Author: Jon Fetherston

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here we go again. Janet Mills wants you to say “thank you” for $300 while MaineCare burns. In her final State of the State, Mills said she’s “putting tax dollars back in your pockets,” then punctuated it with the quiet part out loud: “You’re welcome.” Right on cue came the headline-grabber: $300 “Affordability Relief” checks for roughly 725,000 people, pulled from the Rainy-Day Fund she says is at its “legal maximum.” Let’s not pretend this is a governing breakthrough. It’s the oldest trick in the political playbook: create pain, deny responsibility, then toss out a one-time check and demand applause.…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills (D) and Attorney General Aaron Frey (D) say they are demanding answers from the Trump Administration after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported arresting 206 people in a recent “enhanced” enforcement operation in Maine. In a Jan. 30, 2026, letter addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, Mills and Frey demanded “full information on every person detained” during the operation and condemned what they described as secret arrests that “tore families apart and terrorized communities across the state.” The letter follows an ICE press release issued Thursday claiming…

WASHINGTON — A procedural vote to advance a government funding package failed in the Senate on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, significantly increasing the likelihood of a partial government shutdown beginning at midnight Friday. The motion to limit debate and proceed failed 45-55, far short of the 60 votes typically needed to move legislation forward in the Senate. All 47 Senate Democrats voted against the measure, joined by eight Republicans, as leaders scrambled to find a path before funding expires for several major federal agencies, including Defense, Treasury, and Health and Human Services. The impasse is centered on funding for the…

LEWISTON, Maine – The Farmers’ Almanac, a long 208-year-old publication held by the Geiger family in Lewiston, has been acquired by Unofficial Networks, a New York-based digital media company, in a deal announced in January 2026 that will keep the historic title alive after prior owners warned the 2026 edition would be the last. The acquisition comes just months after the publication’s previous owners said mounting financial stress would force an end to the long-running almanac, with the 2026 print edition initially framed as its finale. Unofficial Networks is a family-owned media company founded by brothers Tim and John Konrad.…

LEWISTON, Maine — Lewiston City Councilor Bret Martel says City Council President David Chittim called him directly after Martel criticized the council’s handling of the Ward 5 vacancy in comments attributed to him by The Maine Wire, and that the conversation quickly escalated from a dispute over free speech into an argument about the city charter, ethics rules, and even why Chittim does not recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Martel told The Maine Wire the call was prompted by his public remarks describing the council as a “kangaroo court” and suggesting “the fix was in” during the selection process that…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday January 28, 2026, laid out a sweeping case for what he called “Trump Accounts,” a new program he said would expand private investment ownership by giving eligible children a federally funded seed deposit and encouraging additional contributions from families, employers, philanthropists, and states. In remarks introduced by House Speaker Mike Johnson, Bessent framed the accounts as a signature legacy initiative tied to the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, arguing the policy would fuse “Main Street and Wall Street” and push the U.S. toward what he described as a “shareholder society.” Under the…

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine political activist Nicholas Blanchard has filed a second federal lawsuit, this time targeting the Augusta Board of Education over a public-comment policy he says has been used to cut him off mid-sentence, threaten removal, and shut down criticism while allowing supportive speakers to continue uninterrupted. Blanchard, represented by the Institute for Free Speech and local counsel, filed the complaint in U.S. District Court in Maine challenging the school board’s “Policy BEDH” and related meeting practices. The lawsuit argues that the board’s restrictions on public comment are both overly broad and selectively enforced, allegedly punishing speech that…

PORTLAND, Maine – Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, sharply criticized Sen. Susan Collins on Thursday during a protest outside her Portland office, accusing her of misleading the public about federal immigration enforcement and failing to represent the interests of Maine residents. The protest of roughly 75 demonstrators gathered on Middle Street outside Collins’ office in the wake of Collins’ recent announcement that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had ended what the Department of Homeland Security described as “enhanced activities” in Maine. Collins said the update came directly from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, adding that there were…

NORWAY, Maine — The Maine Fire Marshal’s Office says a structure fire on Everett Drive in Norway was accidentally sparked during an effort to thaw frozen pipes using a combination of heaters and electrical heat tape. The Norway Fire Department responded to the reported fire at about 3:49 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2025, where crews encountered heavy fire conditions upon arrival. The Fire Marshal’s Office was called in to assist with the investigation. Investigators determined the frozen pipes were being thawed with heaters and electrical heat tape, which inadvertently caused the fire. The investigation concluded the fire originated from the…

PORTLAND, Maine — Portland Mayor Mark Dion and the City Council met in executive session Monday night, Jan. 26, to discuss whether the city should participate in a lawsuit supporting Minnesota and the Twin Cities in legal challenges tied to federal immigration enforcement, according to an update posted on the City of Portland’s website. City officials said the discussion centered on whether Portland could support the case through an amicus filing. Dion said the request came via Boston’s legal department and involved State of Minnesota v. Noem, naming federal defendants including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) announced Thursday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ceased its “enhanced activities” in Maine, saying the update came directly from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after “several direct communications” between the two. “While the Department of Homeland Security does not confirm law enforcement operations, I can report that Secretary Noem has informed me that ICE has ended its enhanced activities in the State of Maine,” Collins said. She added that there are “currently no ongoing or planned large-scale ICE operations” in Maine, while ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ripped the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection process after legendary coach Bill Belichick was not elected on his first ballot, linking the decision to what he called the NFL’s “unwatchable” new kickoff format. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the same “mindset” that produced the league’s new kickoff rule “made it possible” for Belichick to miss immediate induction, adding that both “should be overturned,” while using the phrase “Sissy” to describe the kickoff change. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115972714460477814 Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach with the New England Patriots and a two-time Super Bowl…

AUGUSTA, Maine – Governor Janet Mills (D) used her State of the State address to deliver a sweeping political message that blended self-congratulation, attacks on federal law enforcement, and a new proposal to send checks to Mainers, all while Maine families remain squeezed by housing costs, utility bills, and grocery prices. Mills framed her speech as a final capstone moment, telling lawmakers it was her “eighth and final” time addressing a joint session. But the tone shifted quickly from a traditional state-policy recap into a combative, nationalized argument about federal authority and immigration enforcement. “It is an instinct that is…

YORK COUNTY, Maine – Republican gubernatorial candidate Ben Midgley won a straw poll held at the York County Republican official caucus last Saturday, his campaign said, describing the result as the first test of support in the party’s primary contest. The campaign said Midgley “won big,” defeating the next closest candidate by double digits. “My common-sense conservative message is resonating,” said Ben Midgley. “Maine Republicans know my background of going from food stamps to building and leading a company, creating 15,000 jobs, dealing with complex budgets, and handling tremendous pressure is the kind of leadership Maine needs right now. What…

WASHINGTON – A national coalition of left-leaning advocacy groups led by the ACLU hosted a Monday night virtual training dubbed “Eyes on ICE: Document and Record,” urging supporters to document federal immigration operations, even as Washington barrels toward a Jan. 30 funding deadline that could trigger a partial government shutdown tied to DHS spending. The mass call, promoted through ACLU channels and allied organizers, framed “public oversight” of ICE and Border Patrol as essential after two deadly encounters in Minneapolis involving federal agents: the weekend shooting of Alex Pretti, 37, and the Jan. 7 shooting of Renée Good, 37, also…

LEWISTON, Maine — Amy Sussman, the aunt of Lewiston mass shooting victim Maxx Hathaway, said Monday that one nonprofit that received money from the Lewiston–Auburn Area Response Fund has agreed to return it, a development she described as the first meaningful step toward correcting what critics have called a betrayal of donor intent. Sussman has worked tirelessly on this issue and has been successful on getting national getting attention on this sensitive topic. Sussman appeared on Maine Wire TV Monday (Jan. 26, 2026) and said the nonprofit has not yet agreed to be publicly identified, but that the funds are…

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump signaled an intensified focus on Minnesota in a Truth Social post, saying he is sending Tom Homan to oversee matters in the state and report “directly” back to the president. Homan is President Trump’s Boarder Czar. He is tasked with overseeing all U.S. borders, maritime and aviation security, and the administration’s mass deportation efforts. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115961647505369753 In that same post, Trump said the effort will address alleged fraud and took aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar. In a follow-up post, Trump said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called him to request they work together “with respect to Minnesota,”…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills (D) will deliver her final State of the State address Tuesday night, stepping into the House chamber for a prime-time speech as Maine is rocked by a high-profile federal immigration enforcement surge, and as her administration faces intensifying scrutiny over MaineCare spending, suspected provider fraud, and a new federal demand that Maine repay tens of millions tied to autism services. Mills is scheduled to address a joint convention of the Legislature at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, after being invited by Senate President Mattie Daughtry and House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, according to the…

AUGUSTA, Maine – Gov. Janet Mills (D) is urging Maine people to brace for a significant winter storm and lingering extreme cold, announcing that all State of Maine offices will be closed Monday, January 26, 2026. The storm is forecast to begin this afternoon and continue through the day Monday, with snow expected to fall steadily across much of the state. Forecasts call for 12 to 18 inches of snow in Southern Maine, with up to 12 inches possible in the Kennebec Valley and Greater Bangor. With blowing and drifting snow likely, officials are warning of hazardous travel conditions statewide.…

FAIRFIELD, Maine — Maine State Police are investigating the death of a 46-year-old Oakland man who was found on the side of the road in Fairfield Saturday morning. Fairfield Police said they received a 911 call at approximately 8:57 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, reporting a male on Martin Stream Road who was not breathing. Officers responded and contacted the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central after determining the man was deceased. State Police detectives and evidence technicians responded and worked throughout the day conducting interviews and gathering evidence, according to authorities. The deceased has been identified as…

ELLSWORTH, Maine — The Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating an early-morning structure fire at a vacant residence in Ellsworth, the second vacant-home fire in the city in the last 11 days. State fire investigators were called in around 5:51 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, after the Ellsworth Fire Department requested assistance with a fire at a vacant residence at 25 Spruce St. The new investigation comes as an earlier fire at a vacant residence on Water Street, reported Jan. 14, has already been ruled incendiary and remains under active investigation. The Jan. 25 fire remains under investigation by…

BANGOR, Maine — A private jet carrying eight people crashed during takeoff Sunday night at Bangor International Airport, prompting an emergency response and forcing the airport to shut down, according to federal aviation officials The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft was a Bombardier Challenger 600 that went down at about 7:45 p.m. The agency said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with the FAA assisting. https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/status/2015617335264977267?s=46 Officials did not immediately release information about the conditions of the people on board or what caused the crash. Bangor International Airport confirmed a single-aircraft incident involving a departing plane…

State offices will be closed all day Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, due to severe winter storm conditions. Gov. Janet Mills is strongly urging all Maine people to use extra caution if traveling. https://x.com/govjanetmills/status/2015502007231037486?s=46

Imagine spending your Saturday afternoon outside in 8-degree cold, holding signs and chanting hatred at the very people whose job is to take rapists, violent criminals, and sex offenders off the streets, and to remove people who aren’t here legally. If that’s your idea of civic engagement, fine. Protest is a right. But what happened in Lewiston at the “Stop ICE” rally wasn’t just protest. It was performance politics wrapped in hypocrisy. Because here’s the part they don’t want to say out loud: the Maine Wire was the only press outlet banned from a public event where elected officials were…

AUGUSTA — Gov. Janet Mills on Thursday seized on reports of “yet another killing” in Minnesota involving federal immigration agents to launch a blistering political broadside at President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, accusing the administration of “weaponizing” federal law enforcement and demanding that ICE be pulled out of Maine and the rest of the country. In a statement issued by the Governor’s Office, Mills said she was “appalled and heartbroken” by reports of the Minnesota incident, then claimed the Trump administration’s use of federal law enforcement is “not only a grave violation of the Constitution,” but “a…

HARPSWELL, Maine — The Maine Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire that destroyed a home early Friday in Harpswell and left one person with a burn injury. The Cumberland Regional Communication Center received reports of a structure fire at about 2:40 a.m. Jan. 23, 2026, at a home at 7 Hugh Avenue, authorities said. Occupants of the residence alerted neighbors at 5 Hugh Avenue. Residents of 5 Hugh Avenue were safely evacuated by the Harpswell, Brunswick, Orr’s Island, and Bailey Island fire departments, officials said. No injuries were reported among the occupants, though that residence sustained minor heat-related damage.…

CROSS LAKE TOWNSHIP, Maine — Maine State Police arrested a 37-year-old man Thursday after responding to a reported domestic disturbance that led to a prolonged standoff in Cross Lake Township. Troopers were called to a residence at about 7:46 a.m. on Jan. 22, 2026, after a woman reported her boyfriend was making threats and damaging property. The woman left the residence before troopers arrived, police said. Authorities determined the man, Nicolas Dionne of Cross Lake Township, remained inside the home and refused to come out. The Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were activated and responded to…

PORTLAND, Maine – ICE deputy assistant director is firing back at the growing chorus of Maine media and political criticism aimed at “Operation Catch of the Day,” insisting the agency is targeting “national security threats” and “public safety threats”, not people based on ethnicity or country of origin and warning that anti-ICE rhetoric is fueling risks to officers. The Maine Wire’s Steve Robinson and Jon Fetherston spoke with ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde after a ride-along with ICE during Operation Catch of the Day earlier in the day. In the sit-down interview, as questions swirl over arrests tied to…

PORTLAND, Maine — Axios first reported that Gov. Janet Mills flew to California this week for a round of high-dollar campaign fundraisers just as federal immigration agents launched a major enforcement operation across Maine. According to invitations reviewed by Axios, events were planned for San Francisco and Silicon Valley on Wednesday, with another fundraiser scheduled for Thursday in the East Bay. Axios also reported Mills ultimately cut her trip short and returned to Maine by Thursday morning, just in time to face growing backlash and mounting questions about the crackdown unfolding back home. Mills addressed the operation at a Thursday…

PORTLAND, Maine — The City of Portland will open an emergency overnight warming shelter this weekend, operating Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 23, 24 and 2, from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. at 166 Riverside Industrial Parkway. City officials said a free shuttle service will be available to transport guests to and from the warming shelter during operating hours. The shelter phone line and the shuttle can be reached at (207) 810-6727. The weekend opening is part of Portland’s Winter Warming Plan, which the city said was designed in collaboration with community partners to prevent exposure-related hazards among people experiencing…

LEWISTON — Ifraax Saciid-Ciise, a Lewiston Somali interpreter and nonprofit director, is now the face of a widening backlash over how “Lewiston Strong” donations were split after the October 2023 mass shooting, after her organization, IFKA Community Services, was listed among 29 nonprofits that received equal checks from the Maine Community Foundation’s Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund. Records published by MaineCF and show the foundation distributed $1.9 million through its Broad Recovery Efforts & Organizations Fund, with each nonprofit receiving $62,522. IFKA Community Services is included on the recipient list. The dispute has turned into a political and media firestorm. Republican…

LEWISTON, Maine — Republican gubernatorial candidate David Jones is escalating his push for outside scrutiny of donations raised after the 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston, launching an online petition that calls for a federal investigation into how a major relief fund was handled. Jones has attended the last two Lewiston City Council meetings urging councilors to open an investigation into the shooting fund. On Tuesday, he read aloud comments he said he received through the petition, arguing that at best, the council appears disinterested, and, at worst, doesn’t care about what donors intended or what survivors and families expected. https://twitter.com/jones4gov/status/2013796071130976313?s=46…

PORTLAND, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills (D) held a quick press conference Thursday morning at Portland City Hall as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continued what it calls “Operation Catch of the Day” in Maine. ICE announced Tuesday that it launched an immigration enforcement effort in the state. It is not clear exactly how many people ICE has detained in Maine so far. Some of the charges brought against those who have been detained include aggravated assault, false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child. The Department of Homeland Security responded with a statement from Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Entrepreneur and Republican gubernatorial candidate Owen McCarthy today released “Maine 2040: Built to Lead Again,” a comprehensive policy program his campaign says is designed to reverse Maine’s affordability crisis, restore economic opportunity for working families, and bring discipline and accountability back to state government. The plan lays out what it describes as a clear, integrated strategy to make Maine a place where families can afford to live, work, and raise their children, and where the next generation sees a future worth staying for. “For too many Mainers, life has become harder every year,” McCarthy said. “Housing is…

LEWISTON/PORTLAND — Federal immigration agents fanned out across Maine this week under a new enforcement push branded “Operation Catch of the Day,” a DHS-backed effort the agency says is aimed at the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens and one the department used to take direct aim at Democratic Governor Janet Mills.  https://twitter.com/eroboston/status/2014137678980108601?s=61&t=0YYtN-ejTrI-g9_NUvad5Q Fox News first reported that ICE made more than 50 arrests on the first day of the operation, with ICE Deputy Assistant Director Patricia Hyde telling the outlet there are roughly 1,400 targets in Maine. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6388008505112 DHS framed the operation as a public-safety sweep focused on…

LEWISTON, Maine — Lewiston’s City Council voted Tuesday night to appoint Chrissy Noble to fill the vacant Ward 5 seat left open after Iman Osman resigned when his residency controversy and gun charges became too much to withstand. But the appointment is already being hammered across the city, not just over who won, but how the council got there: a withdrawal after the application window closed, a holiday when City Hall was shut, and a behind-the-scenes push that critics say looks like exactly what Maine law warns against, government business drifting into the shadows. The timeline that set off alarms…

AUGUSTA, Maine — The David Jones (R) for Governor campaign said Wednesday it has launched its first statewide video advertisement of the 2026 race, a direct-to-camera spot the campaign describes as a high-impact appeal introducing Jones as a builder, businessman and family man, and as a supporter of President Donald Trump “from day one.”  In the release, the campaign said the ad highlights Jones’ background starting in construction at 17 and building a company, as well as his decision to take state officials to court during COVID-19 shutdowns rather than comply with what it called “Augusta bureaucrats.” In the commercial,…

LEWISTON, Maine — Lewiston’s Ward 5 vacancy was supposed to be filled with a sober, public vetting of applicants. Instead, the council chamber turned into a live, viral farce, complete with a blunt denial, a packed room laughing on cue, and public commenters accusing a would-be councilor of harassing a recovering resident at home. At the center of the spectacle was Kiernan Majerus-Collins, an applicant for the open Ward 5 City Council seat and, notably, the attorney who represented Iman Osman during the residency and gun-charge saga that blew the seat open in the first place. Critics say Majerus-Collins didn’t…

PORTLAND, Maine — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 50 people in Maine as the Department of Homeland Security launched an operation it is calling “Operation Catch of the Day,” according to a Fox News report aired Tuesday on “Special Report.” The segment, reported by Fox News correspondent Griff Jenkins, described the arrests as part of the Trump administration’s broader push to expand immigration enforcement operations into Maine. The reported arrests came after days of speculation, and growing public anxiety, that federal immigration enforcement activity would intensify in Maine’s largest population centers, including Portland and Lewiston. Gov. Janet Mills said…

LEWISTON, Maine — In a late Tuesday vote, the Lewiston City Council rejected an application from Bates College graduate Kiernan Majerus-Collins to fill the Ward 5 seat vacated by his former pro bono client, Iman Osman, before moving to appoint Chrissy Noble to the post. Osman resigned on January 8, 2028 after questions over his address on bail documents following a hearing on two charges that he stole and illegally possessed handguns. After Osman’s resignation, Majerus-Collins, a longtime fan of Lewiston’s Somali community, put his name forward for the open council seat. Only weeks earlier, the “far left” full-time activist…

PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Wire reached out to Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce on Tuesday, seeking his comments and perspective as rumors and reports swirl about an increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in Portland. The latest round of speculation has been fueled by heightened public chatter and online posts claiming immigration arrests, even as key details, including the scope of any enforcement activity, remain unclear without confirmation from federal authorities. Inside the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Joyce has already circulated guidance on how deputies are expected to handle ICE-related situations. In a Feb. 25, 2025, memo to…

FRIENDSHIP, Maine — State fire investigators are probing an explosion and late-night structure fire at a single-family home in Friendship that left an adult woman with substantial, life-threatening injuries. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at about 9:44 p.m. Monday, January 19, 2026, reporting an explosion followed by a fire at a residence at 36 N. Harbor Cemetery Lane, officials said. The Friendship Fire Department responded along with several neighboring departments. Firefighters located an adult female outside the residence and identified her as an occupant of the home. She was treated on scene by Waldoboro Rescue before…

LEWISTON, Maine — Lead Maine, a new conservative education and engagement organization founded by State Rep. Laurel Libby (R), is set to officially launch Tuesday with a sold-out Lewiston event that organizers say underscores rising demand for grassroots leadership and principled civic engagement across the state. All 150 available spots for the launch event sold out in just a few days, according to the organization, which says it aims to educate everyday Mainers on the issues that affect the state, mobilize citizens to drive long-term societal and electoral change, and advance a conservative Maine where individuals, families, and businesses can…

LEWISTON, Maine — The Lewiston City Council is set to vote Tuesday night to fill the vacant Ward 5 seat left open after the Iman Osman fiasco, which erupted over allegations that Osman failed to disclose his address and later resulted in an indictment on gun charges. https://www.themainewire.com/2026/01/tuesday-lewiston-city-council-must-decide-on-new-ward-5-councilor-or-lose-the-pick-to-the-mayor/ Now, as the council faces another high-stakes decision for a city grappling with crime and gun shootings, one candidate has emerged with sweeping support from public safety unions: former councilor Ryn Soule. In a formal recommendation dated Jan. 19, 2026, the Lewiston Police Supervisors Union urged the mayor and city councilors to…

PORTLAND, Maine — U.S. Attorney Andrew Benson issued a statement Monday reminding Mainers that federal law enforcement officers “swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States” as they carry out their duties, including enforcing federal laws “relating to illegal immigration.” Benson said the Constitution “guarantees the right to peacefully assemble and to protest,” calling those protections “fundamental rights that form the basis for a free society.” But, he drew a sharp line between lawful protest and criminal conduct, warning that “acts of violence against other individuals, destruction of property, or obstruction of lawful governmental activity” are not…

LEWISTON, Maine — Safiya Khalid, a former Lewiston city councilor and former employee of Gateway Community Services, is facing sharp criticism after she used profanity to label Maine Wire reporter Steve Robinson a “neo-Nazi” and “white nationalist,” accusing him and his outlet of targeting Somali-owned and immigrant businesses and intimidating elected officials. https://twitter.com/themainewire/status/2013256486659436714?s=61 In the remarks on social media, Khalid alleged Robinson’s work is “propaganda,” claimed Somali and immigrant residents are living in fear, and accused the outlet of doxxing publishing identifying information such as names and addresses, while confronting public officials at their homes. https://twitter.com/themainewire/status/2008239672607080510?s=46 The incendiary rhetoric has…

PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland International Jetport says United Airlines will begin offering the airport’s first-ever nonstop service to California this summer, adding Saturday-only seasonal flights to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) starting June 27, 2026. The Jetport’s announcement, posted Jan. 15, marks a milestone for Maine’s busiest commercial airport: a true transcontinental nonstop link between Portland and the West Coast during peak tourism season. Jetport Director Paul Bradbury called it a “first” for the airport and credited United’s continued investment in the Portland market. https://portlandjetport.org/news/united-airlines-announces-new-non-stop-service-to-los-angeles-and-san-francisco Jetport officials stressed that the Jan. 15 date was the announcement date,…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar on Sunday night, accusing the Minnesota Democrat of being tied to what he called “19 Billion Dollars in Minnesota Somalia Fraud” in a Truth Social post that also suggested she should be jailed or sent back to Somalia. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115919697262007872 Trump’s blast at Omar is part of a broader drumbeat from the president and his administration that has increasingly linked high-profile fraud cases in Minnesota to Somali immigrants, even as federal prosecutors and court records have described a far smaller, though still significant, confirmed total in the best-known…

LEWISTON, Maine — The Lewiston City Council on Tuesday must decide who will fill the vacant Ward 5 seat left open after Iman Osman resigned just days into the new term, closing a brief and chaotic chapter that featured residency questions, a rapidly launched council review, and Osman’s not-guilty plea to two stolen-gun charges less than 48 hours after he was sworn in. The vacancy has triggered a fast-track appointment process at City Hall, with councilors preparing to review applications and select a replacement. It has also reignited a dispute over the city charter and how vacancies should be handled,…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles is escalating his campaign’s law-and-order message with a new social media video accusing Maine’s Democratic governor and Legislature of blocking cooperation between state and local police and federal immigration authorities, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, as rumors swirl about a possible increase in federal enforcement activity in Portland and Lewiston. In the video, Charles portrays Maine as a state at risk, arguing that public safety depends on “deterrence” and close coordination among agencies. He says local and state officers “know better even than ICE where to go find people,” and claims…

SKOWHEGAN, Maine — Maine State Police say a 46-year-old Skowhegan woman whose death was under investigation has been ruled a homicide, and her boyfriend has been arrested on a murder warrant after a pursuit that ended in a crash and standoff in New Hampshire. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta identified the victim as Nicole Jackson. An autopsy conducted as part of an ongoing Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central investigation determined Jackson died from blunt force and sharp force trauma, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Investigators identified Jackson’s boyfriend, 55-year-old Dane Burke…

BANGOR, Maine — A Bangor physician was subjected to verbal threats connected to his race inside Timber Kitchen and Bar last November, an incident captured on video that spread widely across social media and prompted public scrutiny over how the city handles harassment and intimidation in public spaces. The encounter, recorded by a witness and shared online, shows a man aggressively confronting the doctor inside the Bass Park Boulevard restaurant. Viewers identified the man as Robert “Bobby” Jordan. As backlash grew, Jordan deleted his Facebook account, though screenshots of past posts continued circulating among commenters. https://www.themainewire.com/2025/11/bangor-doctor-threatened-in-restaurant-confrontation-police-probe-continues-as-community-outrage-grows/ Bangor Police told The…

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows sent an internal memo to employees instructing them to immediately report the presence of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents near Secretary of State worksites, while laying out strict guidance on what staff may and may not to do if federal agents show up at department facilities. The message, titled “Guidance for all staff,” warns employees they “may have or be getting questions” about ICE activity in Maine “in the coming days.” Bellows wrote that the department wants every employee, and every member of the public who interacts with the Secretary of…

GORHAM, Maine — A 15-year-old has been charged with arson in connection with a fire this week at an abandoned building in Gorham, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Investigators said the fire occurred Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, at a vacant structure at 23 Tow Path Road. The Fire Marshal’s Office reported that a joint investigation with Gorham police and fire investigators determined the juvenile entered the building and intentionally set the fire. The juvenile is charged with Class A arson and was released to the custody of his parents, officials said. Authorities said the juvenile and his parents…

AUGUSTA, Maine — With Maine’s June 9, 2026 primary and Nov. 3, 2026 general election on the horizon, the race to replace Gov. Janet Mills is rapidly becoming a test of organization and money. Mills, a Democrat, is term-limited and has launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate, setting up a rare open-seat contest for the Blaine House that is already attracting a deep bench of candidates across party lines. The figures below, pulled from the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices’ campaign finance disclosure system, show where the money race stands for declared gubernatorial candidates. These totals…

LEWISTON, Maine — Republican House District 94 candidate Janet Beaudoin drew a wave of supporters to a Thursday campaign event in Lewiston, as the Feb. 24 special election for the vacant Maine House seat moves into its final stretch. The seat opened after Rep. Kristen Cloutier resigned effective Oct. 31, prompting a gubernatorial proclamation setting the special election date. Beaudoin, a current Lewiston School Committee member, met with voters at Chick-a-Dee of Lewiston, where supporters gathered to talk local issues and the direction of the city and state. Chick-A-Dee is located at 1472 Lisbon St. Beaudoin’s event was joined by…

PORTLAND, Maine — U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, a Democrat, posted a video to social media warning that Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity could be imminent in Maine, as he and his wife have traveled to Norway during their IVF process. In the video, Platner pointed to public statements from the mayors of Lewiston and Portland indicating ICE could conduct operations in their cities “possibly within days,” urging residents to “rise to this moment and protect our communities and neighbors.” https://twitter.com/grahamformaine/status/2011912114009456838?s=20 Platner’s message comes amid heightened tensions following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis during an ICE…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Leaders in Maine’s two largest cities and Gov. Janet Mills (D) issued statements Wednesday warning residents to “know your rights” amid reports and speculation that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may soon conduct enforcement activity in Lewiston and Portland. Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline (D) said it is his “understanding that there will be ICE enforcement in Lewiston soon,” urging residents and businesses to “have a plan of action” if agents stop someone in the street or visit a home or workplace. He emphasized that Lewiston Police “do not enforce federal law,” and acknowledged the concern the rumors…

PORTLAND, Maine — Maine state Rep. Deqa Dhalac urged Somali-Americans in Maine to pour “our time our money our skills” into Somalia, repeatedly calling Somalia “our country,” while promoting the overseas political campaign of Abdullahi Ali, a former colleague at Gateway Community Services as the embattled nonprofit faces state action, congressional scrutiny, and a Homeland Security visit to its Lewiston office. In an online post promoting Ali’s campaign, Dhalac told supporters gathered “tonight” that the community should rally behind “our brother Dr. Abdullahi Ali,” not only in Jubbaland but from Maine as well. “We are all here tonight to support…

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to cut off federal payments tied to so-called “sanctuary cities,” declaring that states with jurisdictions limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement will be forced to “pay for them” on their own. In a Truth Social post timestamped 6:52 a.m., Trump wrote: “EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY FIRST, NO MORE PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STATES FOR THEIR CORRUPT CRIMINAL PROTECTION CENTERS KNOWN AS SANCTUARY CITIES.” https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115864395969123502 Trump did not specify which funding streams would be affected, how the administration would define a “sanctuary city,” or which states and cities would be…

PORTLAND — Portland Public Schools Board Chair Sara Lentz used the Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, school board meeting to declare that the district “will not support ICE” and that “ICE is not welcome here,” claiming the mere fear of immigration enforcement activity is already showing up in classrooms through lower student attendance. In remarks delivered during the meeting, Lentz said the district has “already” seen attendance drop when families receive information about increased enforcement activity. She said Portland Public Schools takes such reports “very seriously,” investigates what it is hearing, and works with community partners. https://twitter.com/unquirer/status/2011237874809630801?s=20 Lentz also said she…

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia, giving Somali nationals covered by the program until March 17, 2026 to leave the United States or obtain another lawful status. Fox News Digital first reported the administration’s Somalia decision. The end date is laid out in federal guidance and public-facing USCIS updates, which make clear that TPS protections tied to Somalia, including the ability to live and work in the U.S. under that designation, will expire when the termination takes effect. Fox News cited figures it said came from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services showing 2,471…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills says she now supports a “full investigation” into Gateway Community Services after state audits found more than $1 million in overpayments and prompted the suspension of MaineCare payments to the nonprofit, according to a report by WMTW. Earlier this month Homeland Security visited the Gateway Community Services Lewiston office. In a statement released Tuesday, Mills said her administration launched a comprehensive audit of Gateway in January 2023. That audit found overpayments totaling more than $1 million in 2021 and 2022. In December 2025, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services suspended MaineCare payments…

FRYEBURG — MSAD 72 is facing growing outrage over the case of a seven-year-old special-needs student who went missing for more than five hours during district-arranged transportation, but the district’s own official record now adds a new flashpoint: the incident is reduced in the meeting minutes to a single, sanitized line. In the minutes from the Dec. 8 emergency school committee meeting, the public-comment section describes what happened this way: “Kate Joy, parent from Lovell, shared her experience with a transportation concern.” https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hh5mqfh1tzMaaVI_ZXCksWgr2SKDvkCj/view That wording is now drawing sharp criticism from parents and community members who watched Joy confront the…

LEWISTON, Maine — Former Lewiston City Council President Lee Clement is accusing Mayor Carl Sheline, the city clerk and other city officials of mishandling a residency and ballot-eligibility dispute that has roiled City Hall in recent weeks and, he warns, could expose the city to legal consequences. In an open letter addressed to the mayor, councilors, city staff and residents, Clement said the city’s recent turmoil has been “unsettling” and invoked the saying, “All it takes for evil to occur is for good men to do nothing.” Clement’s letter centers on a controversy involving what he describes as an ineligible…

NORTH BERWICK, Maine – A North Berwick man is facing a criminal assault charge after police say he intentionally struck Nicholas Blanchard, known on social media as “Corn Pop,” during Thursday night’s RSU 60 school committee meeting, sending Blanchard’s cellphone flying. North Berwick Police Chief Steven Peasley confirmed in a phone call Monday with The Maine Wire that Trevor Savage, a 35-year-old man from North Berwick, assaulted Blanchard by “throwing an elbow” in what the chief described as an intentional act. Peasley said the matter is being treated as a criminal act and classified as a Class D misdemeanor, which…

LEWISTON, Maine — A Change.org petition is asking U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice to open a federal investigation into the Maine Community Foundation, alleging fraud and misappropriation in the distribution of donations raised after the October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston. The petition says more than $6.6 million was donated to the Maine Community Foundation’s Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund following the Oct. 25, 2023, shooting that killed 18 people and injured 13. It alleges that while about $4.7 million was distributed to people directly affected, roughly $1.9 million was directed to 29 nonprofits for broader…

WASHINGTON — Sen. Susan Collins (R) of Maine, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor Monday evening urging lawmakers to move forward on a three-bill fiscal 2026 appropriations package, as the Senate voted 80-13 to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed. The package combines the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill; the Energy and Water Development bill; and the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill. Collins described the legislation as a bipartisan, bicameral agreement that she said would provide full-year appropriations for departments including Justice, Commerce, Energy and the Interior, while also…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, testifying during Monday’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee meeting in Augusta, acknowledged on the record that “the ballots and envelopes moved outside of the chain of custody while under UPS control”, a direct admission that lands at the center of the controversy that erupted after roughly 250 blank absentee ballots intended for Ellsworth were discovered inside an Amazon package delivered to a home in Newburgh. https://twitter.com/tomshattuck/status/2010890232418222230?s=20 The video, taken from a Maine State Legislature Zoom hearing, shows Bellows explaining that the Secretary of State’s office “used Vital Delivery to deliver the Election…

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump warned Monday that any country that does business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will face a 25% tariff on “any and all business being done with the United States,” according to a post on Truth Social. “Effective immediately,” Trump wrote, adding: “This Order is final and conclusive.” The post was timestamped 4:46 p.m. Eastern on Jan. 12, 2026. The announcement fits Trump’s broader playbook of using tariffs not just as a trade policy, but as a pressure tool to force behavior changes, what he and allies often frame as making governments “pay a price”…

LEWISTON, Maine — The Lewiston City Council voted to suspend its investigation into Iman Osman’s residency at 210 Blake St. soon after he resigned from office, a move that ended the formal inquiry but sharpened lingering questions about how the city handled and failed to confront an address discrepancy that residents say was obvious long before Election Day. Osman resigned in disgrace, less than 48 hours after being sworn in and less than 24 hours after pleading not guilty to two stolen gun charges. With Osman gone, councilors moved quickly to shut down the residency investigation they had only recently…

MAR-A-LAGO, Florida –  In a Truth Social post Sunday morning, Donald J. Trump said Cuba “lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela” and claimed that, in return, Cuba provided “Security Services” for what he described as “the last two Venezuelan dictators.”  https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115876460615555838 Trump said “most of those Cubans are DEAD from last weeks U.S.A. attack” and asserted that Venezuela “now has the United States of America, the most powerful military in the World (by far!), to protect them.” He then wrote: “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!”…