Author: Jon Fetherston

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!”…

FREEPORT, Maine – L.L.Bean has promoted chief retail officer Greg Elder to serve as president and chief executive officer, elevating a longtime company executive following what L.L.Bean described as a comprehensive internal and external search for its next leader. Elder has been with L.L.Bean since 2007. In his most recent role as chief retail officer, he oversaw the company’s stores, wholesale, international, and direct-to-business operations. The company said Elder will transition into the top job during the first quarter as L.L.Bean wraps up its fiscal year in late February. Outgoing CEO Stephen Smith will remain in an advisory role through…

LEWISTON, Maine — Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and owner of X, has dragged Lewiston’s Ward 5 vacancy into the national spotlight, amplifying a viral clip tied to a recent public meeting and feeding a growing political storm over who will ultimately choose the next councilor after Iman Osman’s resignation. Musk reposted commentary linked to the Lewiston video and added his own swipe, a move that instantly expanded the audience for a local dispute already boiling over inside City Hall. The post already has more than eleven million views. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2008942864827326802?s=20 Some Lewiston residents are questioning the mayor and the…

AUGUSTA, Maine – A post circulating on social media is drawing new attention to an online discussion in which Maine activists trade ideas for making it harder for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to operate in the state, including calls for “small neighborhood groups” that can “mobilize quickly,” pressure on county jails, and “more extreme” legislation beyond Maine’s current approach. Maine DSA is the Maine chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a national left-wing political organization. DSA chapters typically do electoral work, like endorsing candidates, issue advocacy, and grassroots organizing on campaigns like housing, labor, and immigration. The…

NORTH BERWICK, Maine — A conservative activist who filed a federal civil rights lawsuit this week accusing the City of Augusta and a police sergeant of unlawfully detaining him at an anti-Trump protest says he was kicked out of an RSU 60 school committee meeting Thursday night, as the York County district remains under intense scrutiny following a viral dispute over transgender-related policies and alleged online backlash. Nicholas Blanchard, who identifies himself in court filings as a political activist and Trump supporter, posted on X about the RSU 60 meeting, writing that officials “folded” after he “called their bluff,” while…

LEWISTON, Maine — House District 94 candidate Janet Beaudoin blasted opponent Scott Harriman, Thursday after Ward 5 City Councilor Iman Osman resigned amid a residency investigation and felony firearm charges, accusing Harriman of blocking accountability when it mattered, and pointing to what her campaign describes as a broader record of controversy surrounding the Lewiston councilor. Beaudoin’s statement followed Osman’s resignation in the wake of a City Council vote to investigate his residency at 210 Blake Street, a building condemned since October 2024, and revelations that Osman listed that same address on a bail bond after being indicted on felony firearm…

PORTLAND, Maine — The City of Portland’s Office of Economic Opportunity is teaming up with the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce to relaunch Portland Professional Connections (PPC), a program billed as a fast-track for highly skilled workers, including foreign-trained professionals, to break into the Greater Portland job market through personal networking. City officials and chamber leaders say PPC is built around a simple reality: many jobs are filled through relationships, not job boards. The program aims to “close opportunity gaps” by connecting participants directly with established business and civic leaders who can open doors. “At its heart, Portland Professional Connections…

WELLS, Maine — A Maine State Police cruiser was struck Friday morning while troopers were handling a separate crash along the Maine Turnpike in Wells, sending both a trooper and the other driver to the hospital for evaluation. According to Maine State Police, Troop G troopers were investigating a single-vehicle crash in the northbound median near mile marker 19 at about 7:12 a.m. Three troopers had parked their marked cruisers with emergency lights activated to divert traffic away from the crash site. Trooper Christopher Caldeira was seated inside his marked blue 2020 Ford Explorer cruiser with its emergency lights on…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday that she intends to allow LD 1164, An Act to Create Economic Opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations, to become law, authorizing Maine’s tribal governments to operate online gambling in Maine to support tribal communities and economic development. The bill follows the governor’s signing of LD 585 in 2022, a historic agreement that authorized the Tribes to operate online sports wagering in Maine. “This fall, I met with the five elected Chiefs of the Wabanaki Nations, who each spoke passionately about the importance of this bill in offering life-changing revenue for Tribal communities,…

MEXICO, Maine — The Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating a fire that occurred Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at approximately 7:26 p.m. at 9 Oxford Street in Mexico. Fire investigators have been working the incident over the past several days. The fire occurred at a vacant home and has been classified as incendiary. Investigators are trying to identify an individual in still images who may have information relevant to the investigation. They are also asking nearby residents and businesses to check their security or surveillance cameras for any activity that may be relevant. Anyone with information is encouraged…

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Friday in a Truth Social post that Venezuela is “releasing large numbers of political prisoners” as a sign it is “seeking peace,” and claimed the cooperation prompted him to cancel what he described as a previously expected “second Wave of Attacks.”  https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115864395969123502 Trump posted the statement at 4:19 a.m. Eastern on Jan. 9, 2026, calling the alleged prisoner releases “a very important and smart gesture.” He wrote that the U.S. and Venezuela are “working well together,” particularly on what he described as rebuilding Venezuela’s oil and gas infrastructure “in a much bigger, better, and…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Senate Republicans on the Maine Legislature’s Government Oversight Committee requested Thursday that the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability open an investigation into the Maine Department of Health and Human Services over allegations of fraud involving vendors in MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program. In a letter to the committee’s chairs, Sens. Jeff Timberlake, Brad Farrin and Stacey Guerin asked the committee to approve directing OPEGA to review whether MaineCare vendors have had program integrity or compliance audits and to test the veracity of those audits. The request must be approved by a majority of the bipartisan…

LEWISTON, Maine — What should have been a routine step to fill a vacant City Council seat turned into a drawn-out, almost three-hour drama Thursday night, complete with the council president floating a move the city attorney warned could violate the Lewiston charter and invite a lawsuit. The vacancy opened after Ward 5 Councilor Iman Osman resigned Thursday morning. Thursday evening, councilors were gathered for a special meeting believing they could call a special election, until City Attorney Marty Eisenstein told them the charter does not allow, now that Lewiston holds municipal elections every year. Eisenstein said the charter’s vacancy…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Former Maine Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason officially launched his campaign for governor on Wednesday, jumping into an already crowded Republican primary and pitching himself as the most experienced candidate in a field packed with political newcomers, activists, and repeat contenders. Mason announced his bid through a YouTube video and an episode of his podcast, framing his candidacy around what he called “precision” and “institutional knowledge,” drawing a sharp contrast between himself and rivals he dismissed as political “outsiders” and “hobbyists.” The former Senate leader also aligned himself with President Donald Trump’s political orbit, arguing that his…

CLINTON, Maine — A tractor-trailer hauling grocery goods crashed early Thursday morning on I-95 northbound near mile marker 141, leaving the rig in the median and forcing crews to shut down the passing lane for what officials described as an extensive recovery operation. The Bangor Regional Communications Center received the report at about 3:49 a.m. from a passerby who said the tractor-trailer left the roadway and struck the center median in the town of Clinton. The driver was transported by Clinton Ambulance to Thayer Hospital in Waterville with non-life-threatening injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Because the…

LEWISTON, Maine — Just days after being sworn into office, Lewiston City Councilor Iman Osman stood before a judge Wednesday morning to answer to criminal charges involving a stolen firearm, showing up to court in sweatpants as the political crisis surrounding his election continues to intensify. Osman pleaded not guilty in Lewiston District Court to one count of receiving stolen property and one count of theft by unauthorized taking of a gun. Observers in the courtroom said Osman appeared smug as he stood before the bench. During the hearing, the judge asked Osman if he required an interpreter. He declined.…

WATERVILLE, Maine — Waterville police announced Tuesday that they have seized more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine and an illegal firearm following a monthlong drug investigation that culminated in multiple search warrants late last month. Police said officers executed several search warrants at approximately 4 p.m. on Dec. 30, leading to the discovery of more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of more than $100,000, along with an illegal firearm. The operation involved assistance from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Winslow Police Department and the Fairfield Police Department. Authorities identified Andrew Symonevich, 48, of Waterville,…

WEST PARIS, Maine — A water main break in West Paris has prompted town officials to issue a boil water order for customers of the West Paris Water District. Janet Hebert of the West Paris Water District said the break occurred late Monday night near the Maine Forest Service station at 131 Bethel Road. Residents are being directed to boil all water for one minute at a rolling boil before using it for drinking, making ice cubes, washing food, brushing teeth, or any other activity involving water consumption. The boil water order is in effect until further notice. Hebert said…

LEWISTON, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills announced Tuesday that the Maine Veterans’ Dental Network will continue operating in 2026 after receiving another round of private grant funding, underscoring the program’s ongoing reliance on corporate support to provide basic dental services for veterans. The program will receive a $350,000 grant from Northeast Delta Dental, allowing it to continue offering limited dental care to Maine veterans who do not have dental insurance and cannot afford treatment out of pocket. Launched in 2021 by Mills and Northeast Delta Dental, the initiative was designed as an oral health safety net. Since its creation, the…

AUGUSTA, Maine – The state’s newly released Crime in Maine 2024 report paints a picture of declining crime across most major categories, while also underscoring a fundamental shift in how Maine now counts crime. This year’s publication is the fourth consecutive statewide crime report based entirely on the FBI’s Incident-Based Reporting system, known as IBR, which replaced the long-standing Uniform Crime Reporting program at the end of 2020. The old UCR system, in place since the 1920s, grouped crime into just eight categories. IBR expanded that framework to 29 offense categories, dramatically reshaping how criminal activity is recorded. State officials…

MASARDIS, Maine — Maine State Police Troop F spent much of Monday responding to and investigating three separate crashes involving tractor-trailers across northern Maine, with icy road conditions and heavy loads contributing to multiple incidents that disrupted traffic and damaged vehicles and infrastructure. The first crash was reported shortly after 9 a.m. on Route 11 in Masardis, where a tractor-trailer became entangled in power lines. Troopers determined the driver had just received a load of wood from a local mill and attempted to cross an intersection at the mill with an overfilled load. The boom on the vehicle and the…

PORTLAND, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills on Monday applauded Portland firefighters for their response to last month’s massive Custom House Wharf fire, calling their actions brave and crediting them with preventing even greater destruction along the city’s working waterfront. Mills addressed the Portland City Council to recognize firefighters and mutual aid crews who battled the Dec. 26 blaze in freezing temperatures and dangerous conditions, including limited access and the threat of collapsing structures. The fire destroyed a warehouse used by lobstermen and a maintenance shop. Because of the extensive damage, officials have said the exact cause may never be known.…

PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland City Council unanimously approved a new fee Monday targeting large entertainment venues, a policy born directly out of the heated public fight over a proposed Live Nation concert hall. The ordinance creates a new licensing category for venues holding more than 2,000 people and requires them to pay between 1% and 2% of ticket sales into a newly established Entertainment Sector Trust Fund, which city officials say is intended to support Portland’s arts and entertainment community. The measure emerged after months of backlash over a proposed 3,300-seat downtown concert venue tied to Live Nation. Critics…

AUGUSTA, Maine — Janet Mills announced Monday that she will deliver her State of the State address to a joint convention of the Legislature in the House chamber on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at 7 p.m. Mills was invited by the Legislature’s presiding officers, Senate President Mattie Daughtry and House Speaker Ryan Fecteau. Copies of the invitation and the governor’s acceptance letter were released. In what will be her final State of the State address, Mills plans to thank Mainers for the opportunity to serve and outline what she says is progress made in recent years. The governor is also…

RUMFORD, Maine — A Maine man is facing multiple charges after police said he pepper sprayed a woman and three children inside a Rumford apartment while he was intoxicated. Donald “Harley” Wilson, 41, of Rumford, was arrested Sunday night following the incident at 419 Cumberland St. The Rumford Police Department said that shortly after 7:35 p.m., officers, firefighters and MedCare ambulance personnel were dispatched to the Cumberland Street apartment after the Oxford County Regional Communications Center reported callers screaming and having difficulty breathing. While emergency responders were en route, dispatch advised that a man had reportedly pepper sprayed several people…

LEWISTON, Maine — The Lewiston City Council voted 6–1 to open an investigation into the residency qualifications of newly sworn-in Councilor Iman Osman, a move that intensified criticism over his eligibility to hold office and sparked renewed calls for his resignation. Mayor Sheline and Councilor Susan Longchamps both called for Osman’s immediate resignation. Osman voted against the investigation and did not recuse himself, drawing outrage from critics who said he should not have participated in a vote directly involving his own qualifications. During public comment, Republican gubernatorial candidate David Jones said Osman had just taken the oath of office pledging…

BANGOR, Maine — An Ecuadorian national who had previously been removed from the United States in 2011 and 2016 was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Bangor for illegally reentering the country. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. sentenced William Leonardo Dutan Gagui, 33, to time served. Dutan Gagui had been incarcerated since Sept. 14, 2025. According to court records, Dutan Gagui was a passenger in a speeding van stopped by Border Patrol agents earlier in September. The van was being operated by an illegal alien. When questioned by agents, Dutan Gagui admitted he was a citizen…

ST. PAUL, Minnesota – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is stepping aside from a run for a historic third term after publicly acknowledging the scale of a massive fraud problem that has plagued his state and eroded public trust. In a lengthy statement, Walz admitted that organized criminal activity has exploited Minnesota’s public programs and that the fallout has become so consuming he cannot both campaign and govern. Walz said election-year politics would only distract from what he described as an urgent crisis requiring his full attention. Walz blamed Republicans, national political leaders and what he called opportunistic actors for exploiting the…

AUGUSTA, Maine — As Maine lawmakers reconvene for the second year of the 132nd Legislature, unfinished bills and budget negotiations are being eclipsed by a widening federal investigation into Gateway Community Services, and mounting political fallout for two sitting Democratic lawmakers. Congress is actively investigating Gateway and the roles of state Reps. Deqa Dhalac and Yusuf Yusuf, both of whom have ties to the embattled nonprofit. As scrutiny intensifies, Republican legislative leaders are now calling for concrete action inside the State House. House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham has formally called for Dhalac to be removed from the powerful Appropriations…

AUGUSTA, Maine – Republican gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Bush is seizing early momentum in Maine’s open 2026 governor’s race, with his campaign announcing it has raised more than $1 million as Republicans and Democrats alike jockey for position in one of the state’s most competitive contests in years. Bush, a health care technology executive, launched his campaign in October in Belfast and has positioned himself as an outsider promising economic growth and a shakeup in Augusta. His campaign released the fundraising figure ahead of the state’s next reporting deadline, emphasizing early donor enthusiasm as he seeks the Republican nomination to succeed…

BRUNSWICK, Maine — A 47-year-old Woolwich man was killed Friday night after his vehicle left the roadway on a Brunswick bridge and plunged down an embankment, according to police. Brunswick police said officers were called around 7:30 p.m. to Route 1 near the Route 196 on-ramp after reports of a serious crash. Investigators determined the man was driving a 2013 Dodge Journey on the Route 196 on-ramp toward northbound Route 1 when the vehicle went off the road, traveled up an icy embankment, went over a barrier, and fell to the ground below. The driver, identified by police as Shannon…

AUGUSTA, Maine — After weeks of silence on a growing federal investigation unfolding in her own backyard, Gov. Janet Mills (D) has suddenly found her voice, not on Maine’s unfolding nonprofit scandal, but on U.S. military action thousands of miles away in Venezuela. Mills on Sunday publicly demanded answers from the Trump administration over the U.S. operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, calling the move “dangerous” and “unprecedented” and urging Congress to rein in executive authority. Her comments were swift, pointed, and forceful. Her silence on Gateway Community Services has been none of those. While…

Gov. Janet Mills stepped back into the public eye as two Democrats seeking to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins launched petition drives to qualify for Maine’s June primary ballot, marking the early maneuvering in the 2026 U.S. Senate race. Mills and fellow Democrat Graham Platner are circulating nomination petitions to secure placement on the Democratic primary ballot. Both campaigns are working to gather the required number of valid signatures ahead of the deadline. The governor, who is term-limited and cannot seek reelection, appeared at a campaign event in Biddeford, where volunteers assisted with her petition effort. Platner’s campaign has…

Things are getting interesting in Lewiston, and fast. The Maine Wire was physically present at Gateway Community Services when approximately 15 agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security arrived on scene. This was not a routine audit or scheduled review. Based on the agents’ actions and posture, it appeared they were prepared to execute a warrant and conduct a raid of the office. That effort was halted only because the Gateway office was locked and inactive, a direct result of its funding having already been shut off amid escalating allegations of fraud and state action. The federal presence signals a significant escalation and suggests investigators…

MAR – A – LAGO, Florida – President Donald J. Trump said early Saturday morning that the United States had successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolás Maduro, and that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country. https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2007382016321364308?s=20 Trump made the announcement in a social media post, describing the operation as successful and saying it was conducted in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement. He did not provide additional details about the strike or the circumstances surrounding the capture. According to Trump, more information will be released later. He…

The walls are closing in on the Gateway Communities scandal, and Governor Janet Mills remains silent. What started as questions about MaineCare billing has now grown into a national-level credibility crisis. Congressional scrutiny is underway, with the House Oversight Committee, chaired by Kentucky Representative James Comer, now leading the inquiry into how taxpayer dollars were handled and why warning signs were ignored for so long. National media outlets are paying attention. Investigative pressure is increasing. According to sources familiar with the trajectory of the case, major news is dropping, soon. This is no longer something that can be brushed aside…

A three-alarm fire that tore through Portland’s working waterfront last Friday has left fishermen and fishing-related businesses facing steep losses, prompting an urgent community response and a newly launched relief fundraiser. The fire broke out Dec. 26 on Custom House Wharf, a historic hub of Maine’s commercial fishing industry, damaging vessels, gear, and waterfront operations that are central to the state’s marine economy. For many fishermen, the blaze struck at the height of the winter season, compounding the financial impact. In response, the Maine Coast Fishermen Association announced it has established a fundraising campaign at the request of local fishermen…

As the clock struck midnight on January 1, New York City officially entered a new political era. Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor just after midnight, quietly but decisively taking control of the nation’s largest city, and handing the progressive left its most powerful municipal stronghold yet. At just 34 years old, Mamdani becomes one of the youngest mayors in city history, but his ideology is anything but new. Backed by democratic socialist organizations and the progressive activist class, Mamdani now moves from protest politics to executive power, inheriting a city burdened by high taxes, soaring housing costs, public…

A slate of significant immigration policy changes took effect across the United States as the new year begins, marking another major shift in how the federal government manages visas, border security, and foreign travel. According to reporting from Fox News, the changes touch nearly every major pillar of the immigration system, from work visas to biometric screening at ports of entry, and reflect broader policy moves implemented throughout 2025. One of the most notable changes affects the H-1B work visa program. The federal government has altered how these visas are awarded, moving away from a purely random lottery system and…

MEXICO, Maine — Law enforcement officials in Oxford County are searching for a woman who was reported missing after abruptly losing contact with friends and family. According to the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, Tawnya Woods was last seen in Mexico, Maine, and has not communicated with anyone for more than 24 hours, a situation authorities say is highly unusual for her. Officials believe Woods may be traveling in a green Ford Edge bearing Maine license plate MEDS 24J8. Investigators note that she has known contacts in Maine, New Hampshire, and Florida. The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who may have…

President Donald Trump is escalating pressure on Minnesota officials after federal investigators uncovered what his administration says could amount to $18 billion in Medicaid-related fraud, much of it tied to childcare and social service providers operating in Somali-majority neighborhoods. Speaking forcefully during a New Year’s Eve event, Trump left little room for ambiguity. “They stole $18 BILLION! And that’s just what we’ve heard about,” Trump said.“It’s a GIANT SCAM. We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”“We’re going to GET THAT MONEY BACK! It’s ALL coming back!” https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2006546625569628641?s=20 According to federal authorities, agents have surged into Minnesota in recent…

Maine finished 41st in the nation for total sales and gross receipts tax revenue in 2024, according to a new analysis from Business Daily Network, placing the state firmly in the lower tier of U.S. tax collection from consumer spending and business activity. The ranking measures how much revenue states generate through sales taxes and gross receipts taxes, key funding sources for core government functions such as education, transportation, and public safety. Maine’s low placement reflects the state’s relatively modest level of taxable sales and overall business revenue compared with most of the country. Sales and gross receipts taxes are…

LEWISTON, Maine – Iman Osman is set to be sworn in as a Lewiston city councilor at 6:00 P.M. on Monday 1/5/2026, but his entry into office is anything but routine. On the very night he takes the oath, the Lewiston City Council is scheduled to consider whether he is even qualified to hold the seat. According to the City Council agenda, councilors will meet Monday evening to determine how to proceed with unresolved questions surrounding Osman’s eligibility to represent Ward 5. The discussion follows complaints reviewed in executive session and a council resolve adopted in December authorizing further action.…

President Donald Trump sharply escalated tensions with Iran on Friday, issuing a blunt warning to the country’s leadership as protests continue to spread across the nation. In a message posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump said the United States is prepared to intervene if Iranian authorities use lethal force against peaceful demonstrators. He warned that if the regime “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the U.S. would “come to their rescue,” adding that American forces are “locked and loaded.” The warning comes as demonstrations driven by economic hardship, soaring inflation, and a collapsing currency have spread beyond Tehran to other regions.…

Gov. Janet Mills has spent months on the campaign trail boasting that she “stood up to” President Donald Trump, repeatedly invoking her now-famous line — “see you in court” as proof that she went head-to-head with the White House and won. But beneath the applause lines and campaign slogans, the legal reality tells a far less triumphant story, and one that is beginning to wear thin with Maine voters. The central legal fight Mills points to has not been decided, has not gone to trial, and remains fully unresolved, with a federal court date set for April 1, 2026. Despite…

As working families in Maine and Massachusetts get crushed by higher taxes, higher rents, and higher grocery bills, two governors keep insisting the answer is always the same: spend more. But 2025 has made one thing painfully clear, the problem isn’t a lack of money. It’s a lack of accountability. From Washington’s multibillion-dollar fraud prosecutions to scandals unfolding right here in New England, taxpayers are watching public dollars evaporate while Democratic governors Maura Healey and Janet Mills either dodge questions or hide behind bureaucracy. A National Warning Sign the Governors Can’t Ignore This summer, the U.S. Department of Justice announced…

As 2025 winds down, one-word towers above the rest in American public life: fraud. Not inflation. Not immigration. Not even war.Fraud. From city halls to state agencies to the halls of Congress, revelations of waste, abuse, deception, and outright criminality have dominated headlines in 2025. What once might have been dismissed as isolated incidents has hardened into a pattern, one too consistent, too widespread, and too bipartisan to ignore. We are not learning about a single scandal.We are learning about a failure of leadership. At the federal level, scandals that shook public confidence did not merely expose procedural abuse, they…

Hundreds of participants are set to ring in the New Year by charging into the Atlantic Ocean in front of The Brunswick during the 2026 Lobster Dip, a benefit for Special Olympics Maine. For details and registration information, visit the event page on the Special Olympics Maine website. Now in its 38th year, the Lobster Dip is Special Olympics Maine’s largest one-day fundraiser, supporting year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health and leadership programs for more than 5,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities across the state. The event will feature two separate “waves,” with the first scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and…

Federal agents visited a property in Lewiston on Tuesday that has been the source of repeated reports of fraud and criminal activity, according both to local reports and a recent tweet by Homeland Security Investigations’ New England branch. As Lewiston city officials and state leaders have largely ignored, or minimized, the growing scandals surrounding a condemned building on Blake Street and some politically-connected “non-profits,” there are indications that U.S. Department of Homeland Security is taking a very different posture. Sources familiar with the situation tell The Maine Wire that federal authorities are paying close attention to issues local officials failed…

A rollover crash in Buxton on Monday injured four people, including one person who was ejected from the vehicle, according to police. Officers said they found a Mercedes-Benz SUV on its side in the woods near 142 Haines Meadow Road around 2:50 p.m. Police said the SUV rolled over several times, causing one person to be ejected. The driver, a 20-year-old man from Massachusetts, and his three passengers, including the person who was ejected, were taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Police said speed appears to have been a factor in the crash.

Democratic state Rep. Deqa Dhalac (South Portland) is facing intensifying scrutiny as a widening state and federal investigation into alleged MaineCare fraud at Gateway Community Services continues to engulf Augusta, raising serious questions about political oversight, conflicts of interest, and accountability inside Maine’s one-party power structure. Gateway, a Portland-based nonprofit that once employed Dhalac in senior leadership, was recently cut off from MaineCare funding after the Maine Department of Health and Human Services determined there was a credible allegation of fraud. The decision triggered furloughs, forced dozens of employees to apply for unemployment, and sent shockwaves through Maine’s nonprofit and…

Maine Republicans intensified their attack Tuesday over alleged MaineCare fraud tied to Gateway Community Services, warning that the case exposes systemic failures in oversight, and calling out top Democratic leaders by name for what they described as a stunning lack of accountability. The escalation follows last week’s decision by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to suspend all MaineCare payments to Gateway Community Services LLC after determining that “there exists a credible allegation of fraud.” At a State House press conference, Republican lawmakers said the Gateway case highlights a broken system in which more than 5,000 organizations bill…

Police are searching for the driver of a silver SUV who struck a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk Sunday evening and then fled the scene. According to police, a 25-year-old pedestrian was hit near 654 Riverside Street around 6:50 p.m. Witnesses told officers the pedestrian was legally crossing the street when the vehicle struck them. The SUV reportedly stopped briefly before driving off toward Forest Avenue. The victim was transported to Maine Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the vehicle involved is believed to be an older-model silver Honda CR-V. The Portland Police Department is asking anyone who witnessed…

Federal agents are now going door to door at businesses across Minnesota as part of a sweeping fraud crackdown, a dramatic escalation that has put Democratic Gov. Tim Walz under intense scrutiny for allegedly allowing years of abuse of taxpayer-funded programs to continue unchecked. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed Monday that its investigators are visiting what it calls “suspected fraud sites,” signaling a tougher enforcement posture amid mounting evidence of widespread fraud tied to childcare and Medicaid-related programs, highlighted by the viral video by independent journalist Nick Shirley. Videos posted by U.S. Department of Homeland Security show agents…

President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States “hit” a dock in Venezuela where drugs were allegedly being loaded onto boats, a statement that would mark the first known land strike in the country since his administration escalated its campaign against Venezuelan drug trafficking. Trump’s comments followed remarks he made last Friday during a radio interview on Cats and Cosby, where he said the U.S. had “knocked out” a “big facility” in Venezuela tied to drug shipments. He did not provide specific operational details. Speaking Monday as he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club, Trump…

Gov. Janet Mills (D), a candidate for the U.S. Senate, is trumpeting a $190 million federal health care award for Maine’s rural communities as her achievement even as the funding originates from a program authored and advanced in Washington by her general-election opponent U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that Maine will receive more than $190 million in Fiscal Year 2026 through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion, five-year federal initiative designed to support rural hospitals, health care providers, and medical infrastructure nationwide. “This award through the Rural Health Transformation…

President Donald Trump warned Monday that Hamas must disarm within a “very short period of time” under the terms of a ceasefire agreement with Israel, signaling severe consequences if the militant group fails to comply. “They’re going to be given a very short period of time to disarm. And we’ll see how that works out,” Trump said during a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump said U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who has previously worked on Middle East peace efforts, will oversee Hamas’s compliance with the agreement. “But if they don’t disarm…

U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) announced Monday that Maine will receive $190 million in first-year funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion federal initiative aimed at supporting rural health care systems nationwide. Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the funding is part of a five-year program that will distribute $10 billion annually and represents the largest single federal investment in rural health care in more than two decades. Maine, the most rural state in the nation with the oldest population, faces unique pressures on its health care system. The Rural Health Transformation Program was proposed…

Maine Republican legislative leaders will hold a press conference Tuesday to discuss allegations of MaineCare fraud involving Gateway Community Services, saying the matter may represent only the “tip of the iceberg.” The briefing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at the Maine State House Welcome/Press Center. According to a media advisory released Monday, Republican lawmakers plan to address allegations connected to Gateway Community Services and raise broader concerns about oversight of the state’s MaineCare program. The event will be hosted by members of the Republican caucuses in the Maine Legislature. Media inquiries were directed to Jared Hirshfield…

The Togus Veterans Administration Medical Center is preparing to begin accepting veterans transported by ambulance starting January 1, 2026, after a federal directive required VA hospitals with emergency departments to receive ambulance patients or face a downgrade that would significantly limit hospital services. Under the federal mandate, any VA facility operating an emergency department must accept ambulance arrivals. Facilities that do not comply would be reduced to Level 2 urgent care status, eliminating operating room access and inpatient capacity. Officials say Togus VA Medical Center is working toward readiness by the January 1 deadline. The emergency department is open 24…

Maine marked a year of notable losses in 2025, as prominent figures from politics, business, athletics, and the arts passed away, closing chapters on careers that helped shape the state’s public life, economy, and cultural identity. State and local government lost several longtime public servants. Jerome G. Plante, a former state legislator who later served as town manager in Old Orchard Beach, died February 8. Kathleen Watson Goodwin, who represented her district for five terms in the Maine House, died February 15 at age 84. Malachi F. Anderson, a Republican lawmaker and fixture in state politics, died June 18 at…

A condemned building tied to a federal drug bust is continuing to appear on paper as a business address and political residence, raising fresh questions about oversight, enforcement, and whether Maine is drifting toward the same kind of accountability failures now rocking Minnesota. The property at 210 Blake Street has been condemned by the City of Lewiston since October 2024, making it illegal to occupy for residential or commercial use. City records show the building lacks a valid certificate of occupancy and has no approved plan for reopening. Yet despite its shuttered status, a simple online search still links the…

Maine residents will see higher taxes and fees across multiple everyday purchases starting January 1, 2026, as a slate of new state laws take effect, raising costs on tobacco, cannabis, digital subscriptions, and fishing licenses. One of the largest increases targets tobacco products. For the first time in roughly 20 years, Maine’s cigarette tax will jump, with the tax on a pack of cigarettes rising from $2 to $3.50. Taxes on other tobacco products will also spike sharply, increasing from 43 to 75 percent. Adult-use cannabis will also cost more at the register. The state’s retail cannabis tax rate will…

A Corinth man is facing a murder charge following a fatal shooting Saturday morning at a Main Street residence. According to authorities, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded at approximately 8:28 a.m. on Dec. 27 to a report of a shooting at 344 Main Street. Deputies arriving at the scene found 41-year-old Abigail Thomas of Corinth dead from an apparent gunshot wound. The sheriff’s office requested assistance from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North and the Maine State Police Evidence Response Team. Thomas was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy…

A Christmas Day house fire in Brunswick was quickly brought under control Thursday afternoon, with investigators pointing to an electrical malfunction linked to a portable generator as the likely cause. Just after 3 p.m. on December 25, 2025, the Brunswick Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 36 Bridge Road. Fire crews arriving on scene observed heavy smoke coming from the roof area and rear eaves of the residence. Firefighters entered the home and located a fire on the second floor, with the heaviest involvement in the ceiling area above an industrial-style fan. Crews were able to quickly…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is again under fire as the League of Women Voters of Maine steps in to back her refusal to turn over voter registration data to the federal government — even as Bellows has acknowledged that non-Mainers have been registered to vote and the state faces an unfolding Bureau of Motor Vehicles scandal involving alleged cheating on licensing exams. https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/2003096717936189908?s=20 The League, which has existed for more than a century and brands itself as a defender of election integrity, joined a lawsuit this month supporting Bellows and the State of Maine against the U.S. Department…

As Maine continues to grapple with fallout from the Gateway Communities scandal and other nonprofit controversies, Gov. Janet Mills has quietly blocked a slate of worker- and senior-focused tax relief measures approved by Congress in 2025, leaving Mainers paying more in state taxes even as federal taxes fall. Earlier this year, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a sweeping tax reform package designed to ease the burden on working families, seniors, and small businesses. The law excludes tip income from taxation, allows deductions for overtime premiums, adds a $6,000 deduction for seniors, provides deductions for car loan…

Maine State Police are investigating the death of a one-year-old child who was found unresponsive Sunday morning at a residence in the town of Milford. The child was discovered on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. Under state statute, the Maine State Police investigate all deaths involving children under the age of three. Authorities said there is no danger to the public. The investigation remains active, and no additional information is being released at this time.

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, working alongside the Portland Fire Department, is continuing its investigation into a Friday evening fire that tore through buildings at 25 and 27 Custom House Wharf. The blaze caused significant damage to multiple sections of the attached structures, including storage and maintenance areas used by fishermen and lobstermen, trap repair shops, and waterfront businesses such as Nanuq Kayak and Maritime Antiques. The Sea Bag Factory Store was also impacted, though officials say the full extent of the damage has not yet been determined. First reported at 5:30 pm on Friday, firefighters had the blaze…

The Maine Mariners have canceled their scheduled home games this weekend after a player strike over a stalled collective bargaining agreement brought ECHL play to a halt. The Mariners were set to host the Worcester Railers on Friday and the Trois-Rivières Lions on Saturday at the Cross Insurance Arena. Both games were postponed as members of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association initiated a work stoppage tied to negotiations with the ECHL. In a joint statement released ahead of Friday’s scheduled puck drop, the Mariners and the league said the strike required the immediate postponement of the games and warned that…

PORTLAND, Maine — Crews battled a large fire Friday evening on Commercial Street along Portland’s working waterfront, prompting a third-alarm response at Custom House Wharf, according to the Portland Fire Department. People on Casco Bay Lines ferries saw the flames on Custom House Wharf and called the Portland Fire Department around 5:30 p.m. https://twitter.com/portlandoldport/status/2004709580010369041?s=46 At a press conference Friday night, Deputy Fire Chief John Hendrix said the fire burned primary electrical lines, creating a significant hazard for firefighters. Because of the danger, officials requested that power be shut down across the area until utility crews could safely regain control, resulting…

Let’s be clear: the collapse of Gateway Communities did not come out of nowhere.It happened on Janet Mills’ watch, after years of warnings, known overbilling, and willful state inaction. Now, 30 employees have been furloughed, told to apply for unemployment, and effectively discarded after the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) finally shut off the taxpayer spigot. The workers are furious and they should be. Because the state knew. And it did nothing. Janet Mills Knew to Let It Continue Anyway Governor Janet Mills was well aware of Gateway Communities’ problems. The organization was caught overbilling as early…

President Donald J. Trump announced late Tuesday that the United States launched a “powerful and deadly” military strike against Islamic State terrorists operating in northwest Nigeria, citing brutal attacks against Christians in the region. In a sharply worded statement released Christmas week, Trump said the operation was ordered under his authority as commander in chief and targeted ISIS militants he accused of “viciously killing” innocent Christians at levels not seen in many years. Trump said the terrorists had been warned previously that continued violence against Christians would result in severe consequences. According to Trump, U.S. forces carried out what he described as “numerous perfect strikes,”…

Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of a residential fire that tore through a home on Canaan Road early Friday morning. The Pittsfield Fire Department responded to the blaze at 693 Canaan Road on Dec. 26 and found the structure heavily involved when crews arrived on scene. Due to the severity of the fire, the department requested assistance from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. State fire investigators determined the fire originated in the ceiling area of the kitchen. Based on information currently available, officials said the fire is not considered suspicious. Investigators noted that additional interviews…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida over the weekend to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and broader efforts to end the nearly four-year war with Russia. Zelenskyy told journalists that the leaders will meet Sunday and that a proposed 20-point plan under discussion is “about 90 percent ready.” He said the talks will focus on security guarantees for Ukraine, along with an “economic agreement,” though he could not confirm whether any deal would be finalized. Territorial issues will also be raised, Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine would like European countries to be involved…

The Maine State Police have confirmed a murder-suicide following the discovery of two deceased adults at a Tremont residence earlier this week. According to authorities, Southwest Harbor police responded to a 911 call at approximately 8:57 a.m. on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, reporting an incident near 11 Big Rocks Road. Officers arriving at the scene found two adults deceased. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North took over the investigation in coordination with Southwest Harbor police. The Maine State Police Evidence Response Team was dispatched to process the scene and collect evidence. Investigators identified the deceased as 78-year-old Jyoti…

Maine politics in 2025 were defined by confrontation, controversy, and growing public distrust, as a high-stakes U.S. Senate race, mass street protests, election controversies, and mounting scrutiny of state and nonprofit institutions reshaped the political landscape heading into pivotal midterms and a gubernatorial election in 2026. The year’s most consequential development came when Gov. Janet Mills (D) launched her U.S. Senate bid, instantly nationalizing Maine politics and recasting the state as a battleground. Mills centered her campaign on a familiar and deliberate message: that she “stood up to Trump,” repeatedly invoking clashes with former President Donald Trump as proof of…

More than two years after the deadliest mass shooting in Maine history, victims and their families say they are still searching for answers — not only about how to recover from the violence that shattered their lives, but about how millions of dollars donated in the tragedy’s aftermath were ultimately spent. The October 25, 2023, shooting at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston killed 18 people and wounded 13 others, prompting an outpouring of national sympathy and charitable giving. In response, the Maine Community Foundation established the Lewiston–Auburn Area Response Fund to collect and distribute donations tied to the…

A widening investigation by the U.S. House Oversight and Accountability Committee into alleged Medicaid fraud has placed new scrutiny on the background and political career of Deqa Dhalac, a Democratic lawmaker from South Portland whose prior leadership role at a Maine nonprofit has become a focal point of state and federal review and an issue in Maine’s broader political debate over public spending and oversight. The inquiry is being led by Congressman James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee. It centers on Gateway Community Services, a Portland-based organization that has received tens of millions of dollars through MaineCare, the…

A sweeping crime crackdown launched by the Trump administration, including the controversial deployment of National Guard troops in the nation’s capital, has coincided with a steep nationwide decline in murders, according to newly released crime data, even as the effort faces mounting legal and political challenges. President Donald Trump has made restoring law and order a centerpiece of his second term, directing federal agencies to take a more aggressive role in combating violent crime and intervening in cities struggling with rising homicide rates. Preliminary data from the Real-Time Crime Index shows murders nationwide are down roughly 20 percent in 2025…

A new statewide economic analysis released this month paints a stark picture of prosperity split sharply between the greater Portland metropolitan area and much of rural Maine, with data showing decades of uneven growth, persistent joblessness and widening disparities in job quality and basic economic security. The State of Working Maine 2025 report from the Maine Center for Economic Policy examines trends across six regions of the state and finds that economic opportunity in Maine is shaped not by geography alone but by public policy decisions that have bolstered growth in Portland while leaving large swaths of western and northeastern…

Influenza cases are surging across Maine far earlier and harder than health officials typically see, with new data showing infections and hospitalizations more than doubling in a single week. According to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 864 flu cases were reported statewide for the week ending Dec. 20, up sharply from 320 cases the week before. Hospitalizations tied to influenza also spiked, jumping from 27 to 69 over the same period. “We anticipated a bad flu year, and we are certainly seeing that. It’s been horrible so far,” said Dr. Laura Blaisdell, a Portland pediatrician and infectious…

The White House has ordered U.S. military forces to focus almost exclusively on enforcing a so-called “quarantine” of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months, signaling that the Trump administration is doubling down on economic warfare, rather than direct military action to squeeze the regime in Caracas. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the directive reflects the administration’s belief that sanctions and oil interdictions can force rapid concessions from Venezuelan leadership. “While military options still exist, the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is…

SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Scarborough firefighters were called to the scene of a serious motor vehicle crash Friday afternoon that required extrication at the intersection of Haigis Parkway and Payne Road, according to a post from the Scarborough Professional Fire Fighters. Multiple Scarborough agencies responded to the collision, with Saco crews providing mutual aid along with an ambulance. Fire officials noted that other crews were simultaneously tied up responding to storm-related calls and medical emergencies across the area. Authorities had not released information on injuries or the cause of the crash as of Friday afternoon.

For years, Maine’s legacy media landscape operated with a familiar hierarchy: big newspapers and TV stations decided what mattered, and smaller outlets followed their lead. That hierarchy is now broken, and The Maine Wire is the reason why. Once dismissed as an upstart, The Maine Wire has become one of the most consequential investigative forces in Maine and New England, breaking major stories that now routinely shape state, regional, and even national news cycles. And as its influence has grown, so has an uncomfortable reality for legacy outlets: they are no longer leading, they are following. Increasingly, they are doing…

LEWISTON, Maine — Iman Osman, a Lewiston city councilor-elect and current school committee member, is heading toward a collision with City Hall as he faces a felony firearm indictment, unresolved residency questions, and mounting pressure from the mayor to step aside, pressure Osman says he intends to ignore. Osman, who was appointed to the Lewiston School Committee in December 2024 by Mayor Carl Sheline, won election to the Lewiston City Council and is scheduled to be sworn in this January. Despite the legal cloud hanging over him, Osman told this reporter he plans to serve on the council and has…

State fire investigators have arrested two men in connection with a house fire in Augusta that authorities say was intentionally set, with both suspects allegedly committing the crime while already out on bail for other cases. Investigators with the Office of the State Fire Marshal arrested 27-year-old Samuel Howard of Pittston and 32-year-old Trevor Shorette of Augusta following a month-long investigation into a November 15, 2025, fire at a residence on Lilac Lane. According to investigators, Augusta Police Dispatch received a 911 call at approximately 5:16 a.m. reporting a house fire at 16 Lilac Lane. The Augusta Fire Department and…

Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Sen. Mark Warner (D) aimed at strengthening the security of U.S. elections has been signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The election security provision originates from the Strengthening Election Cybersecurity to Uphold Respect for Elections through Independent Testing (SECURE IT) Act, which Collins and creepy Warner introduced in May. Language from the bill was incorporated into the annual defense authorization and directs the Election Assistance Commission to require penetration testing for election systems seeking federal certification. The testing is designed to…

The federal government will resume wage garnishment for student loan borrowers in default beginning in early 2026, ending a pandemic-era pause on one of the most aggressive federal debt collection tools. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the government will begin sending notices the week of January 7, 2026, informing borrowers that their employers may soon be required to withhold a portion of their paychecks to collect overdue federal student loan debt. Initial notices will go out to roughly 1,000 borrowers, with the number expected to increase monthly. Federal student loan borrowers are considered in default after 270 days…

Governor Janet Mills has ordered all State of Maine government offices closed Wednesday, December 24, as an overnight storm system is expected to bring hazardous travel conditions across much of the state. The National Weather Service has forecast widespread snowfall for most of Maine and warned that some areas could experience extremely dangerous travel conditions. The storm is expected to impact travel beginning this afternoon, continuing overnight and into Wednesday morning. “This storm is anticipated to create slick travel on Christmas Eve. If you’re traveling on Tuesday or Wednesday, please take necessary precautions to arrive safely at your holiday destination,”…