Author: Jon Fetherston

Cops in Maine’s largest city will be spending more time integrating with its various communities, according to an expanded effort by the Portland police. The Portland Police Department announced an expansion of its community policing offices aimed at strengthening relationships with residents, businesses and community organizations across the city. The Midtown Community Policing Office continues to operate at 26 Portland Street, and a new location has opened at 443 Congress Street to serve the Monument Square area. The Community Policing Coordinator will divide time between these two offices. An additional office has been established at 80 Elm Street, which now…

The Newburgh Board of Selectmen’s chairman is growing increasingly frustrated over what he describes as a lack of communication and progress in the investigation into 250 absentee ballots discovered in an Amazon box delivered to a citizen of the Penobscot County town earlier this month. “It’s nine days later and we have no updates. No one from town hall has been contacted by investigators or the FBI,” said Kurt Giles, who heads the board. Giles emphasized that the chain of custody for the ballots is well-documented through the town’s security cameras. He said the woman who turned in the box…

The Senate passed a $878 billion defense policy bill late Thursday by a vote of 77 to 20, advancing legislation that includes provisions aimed at strengthening Maine’s shipbuilders and defense manufacturers. The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) now heads to a conference committee to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R), who chairs the appropriations committee, said “passage of the NDAA is key for setting policy for the nation’s military priorities. The legislation would help address national security threats facing the United States, strengthen Maine’s shipbuilders and defense manufacturers, and ensure…

Maine’s U.S. Senate race is shaping up to be a defining battle not just for the state but for the direction of national politics, and at the center of it is a Democratic challenger whose rhetoric is already sending shockwaves across the political spectrum. Graham Platner (D), a Marine veteran and former security contractor turned oyster farmer, has launched his campaign with a combination of left-wing populism and personal attacks. In a friendly if not gushing GQ profile published Thursday, Platner was glamorized as a new model of Democratic candidate, but the very first sentence overshadowed the flattering profile: “Susan…

The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South is investigating a death in Standish following a call for a disturbance Friday evening. Authorities said deputies from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded to 715 River Road at approximately 6:50 p.m. and located a deceased man inside the residence. The man has been identified as 49-year-old Matthew Hamilton of Cumberland County. The body was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for an autopsy. The cause and manner of death have not been released. The major crimes division is involved in cases where a potential homicide is suspected.…

Fire investigators have confirmed the identities of two victims in a Sept. 21 apartment fire in Portland and determined the blaze was accidental. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner identified the victims as 45-year-old Nicole Niehoff and 40-year-old Jake Millett, both of Portland. The fire broke out at a four-unit apartment building and was investigated by the Portland Fire Department and the Office of State Fire Marshal. Investigators concluded the fire originated on the second-floor back deck of the apartment where the victims died. The cause has been classified as accidental, with careless disposal of smoking materials considered a possible…

Two rallies staged opposite one another in Scarborough on Wednesday highlighted sharply divided views on immigration enforcement in Maine. A pro-law enforcement group, led by Trish Burnell and attended by Republican gubernatorial candidate David Jones and the campaign manager for Robert Wessels, gathered in front of The Holy Donut on Route 1 in support of police and federal immigration officers. Participants waved flags and held signs backing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement agencies. At the same time, an anti-ICE demonstration took place in front of Scarborough Town Hall. The group had originally planned to march and…

Turning Point USA on Thursday announced plans to host “The All American Halftime Show” on Feb. 8, 2026, a live event centered on the themes of faith, family and freedom. The show is scheduled to air opposite the NFL’s official Super Bowl halftime performance, which is set to feature international recording artist Bad Bunny. Earlier this week, President Trump said of Bad Bunny, “I’ve never heard of him, I don’t know who he is.” “I don’t know why they’re doing this. It’s crazy.” The conservative organization described the event as an alternative celebration, positioning it as a cultural counterpoint to…

Town officials confirmed Tuesday that no special permits are required for a pair of demonstrations planned in front of Scarborough Town Hall on Wednesday, where opposing rallies are set to take place regarding federal immigration enforcement. Town Manager Tom Hall said, “police will be on scene as the events unfold near the municipal building at 259 Route 1, directly in front of the police station.” Hall said he “believes organizers received permission from Scarborough High School for participants to use the school parking lot.” John Anderson, a current member of the Scarborough Town Council and chair of the Scarborough Democrats,…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D), who is overseeing the investigation into 250 absentee ballots discovered in an Amazon box in Newburgh on Sept. 30, attended a campaign fundraiser in Lewiston on Tuesday evening. Despite being mired in the largest election integrity scandal since the infamous John Martin ballot-stuffing scandal of 1992, Secretary Bellows nonetheless has found time to make fundraising calls to out-of-state donors and attend in-person events to boost her Democratic gubernatorial primary campaign. [RELATED: Maine Woman Finds Bundles of Election Ballots in Amazon Package…] The Tuesday evening event, hosted at the home of former longtime Democratic…

The search for Lewiston’s next police chief continues as City Administrator Brian Kaenrath spoke with more than 30 concerned residents at a community forum Monday night, fielding pointed questions and concerns about race, policing practices and transparency in the selection process. The community conversation was held at the Gather to Grow Center on Bates Street, and residents voiced their opinions on the city’s policing future. Topics ranged from systemic racism and community trust to calls for reinstating neighborhood patrols. Several attendees urged city officials to consider Detective Joe Filipone, who was recently placed on administrative leave and has been suspended…

U.S. Senator Susan Collins sharply criticized on Monday morning the handling of ballots found improperly delivered to a residence in Newburgh, calling for an independent investigation and raising serious questions about election integrity in Maine. “It’s alarming that these ballots just showed up,” Collins told the Maine Wire. “How did they get there, who sent them, what in the world are ballots being delivered to a house in Newburgh and are there more out there?” The senator’s comments preceded Secretary of State Shenna Bellows hastily calling a news conference in Augusta that afternoon. Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Collins…

The Portland City Council approved plans Monday evening for a new winter warming shelter at 166 Riverside Industrial Parkway following months of discussion over limited space, staffing shortages and challenges in finding a suitable on-peninsula location. City officials said the site was selected because its layout allows for separation between the shelter’s winter warming clients and existing residents. The facility will operate nightly from 7:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., offering food, showers and restrooms, as well as transportation to and from the peninsula for those with mobility challenges. Up to 60 residents are expected to use the shelter during the…

The U.S. Treasury Department announced Friday that it is considering minting new $1 coins bearing President Donald Trump’s image with his raised-fist after surviving an assassination attempt, as part of plans to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. The story, first reported by Fox News and later confirmed by U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, was quickly shared by the White House and its Rapid Response 47 social media account. Images accompanying the announcement showed a silver coin featuring Trump’s face on one side and a depiction of him looking upward and raising his fist in the air in defiance, evoking the moment he…

Houlton Town Councilor Jon McLaughlin resigned Friday, effective immediately, following the arrest of the town manager last week. In announcing he’d be giving up his seat, McLaughlin cited his differences with the town council to keep Town Manager Cameron Clark in his position after his arrest on domestic violence assault and felony witness tampering charges last week. According to his resignation letter, McLaughlin stated that his “perspective differs from that of most of the Council” and that due to this he did not feel he could “contribute effectively” going forward. Later on Friday, Councilor Alexis Brown also announced her resignation for…

Health care entrepreneur Jonathan Bush is expected to jump into the 2026 Maine governor’s race Wednesday in Belfast a move that could upend both parties’ contests amid a swirl of controversy surrounding the state’s top election official – also Democrat candidate for the state’s top job. Bush, a Republican and cousin of former President George W. Bush, has been positioning himself for a run since summer. The Belfast event, which has been promoted as a “major announcement,” is expected to serve as his formal announcement. In recent months, Bush has hosted a podcast entitled ‘Maine for Keeps’ on which he…

A brewing stand-off between political protest and law-and-order solidarity is set for Wednesday, as a Republican organizer has called for a counter-demonstration to an anti-ICE rally slated for downtown Scarborough. Trish Burnell, a U.S. Navy veteran and finance chair of the Denmark, Maine, Republican Town Committee, took to Facebook earlier this weekend to announce she would lead a pro-law enforcement gathering in response to the anti-ICE rally planned by the Scarborough Democratic Committee. [RELATED: Anti-ICE Rally Planned in Scarborough Amid Immigration Enforcement Debate] The anti-immigration enforcement rally is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Oct. 8 the intersection of U.S. Route…

A Southern Maine Community College student has launched a new chapter of Turning Point USA on campus, just weeks after the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, saying the movement’s message of free markets, limited government and individual liberty must continue. It’s the first Turning Point USA chapter on a college campus in Maine. Peter Bernaiche, a computer science major, was officially recognized by both Turning Point’s national office and SMCC’s administration to establish the group earlier this month. He said the effort grew out of a surge in new chapters nationwide following Kirk’s assassination in September. “Charlie Kirk’s passing…

President Donald Trump on Friday issued a blunt ultimatum to Hamas, giving the militant group until 6 p.m. Eastern on Sunday to accept a U.S.-backed peace plan for Gaza or face “all hell, like no one has ever seen before,” a warning he posted on his Truth Social account. In the post, Trump described Hamas as “a ruthless and violent threat” whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel he called a “MASSACRE.” He urged Palestinian civilians in parts of Gaza to move to what he described as safer areas ahead of possible further action. The president said more than 25,000…

Police have arrested two young men in connection with a late-night shooting last week at the Redbank Village housing complex, officials said Thursday. South Portland detectives, joined by multiple law enforcement agencies, executed a high-risk search and arrest warrant on Wednesday at a home on Preble Street in Gorham. Officers took Adam Figueroa-Gomez, 19, of Gorham, into custody without incident. He is the second suspect charged in the case. Figueroa-Gomez faces counts of criminal threatening and reckless conduct, both Class C felonies, along with misdemeanor charges of terrorizing and violating conditions of release. Police had previously arrested Zane Ibrahim, 18,…

WORCESTER, Ma. — A court hearing to consider dismissing charges against Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj has been postponed until Nov. 19, giving the judge additional time to review police body camera footage related to her alleged interference in a federal immigration arrest. Haxhiaj, a progressive Democrat representing District 5 and currently seeking reelection, was charged on June 4 with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery on a police officer and a common law violation of interfering with a police officer. The charges stem from a May 8 incident during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation on Eureka Street.…

Progressive activists are planning an anti-ICE rally in Scarborough next week, according to a Facebook post by the Scarborough Democratic Committee and a discussion at a Cumberland County Commissioners’ workshop on Monday evening. The demonstration is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 4 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and Lincoln Avenue. Organizers say they want to “hold ICE accountable,” but critics argue the rally is part of a broader push to weaken immigration enforcement and undermine local cooperation with federal authorities. The flyer circulated online called for transparency regarding ICE’s Scarborough facility on Manson Libby Road and…

A box containing 250 blank Maine voter ballots was mistakenly delivered to a woman’s home in an Amazon package this week, raising questions about election security and casting a shadow over Secretary of State Shanna Bellows’ newly launched campaign for governor. The story, first reported Wednesday by the Maine Wire, put Bellows on the defensive as she was rolling out her campaign message on protecting voter data and modernizing state services. When asked about the ballots by this reporter Thursday morning, Bellows declined to comment and abruptly walked away. https://twitter.com/BigSteve207/status/1973730050626527386 The Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce held a Business Breakfast Speaker…

Former Market Basket CEO Arthur “Artie T.” Demoulas has filed a countersuit against the supermarket chain, escalating a legal battle over his dismissal earlier this year. Demoulas claims the company breached his employment contract and acted in bad faith. Market Basket has alleged misconduct and mismanagement as justification for the firing. Both suits were filed this week in Massachusetts Superior Court. The countersuit accuses the company of withholding compensation, wrongful termination and damaging Demoulas’ professional reputation. It seeks damages and either reinstatement or compensation equivalent to his expected earnings. Market Basket contends Demoulas failed to meet performance expectations, misused company…

Vice President JD Vance and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a joint briefing on Wednesday afternoon, intensifying pressure on Senate Democrats as the federal government shutdown continued. Vance and Leavitt framed the standoff as a clear choice: reopen the government now, then negotiate policy. They said Democratic demands to tie funding to expanded benefits for noncitizens undermine American workers and threaten core services. GOP lawmakers say nearly all House Republicans and many Senate Republicans have already voted to reopen the government. They are urging moderate Democrats, some privately critical of their leadership’s approach, to join them. Union leaders…

Maine highway safety officials are urging drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution this month as shorter days and increased foot traffic heighten risks during the fall season. The Maine Bureau of Highway Safety is observing October as Pedestrian Safety Month, citing national statistics showing 3,304 pedestrian deaths in the first half of 2024, a 48% increase since 2014. In Maine, pedestrians accounted for 14% of traffic fatalities over the past four years. “Pedestrian safety is a two way street,” Bureau Director Lauren Stewart said. She urged drivers to slow down in high traffic areas while encouraging pedestrians to wear reflective…

President Donald Trump on Wednesday renewed his blistering attack on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, posting a fiery message on Truth Social that accused Powell of undermining the U.S. economy and failing to act boldly on interest rates. In the post, Trump once again lambasted Powell, writing “I really believe that Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell is an OBSTRUCTIONIST!”, asserting that the Fed chair’s reluctance to move aggressively has inflicted serious harm on American families and businesses. The president has said in the past that Powell is “hurting the economy badly” and warned that unless dramatic rate cuts are implemented “very…

Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday blamed Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown, saying they triggered the crisis by insisting on taxpayer-funded health care benefits for immigrants in the country illegally. Appearing on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” Vance said federal workers and military families are suffering because Democrats refused to separate health care policy demands from budget negotiations. “Let’s reopen the government, fix the core issues for our country, and then negotiate,” Vance said, accusing Democrats of “holding the economy hostage.” Vance said the Biden administration revived programs directing federal funds toward emergency hospital services for immigrants in the…

YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump, marking another major victory for Trump in his long running fight against what he has called politically motivated censorship by Big Tech. The settlement, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Northern California, ends a four-year battle over YouTube’s decision to suspend Trump’s account following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The company restored his account in 2023, after years of pressure from conservatives who argued that banning a sitting or former president amounted to an unprecedented assault on free speech. Under the agreement,…

PORTLAND, Maine — Community activists are urging Cumberland County Commissioners to terminate the jail’s contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but Sheriff Kevin Joyce told the board Monday that he is bound to follow the law and cannot selectively enforce it. At the commissioners’ workshop, immigration advocates and progressive groups argued that the county jail should stop housing ICE detainees, despite an agreement that provides the county with nearly $2 million annually. As of Monday, the jail held 63 detainees under the contract, which pays $150 per person per day. Joyce pushed back on claims that the county could…

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — A lockdown at Southern Maine Community College was lifted Tuesday morning after police persuaded an armed man to surrender on campus, authorities said. South Portland police said officers were alerted shortly after 9 a.m. to a 51-year-old Westbrook man near the Spring Point Lighthouse who was threatening to kill himself with a handgun. The man then entered the SMCC campus with a loaded firearm and told authorities he intended to take his own life. The college went into lockdown around 9:15 a.m. as officers responded. A police negotiator reached the man by phone and, after a…

The Department of Homeland Security last week sharply rejected allegations from Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, that immigration officials were blocking detainees from meeting with attorneys, calling the claims false and politically motivated. “Congresswoman Pingree is lying for likes and fundraising dollars,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “Any allegation that ICE is blocking illegal aliens from having legal counsel at immigration appointments is FALSE. These types of smears are contributing to our officers facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them.” McLaughlin added that “DHS responds to official correspondence through official channels.” Pingree’s office last week accused U.S.…

Bailey Island, Maine — Authorities are looking into threats made against the owners of a Bailey Island restaurant after one of them was identified as the driver of a car bearing a bumper sticker that read “MAKE ASSASSINATIONS GREAT AGAIN.” The car reportedly belongs to Susanna “Ray” DeSilva, 32, a Topsham resident and LGBTQ activist who co-owns the Fishnet Café on Bailey Island with spouse Ashley DeSilva, who was born female and now goes by Ray, confirmed ownership of the vehicle when asked Sunday by The Maine Wire. DeSilva said police had advised not to comment publicly, describing the backlash…