarks. “I’ve been called worse… We get along very well,” he said, adding that he viewed the mayor-elect as “a fine…

The month-long dispute over Mt. Blue Middle School Principal James Black’s Halloween costume reached another tense moment Tuesday, November 18, as dozens of supporters dressed in black packed the RSU 9 school board meeting to show solidarity. Many spoke publicly, urging the district to move on from the controversy. Friday morning, Superintendent Christian Elkington confirmed in writing (below) to The Maine Wire that Black has been back at work for two weeks, a fact not previously shared publicly and not mentioned at the meeting because the matter remains classified as a personnel issue. Good Morning! Principal Black is at school…

State officials are investigating the deaths of two people discovered inside a Wade residence Tuesday, where authorities say carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected. Maine State Police and Emergency Medical Services responded to a welfare check at 505 N. Wade Road around 11:15 a.m. and found both occupants deceased. Investigators with the Office of State Fire Marshal were called to the scene. According to the Fire Marshal’s Office, the furnace exhaust pipe inside the home had been improperly installed and had become disconnected, allowing exhaust fumes to vent directly into the living space. Evidence at the scene indicates the two residents…

Lewiston City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath has appointed longtime police veteran Carly Conley as the city’s next chief of police, selecting the 25-year Lewiston Police Department officer after months of public listening sessions, candidate reviews and guidance from a five-member advisory panel. Conley, who has served in nearly every division at the department since joining in 2001, presented her vision as she accepted the top post at Maine’s second-largest municipal police force on Monday. Kaenrath said the appointment reflects not only Conley’s extensive record but also the priorities residents expressed during the city’s months-long search process, citing repeated public concerns about…

Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines told a large crowd in Maine that allowing transgender women to compete in girls’ and women’s sports is unfair, unsafe and a betrayal of the female athletes those categories were created to protect. Speaking at Calvary Chapel Greater Portland during a rally for the Protect Girls Sports Maine ballot initiative, Gaines mixed humor with pointed criticism of college sports officials, campus leaders and state politicians as she recounted how competing against Lia Thomas, whom she repeatedly identified as “Will Thomas,” a male, turned her into a prominent activist. “Oh my gosh. I hope…

More than 700 people turned out Sunday for the first annual “Tailgate for Common Sense,” the event held at Aquaboggan Water Park and Drive-In that combined football, food, and a live auction as supporters looked ahead to the 2026 election cycle. The event featured the New England Patriots vs the Cincinnati Bengals game broadcast on multiple large screen televisions, drawing attendees into tents and seating areas as organizers described a high-energy, family-friendly atmosphere. Football fans, concerned citizens and candidates mingled throughout the afternoon. Several Republican candidates for governor, David Jones (R), Ben Midgley(R) and Jim Libby (R) attended the tailgate,…

Maine’s northern border continues to see elevated levels of illegal crossings and apprehensions, marking a historic trend that began during the Biden administration, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. While overall illegal entries are down nationwide, officials say an increased number of Border Patrol agents deployed to the field is leading to higher apprehension rates between ports of entry. In Maine, Border Patrol agents recorded a 24-year high in apprehensions during fiscal year 2025, which runs from October 1 through September 30. During the first six months, agents in the Houlton Sector apprehended 113 people entering illegally from…

Senate candidate Graham Platner (D) on Saturday called for the abolition of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and demanded that its agents be brought before congressional hearings and held accountable, saying “people need to go to prison.”  Speaking at a town-hall event in the southern Maine town of Windham, Platner said the American public deserves transparency and accountability from federal enforcement agencies. “We need to have public hearings, public, frankly, probably trials down the road,” Platner told attendees. “Because the American people deserve to know what the hell is going on right now, and how the people doing…

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is ending deportation protections for Somali nationals living in Minnesota, effective immediately. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the protections were being terminated because Minnesota had become, in his words, a hub of fraudulent financial activity, alleging that Somali criminal networks were operating in the state. The protections stemmed from the federal Temporary Protected Status program, which allowed certain Somali nationals to live and work legally in the United States due to instability in their home country. According to the announcement, the decision followed an investigation that alleged millions of dollars…

President Donald Trump faced sharp pushback from Maine’s congressional delegation after he accused several Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behavior … punishable by death,” the latest in a series of statements that critics say pushed the boundaries of political rhetoric. First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) offered the sharpest criticism calling Trump’s comments both “disgusting” and “terrifying.” Earlier this week, two U.S. senators and four members of Congress released a video entitled ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship’ directed to active duty military personnel and intelligence officers suggesting they follow no order they believe violates the Constitution. WATCH: https://youtube.com/shorts/Fk9Gh3qwW4I?si=5J44dwmI_kej_AbN In doing so,…

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has enacted a major regulatory change that will bar undocumented immigrants and other non-qualified foreign nationals from receiving several key refundable income-tax credits beginning in the 2026 tax year, according to documents released Thursday. The rule reclassifies the refundable portions of the Earned Income Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, American Opportunity Tax Credit, and Saver’s Match Credit as federal public benefits a designation that makes them unavailable to individuals who lack lawful immigration status. The move follows a legal opinion from the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel determining the credits fall…

A 75-year-old woman has died after being struck by a vehicle at a busy crossing in Portland, police said Friday.  The incident occurred about 7:10 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Franklin Street and Marginal Way, when the woman was crossing the street and was hit by a vehicle driven by a 48-year-old Portland man. According to witnesses, the woman was running with a group of people and they all crossed the street against the signal just prior to the crash. The woman was taken to Maine Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and later died, though authorities have not yet…

A panel of education researchers, clinicians and attorneys warned Thursday that Maine’s school-based health centers may be facilitating gender-related services for minors without parental consent, and blamed state laws that grant broad medical autonomy to adolescents with what they described as limited oversight. The forum, hosted by former state Rep. Heidi Sampson and the Maine Education Initiative, drew parents, school board members and elected officials. Republican gubernatorial candidates Jim Libby and David Jones were among those in attendance. Presenters included child psychologist Dr. Tom Moyer, Maine Policy Institute research fellow Jonah Davids and Children’s Health Defense general counsel Kim Mack…

A Cumberland County judge is now deciding whether the state can force a longtime street preacher to stay 500 feet away from Portland’s Planned Parenthood clinic – a request critics say amounts to an extraordinary restriction on free speech and peaceful protest in a public space. For six years, street minister John Andrade Jr. has stood outside the Congress Street clinic, preaching with a microphone as part of his pro-life outreach. His presence has drawn complaints from Planned Parenthood and its supporters, prompting the Maine Attorney General’s Office to take the unusual step of seeking a court-ordered buffer zone. Prosecutors…

Maine’s Democratic leadership slammed the brakes Thursday on a slate of Republican proposals aimed at cutting taxes, improving public safety, and expanding educational opportunity, including a high-profile push to force Maine into full conformity with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Gov. Janet Mills (D) has already refused to honor. In a series of party-line votes, the Legislative Council rejected multiple bills sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook) and Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin). Republicans called the move a clear demonstration that top Democrats will not even consider broadly popular, low-cost reforms if they originate from the…

Republican candidate for governor David Jones announced Thursday on Facebook that he is filing a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn Maine’s newly passed “red flag” law. The law, approved by voters in the November election and recently certified by Gov. Janet Mills (D), has become a flashpoint in the early stages of the 2026 governor’s race. Jones told The Maine Wire that he has retained attorney Steve Smith to handle the case. The measure creates what is known as an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) process, under which law enforcement officers or certain family or household members can petition a…

A Guatemalan national and convicted sex offender who illegally returned to the United States after deportation was taken into custody in Maine last month, even as some Maine lawmakers continue pushing legislation that would limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Esteban Chavez-Gonzalez, 35, was arrested on October 30 in Gray by the Maine Violent Offender Task Force on a federal warrant for unlawful reentry. He was extradited to Massachusetts and later released on a $10,000 unsecured bond after an initial appearance in federal court on November 6. Federal charging documents state Chavez-Gonzalez was deported in 2013 but unlawfully reentered the…

U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, a Hancock County oyster farmer and combat veteran, filed his overdue federal financial disclosure last week, yet the document provides only very limited insight into his personal finances.  Platner, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in next year’s Senate race, waited until last week to submit the disclosure that was supposed to be filed in September.  In the filing, Platner reported that he receives a $3,000 annual stipend for serving as harbormaster in the town of Sullivan, a role he has held since January 2024, and noted that he sat on the town’s planning board from…

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed legislation requiring the Department of Justice to make public a vast trove of internal documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, ending months of resistance and capitulating to bipartisan pressure.  The law compels the Justice Department to release all “unclassified records, communications and investigative materials” connected to Epstein’s offences and his 2019 death in federal custody within 30 days, though it allows redactions to protect victims or ongoing investigations. Congress moved quickly on the legislation. The House of Representatives approved the bill Tuesday by a final margin of 427-1, with only Rep. Clay…

Two adults were killed and four children were injured early Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash on the Maine Turnpike, authorities said. Maine State Police said the crash was reported around 4:26 a.m. on I-95 southbound near mile marker 71 in New Gloucester. Troopers arrived to find a 2017 GMC Acadia that had been towing a U-Haul trailer and a 2015 Audi SUV heavily damaged. According to the preliminary investigation, the GMC had been traveling south when its trailer detached from the trailer ball but remained connected to the vehicle by safety chains. The driver pulled onto the right shoulder and…

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a house fire that heavily damaged a residence on Red Oak Drive late Monday afternoon. The Falmouth Fire Department requested assistance after crews arrived around 4:11 p.m. to find the home fully engulfed. No one was inside the residence when firefighters arrived, and no injuries were reported. Smoke was visible from miles away, and nearby witnesses reported hearing what sounded like explosions. Two streets in the vicinity of Blackstrap Road were temporarily closed as firefighters fought the blaze. Investigators interviewed individuals who had been staying at the home. They told officials that…

A Lewiston resident is calling for an independent, third-party investigation into both city officials’ handling of a school committee appointment as well as the expanding residency controversy surrounding the subject of that appointment, Ward 5 Councilor-elect Iman Osman. These questions stem from the fact that Osman’s address of record has been tied to a federal drug investigation and was condemned by city officials in October 2024. During the Lewiston City Council meeting on Tuesday evening, Lewiston resident Lisa Jones asked the City Council to authorize an outside review of what she described as procedural and oversight failures connected to Osman’s…

Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner drew nearly 800 people to a town hall in Biddeford on Wednesday night, delivering an aggressive, populist message that targeted President Donald Trump (R), Sen. Susan Collins (R), corporate power, and the political establishment in both parties. Campaign staff said more than 1,200 people RSVP’d for the event at Biddeford Middle School. Platner, who is challenging Gov. Janet Mills (D) from the left in the Democratic primary, leaned heavily into a working-class, anti-establishment pitch. He argued that Washington has abandoned ordinary Mainers while enriching corporate interests, and he tied Trump and Collins directly to what…

Lewiston officials say the city is days away from naming its next police chief, ending a months-long search that began in September when longtime Chief David St. Pierre retired, ending more than three decades with the department. At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath announced that Lewiston will introduce its new chief at a public ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 24 inside City Hall. The city has narrowed the field to four finalists after reviewing a far-reaching field of roughly 18 applicants from across New England, the Mid-Atlantic and the Midwest. The search process, launched…

A federal jury on Tuesday found 45-year-old Lucas Sirois of Rangeley guilty on all charges connected to the operation of his large-scale marijuana business after a four-day trial in U.S. District Court in Bangor. Sirois was convicted of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and impede and impair the IRS, tax evasion, and three counts of maintaining drug-involved premises in Farmington and Avon. [RELATED: Maine Marijuana Magnate Denied Review by U.S. Supreme Court, Now Faces Added Federal Charges] His father, 71-year-old Robert Sirois of Farmington, previously…

WASHINGTON — The Office of Management and Budget has released nearly $4.3 million for the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency following pressure from Sens. Susan Collins (R) of Maine and Chuck Grassley (R) of Iowa. The senators, who chair the Senate Appropriations and Judiciary committees, welcomed OMB’s decision to apportion $4,287,000 for CIGIE, allowing the oversight body to operate through Jan. 30 under the current continuing resolution. OMB will also conduct a programmatic review of CIGIE’s activities. The move comes after Collins and Grassley sent a letter to OMB Director Russell Vought urging the release of…

A Bangor physician was subjected to a barrage of verbal threats connected to his race inside Timber Kitchen and Bar last Saturday, an incident captured on video that has since spread widely across social media and intensified public scrutiny of how the city handles harassment and intimidation in public spaces. The encounter, recorded by a witness and shared repeatedly online, shows a man aggressively confronting the doctor inside the Bass Park Blvd. restaurant. Viewers quickly identified the offending individual as Robert “Bobby” Jordan. As backlash intensified across multiple platforms, Jordan deleted his Facebook account, though screenshots of past posts circulated…

 The United States House of Representatives voted Tuesday to advance a measure compelling the U.S. Department of Justice to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein, following a sharp, politically charged debate on the House floor.  The vote numbers in the House were 427 in favor and 1 against, the one no vote was from Rep. Clay Higgins, a Louisiana Republican. The action comes after Donald Trump signaled he would no longer block the vote. Supporters, including Republican and Democratic lawmakers who helped force the floor vote via a bipartisan discharge petition, said the move is about accountability for Epstein’s victims…

The Portland City Council nixed a proposal by the Portland Police Department to purchase its first drone, dealing a setback to the department’s efforts to expand its aerial capabilities for operations. On Monday night, council members rejected the acquisition of a roughly $45,000 drone from Axon, a company whose products integrate with existing law-enforcement systems. The department argued that the device could be used for missing-person searches, suspect standoffs and crime scene reconstruction. Police Chief Mark Dubois noted that the drone would integrate seamlessly with current Axon body-camera and cruiser-camera systems already in use by the department. But during the public…

Maine’s top housing and public health officials issued an extraordinary warning Monday about how a new federal mcap would affect the state. A sweeping federal policy shift from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) could dismantle Maine’s permanent housing programs and force more than 1,200 elderly, disabled, and formerly homeless residents back onto the streets, they said. At the center of the controversy is a newly released HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) directive that dramatically rewrites decades of federal homelessness policy. HUD is now capping permanent housing, including permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing at just 30…

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fatal house fire in Washington County after firefighters discovered a body inside the burned structure Sunday evening. Officials were called at about 5:58 p.m. to 624 Main Street in Meddybemps, where the local fire chief reported the homeowner was likely still inside. Fire crews arrived to find the home fully engulfed, with flames spreading to a vehicle in the driveway. More than a half-dozen departments responded and worked in heavy snow conditions to bring the fire under control. A team of four State Fire Marshal investigators located the remains of an…

Cumberland County leaders on Monday rejected a proposal that would have ended a federal contract allowing the county jail to house detainees for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), maintaining a long-running agreement that has drawn sustained criticism from immigrant advocates. The 3-2 vote followed years of debate and came after about 100 people attended the commission meeting, many urging officials to sever the arrangement. After hearing public comment, commissioners deliberated over the financial and operational implications of terminating the contract before voting to keep it in place. Councilors Jean Marie Caterina and Patricia Smith voted to void the contract.…

With the City of Lewiston facing crises on multiple fronts, from homelessness to gun violence and drug addiction to lingering questions over how charitable funds for mass-shooting victims were distributed, residents are now asking the same question: Where is the leadership? That question has only intensified as the controversy surrounding Councilor-elect and School Committee member Iman Osman continues to grow. [RELATED: Lewiston Residency Scandal Explodes as Citizen Prepares Challenge Against Councilor-Elect Osman] Osman’s shifting residential history, including addresses linked to a federal drug investigation and properties currently condemned, has raised doubts about whether he was legally qualified to run for…

Former Saco Mayor Bill Doyle is one of two candidates vying for the vacant Ward 3 City Council seat in a special election now set for January 2026. The seat opened up in early October following the resignation of former Councilor Joe Gunn. Candidates were required to submit completed nomination papers to the city clerk’s office by 1 p.m. on November 14th. According to the city, Doyle, a former mayor, and Robert Henry are the two candidates officially on the ballot. A third Ward 3 resident, Emily McElveen, had taken out nomination papers but did not return them by the…

A special election is likely on the horizon for Maine House District 94 in Lewiston after longtime Democratic Rep. Kristen Cloutier resigned Oct. 31 to become chief of staff to Senate President Mattie Daughtry.   The Lewiston City Council is scheduled to vote on Tuesday on a formal request to the governor to call the special election. If approved, the request will go to the governor’s office and be followed by a proclamation from Secretary of State Shenna Bellows declaring the vacancy and setting the election date. Cloutier’s departure narrows the Democratic majority in the Maine House to just one…

A long-running and divisive fight over whether the Cumberland County Jail should continue holding Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees is back before county commissioners Monday evening, but members of the public will not be permitted to speak as the board revisits one of its most contentious agenda items of the year. The proposal, listed as agenda item 25-112F, seeks to amend the county’s contract with the U.S. Marshals Service by explicitly prohibiting the jail from detaining ICE detainees and relinquishing the federal reimbursement associated with that population. The issue has sharply divided commissioners, the sheriff’s office, and community groups since…

Maine’s administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is receiving renewed attention as federal officials enforce stricter data-reporting requirements and program recipients prepare for a broad reapplication process. The scrutiny comes as the U.S. Department of Agriculture is reviewing data from states as part of a nationwide compliance effort. Earlier this year, the USDA directed all states to provide full access to SNAP records tied to eligibility and benefit distribution. Federal officials said the data is necessary for oversight and program integrity and warned that states failing to comply could face the loss of federal reimbursement for administrative costs,…

A sprawling national black-market for renting and selling DoorDash accounts has quietly become one of the most widespread and least acknowledged gig-economy abuses in the country. With similar patterns now emerging in Maine, the issue is raising new questions about safety, accountability, and whether delivery apps have any meaningful control over who is showing up at residents’ front doors. Across the United States, a shadow industry has taken shape in which verified DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, and rideshare accounts are leased to unvetted workers for monthly fees. Investigators have identified dozens of large social-media groups, some topping tens of thousands of…

An 18-year-old from South Portland was arrested Friday after deputies say he placed a false 911 call reporting an active shooter inside the Hannaford grocery store in Standish. According to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Pather Joyce, formerly of Windham, was taken into custody at the store and booked at the Cumberland County Jail on a charge of false public alarm or report. The incident began shortly before 11:20 a.m., when the Cumberland County Communications Center received a 911 call from a deactivated phone located inside the Hannaford. The caller claimed an active shooter was in the building. Deputies and…

Newly elected Ward 5 City Councilor-read elect and current School Committee member Iman Osman is facing increasing scrutiny over his residency, his eligibility to hold office, and new questions about his judgement after a police report showed his handgun was stolen from his unlocked car last weekend. Meanwhile, Lewiston resident Lisa Jones says she is now preparing to file an official complaint in court alleging Osman was not a legal resident of Ward 5 and was therefore an ineligible candidate on the November ballot. Residents have also indicated they plan to speak about the matter during citizen participation at Monday’s…

A 27-year-old Vassalboro man was arrested Thursday night after police say he forced his way into a Fairfield home, fled in a vehicle, and led officers on a chase through Waterville before crashing and attempting to run from the scene. Maine State Police, along with officers from the Fairfield and Waterville police departments, responded around 9:21 p.m. to a reported burglary in progress at a residence on Dyer Court. Authorities said an armed man who appeared to be under the influence of drugs had broken into the home, acted erratically and damaged property. A State Police trooper arrived to find…

The Internal Revenue Service announced new contribution limits for key retirement plans for tax year 2026, offering increased opportunities for Americans to save. Under the new guidelines, workers contributing to tax-favored plans such as 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 and the federal Thrift Savings Plan will see their elective deferral limit rise to $24,500 from $23,500 in 2025. Individual Retirement Account (IRA) contribution limits are increasing to $7,500, up from $7,000 this year. For those age 50 and over, the catch-up contribution limit for the workplace plans listed above will increase to $8,000 (from $7,500), bringing the total possible contribution to $32,500…

Maine’s electricity costs have risen faster than those of any other state in the nation, and the trend has become impossible to ignore. Should you question whether this is really the case, consult with your most recent CMP bill. During Tuesday’s Common Sense Maine gubernatorial debate, all four Republican candidates, Jim Libby, David Jones, Owen McCarthy and Robert Wessels, highlighted the issue, emphasizing that the state’s surge in energy costs is harming families, small businesses and long-term economic growth. Their shared concern reflects what many Mainers already know: the state’s 36 percent year-over-year residential electricity price spikes did not happen…

A 40-foot red spruce from a Portland Housing Authority property will become this year’s Monument Square holiday tree, with crews set to cut, transport and install it early on Wednesday, November 19. The tree, located at 9 Boyd Street, was selected for the 2025 display following the city’s evaluation process, which considers aesthetic appeal along with One Climate Future guidelines such as transportation distance, site logistics and the social and ecological value of trees. “The Portland Housing Authority is honored to see this tree rooted in one of our neighborhoods for decades become part of Portland’s holiday season,” said Leah…

The House of Representatives is poised to vote next week on legislation that would compel the Department of Justice to release the complete Jeffrey Epstein files, a move Speaker Mike Johnson announced despite his long opposition to the discharge petition that forced the issue to the floor. Johnson told reporters Wednesday night that the House will move ahead with a vote. “It’s a totally pointless exercise,” he said, adding that the petition had already secured enough signatures. “It is completely moot now. We might as well just do it.” House Republican leaders have not said exactly when the vote will…

U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) has secured nearly $35 million in federal funding for 20 projects across Maine, her office announced. Earlier this week, Collins’ legislation to end the government shutdown included a slate of Congressionally Directed Spending items aimed at public safety, education and local infrastructure. Collins, a Republican and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the investments will deliver “real and direct benefits” to communities statewide. “From supporting Maine’s first responders, law enforcement, and servicemembers to increasing access to educational opportunities and generating economic development, these targeted investments will provide real and direct benefits to communities throughout…

The board of directors at grocery chain Market Basket is locked in a legal dispute with former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas as both sides prepare for a civil trial in Delaware set for mid-December 2025.  According to court filings and company statements, the board has requested critical documents pertaining to budgeting, capital expenditures and succession planning, but says it has only received a single page from a handwritten notebook – despite Demoulas telling the court he does not use email and instead keeps handwritten notes. Demoulas was placed on leave in May while an investigation was conducted into allegations that…

A new federal restriction on commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) is poised to disrupt public transit across southern Maine, leaving Greater Portland Metro scrambling to find new jobs for several of its current bus operators as Washington tightens rules on who is allowed to hold a CDL. A directive from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) now limits CDL eligibility to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or a small handful of visa categories. That sweeping change immediately cuts off access for many work-authorized immigrants who have legally held Maine CDLs for years. The rule affects asylum seekers, DACA recipients, and…

A sweeping new federal restriction buried deep in Congress’s latest spending bill is poised to wipe out most of America’s hemp-derived THC industry, closing a loophole that lawmakers say has allowed intoxicating cannabis products to flood gas stations, convenience stores, and smoke shops with virtually no oversight. The legislation signed into law this week, bans any product containing more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container, a threshold so low that industry groups say more than 90 percent of hemp-derived gummies, beverages, vapes, and topicals will be effectively outlawed overnight. Supporters of the measure argue that manufacturers have spent years…

Graham Platner’s U.S. Senate campaign failed to file his personal financial disclosure with the Secretary of the Senate, a requirement under the Ethics in Government Act that must be completed within 30 days of launching a campaign. Platner filed his Statement of Candidacy on August 18, setting a deadline of September 17 for submitting the disclosure. The campaign is now eight weeks overdue in complying. The public online database maintained by the Secretary of the Senate shows no filings from Platner. “He must not have filed it yet because it’s not in our system,” a phone operator with the Senate…

State Sen. Joe Rafferty, a Democrat from Kennebunk who has represented Maine’s District 34 for the past five years, announced on November 12 that he will not seek reelection in 2026. District 34 includes North Berwick, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Berwick and Wells. Rafferty’s decision marks the end of a legislative tenure shaped by his long career in public service – first in education and later in politics. Before entering the Legislature, he spent decades as a teacher and head football coach at Kennebunk High School. He also served as president of the teachers’ union, roles highlighted in the release as part…

Human remains discovered last month in northern Maine have been identified as those of a woman missing since July, authorities said. A local resident found the remains of 39-year-old Tomis Hoyt on October 30 in the town of Blaine, Maine, just south of Mars Hill, according to the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner. The office confirmed her identity on Wednesday. Hoyt was last seen on July 13 on Robinson Road in Mars Hill. Her family told authorities she was believed to be barefoot and without any money at the time. The circumstances that led to her disappearance and death…

Conservative activist Nicholas Blanchard, widely known by his online persona “Corn Pop,” has entered the race for the Augusta School Board, stepping directly into a district roiled by months of protests, public clashes and rising distrust between parents and school officials. “I’m ripping out every last woke policy they force fed us, starting day one.“ Blanchard has been a central figure in the escalating turmoil at Augusta School Board meetings, which have repeatedly erupted into controversy over transparency, curriculum oversight and gender-related policies. What began as a dispute over transgender athlete rules has widened into a larger ideological conflict over…

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed legislation to reopen the federal government, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history after a weeks-long standoff between the House and Senate over spending and health-care provisions. The measure, approved by Congress earlier in the day, restores full federal operations after a funding lapse that began October 1. The stopgap bill keeps government spending at fiscal year 2025 levels through January 30 while lawmakers continue negotiations on a broader 2026 agreement. The shutdown strained federal agencies, disrupted travel because of staffing shortages, and halted pay for thousands of government employees. The newly signed law…

Iman Osman, recently elected to represent Ward 5 on the Lewiston City Council and currently serving on the Lewiston School Committee, has told city officials that he cannot disclose his current home address because his life is in danger, according to multiple sources who spoke with The Maine Wire. In a letter dated November 3, City Clerk Kathleen Montejo asked Osman to clarify his current residence to ensure compliance with the Lewiston City Charter, which requires School Committee members and city councilors to live in the ward they represent. Montejo wrote that Osman’s listed address, 210 Blake Street, had been…

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner’s campaign has been paying his wife a biweekly salary, according to recent filings with the Federal Election Commission. On Sept. 15, Platner’s committee, Graham For Maine, paid Amy Gertner $1,799.81, and two weeks later issued another payment of $1,799.82, labeling both transactions as “salary.” A former campaign staffer who requested anonymity told The Judge Street Journal that Gertner was initially brought on as a volunteer coordinator to help with early campaign efforts. The staffer said the campaign decided to pay Gertner for several reasons, including concerns about the optics of Platner drawing a salary…

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Wednesday late afternoon on legislation that could end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, even as Democrats — including Maine’s First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree — condemn a Senate-brokered compromise that omits an extension of expiring healthcare subsidies. House Speaker Mike Johnson recalled lawmakers to Washington after keeping the chamber out of session for more than 50 days. On Monday, a small group of seven Senate Democrats and Maine Independent Sen. Angus King joined Republicans to advance a short-term spending bill that funds the government through January without renewing Affordable…

A new grassroots movement calling itself Common Sense for Maine is kicking off its first annual “Tailgate for Common Sense” later this month, an event blending football, food, and political activism in support of what organizers call “Common Sense values.” The event is set for Sunday, November 23, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Aquaboggan located at 980 Portland Road in Saco, and will feature a live broadcast of the New England Patriots vs. Cincinnati Bengals game on a massive 50-by-100-foot drive-in movie screen. According to organizers, the tailgate will include live music, cornhole tournaments, silent and live auctions,…

Jordan Wood, a Bristol Democrat who had been seeking to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in next year’s election, announced Wednesday that he is suspending his Senate campaign to pursue Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat instead. Wood, 36, said the decision came after learning that Rep. Jared Golden, a three-term Democrat representing the 2nd District, will not seek reelection in 2026. In a statement, Wood said he believes his campaign’s resources and grassroots network would be “better spent working to keep the 2nd District blue.” A former Capitol Hill staffer and head of an advocacy group, Wood was among…

Four of the eight Republican candidates for governor marked Veterans Day with a spirited debate Monday night, trading views on jobs, energy policy, immigration enforcement and the state’s drug crisis at an event hosted by Common Sense for Maine at Dunegrass Country Club in Old Orchard Beach. The forum opened with ceremony fitting for the day of commemoration. Dr. Rev. Gary Nguyen, a retired captain in the 82nd Airborne, led the National Anthem. The Rev. David Porter of Oak Ridge Bible Church in Milford delivered an invocation that called on candidates and voters to “turn to the Almighty and ask…

Portland’s City Council on Monday approved an ordinance requiring owners of vacant storefronts in the city’s pedestrian district to register those spaces with the city. The rule applies to commercial storefronts that have been empty for six months or more. City officials said the registration requirement is intended to help track unused properties and connect them with artists, entrepreneurs, and cultural groups seeking space. This latest action follows an earlier city regulation that allows Portland to fine owners of empty storefronts if their spaces remain vacant after three months, unless owners agree to display city-approved artwork in the windows. The…