Author: Seamus Othot

A bill that would have allowed Mennonites to self-insure their vehicles so that they could comply with a religious prohibition on commercial insurance narrowly failed in the Maine House on Thursday, after one Democrat changed her vote at the last minute after initially voting in favor. [RELATED: Anti-ICE bills, Insurance for Mennonite Drivers and a Possible January 6th Showdown: Legislative Scouting Report for May 13…] “Mennonites are a group of people that believe very strongly that they are to take care of themselves and provide for their own. One of the tenets of their faith is that they do not…

A group Democrats, led by Rep. Deqa Dhalac (D-South Portland), put forward a bill late in the current legislative session aimed at helping illegal immigrants remain in the country and stopping local law enforcement from assisting federal efforts to enforce immigration laws. If passed, it would hand-cuff Maine police from cooperating with federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) which have stepped up their activities in Maine and nationally in recent months. [RELATED: Anti-ICE bills, Insurance for Mennonite Drivers and a Possible January 6th Showdown: Legislative Scouting Report for May 13…] The bill, LD 1971, is titled An Act…

The Worcester, Mass., Police Union is calling City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj “unfit to serve” and demanding an ethics investigation after she allegedly tried on Thursday to physically prevent local police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from arresting an illegal immigrant accused of assaulting a pregnant woman. [RELATED: Newly-Declared Massachusetts Transgender Sanctuary City Rolls Out New DEI Training for Firefighters…] “This councillor participated in the conduct of the unruly crowd, and eventually assaulted both Worcester police and federal law enforcement officers on scene. Her behavior also emboldened others to act in this manner. The conduct of this anti-police activist…

A Portsmouth, New Hampshire assistant track coach was arrested last month in South Portland as part of a child prostitution sting operation after he allegedly tried to solicit sex from a 14-year-old girl. [RELATED: New Hampshire School Teacher Arrested in Sting Operation After Soliciting Sex from a 12-Year-Old While on the Job…] Joseph Auger, 27, allegedly brought $150 in cash to a Best Western hotel in South Portland, intending to use it to purchase sex from a 14-year-old girl. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents posted a fake advertisement on a website known for child sex trafficking, along with a…

An activist group in Dexter has secured enough signatures to force a recall vote for two conservative Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 46 school board members, which will be held during the town’s next local election on June 10. [RELATED: Another Maine School District Removes Pro-Trans Policy after Overwhelming Board Vote…] “Three people on this committee ran for the school board seats last fall and lost their bids. Now they are attempting to reverse the will of the people. They have with some success attacked my family, my church, my businesses and my husband’s credentials,” School Board Member Alisha Ames…

The Waterville teacher, who made international headlines late last month after publicly calling for the assassination of President Donald Trump and his supporters, issued a strange apology on Facebook. She blamed insomnia, rape, and domestic abuse for her outburst calling for violence before deleting the apology. [RELATED: Waterville Teacher Calls on the Secret Service to Assassinate Trump, Says She’d Do It Herself if She Could…] “I had a mental breakdown due to severe insomnia and the stress of trying to cope with trauma inflicted on me by a domestic abuser and rapist, but I have sought the help I needed…

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Justice has selected Lewiston’s Maine Resiliency Center to receive an $8,526,240 grant to aid in their work for the victims of the October 25 Lewiston shooting. [RELATED: Maine Community Foundation Faces Scrutiny After Directing Nearly $2 million in Donations for Lewiston Shooting to Varied Local Nonprofits…] “The Lewiston shooting robbed the lives of 18 innocent people and shook the community and our entire state to its core. A year and half later, others injured are still recovering from that horrific day. As the community works to rebuild, the Maine…

Detectives from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office arrested three people early Friday morning after they were allegedly caught tearing down overhead Consolidated Communications cables for the copper in the wires, which presumably they would have sold for scrap had they not been apprehended. [RELATED: Convicted Murderer who Fled Brazil to Illegally Enter and Hide in US Under Biden Admin Arrested by ICE…] The Sheriff’s office has been engaged in a weeks-long investigation into a string of cable thefts in the Midcoast area that Consolidated Communications estimates have amounted to $230,000 worth of lost profits and damages. Detectives arrived at Jefferson…

Maine’s Regional School Unit (RSU) 24 school board voted on Tuesday to join the Hodgdon School Board in defying Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) by revoking its transgender policies, including those allowing students to use bathrooms and other facilities based on gender identity rather than biological sex. [RELATED: Hodgdon School Board First to Defy Mills and Comply with Federal Law by Barring Males from Female Sports…] “In a 7-1 vote RSU 24 voted to rescind its previous transgender policy (pictured here) which also included recognizing the student’s identity even in defiance of the parent’s wishes. I applaud and support the Board’s…

Rep. Laurie Osher (D-Orono) presented a bill before the Committee on Housing and Urban Development on Tuesday that would establish what appears to be discriminatory LGBTQ drug recovery housing that must be operated by LGBTQ-identifying recovering addicts. [RELATED: Maine Pushes State Sponsored LGBTQ “Outdoor Extravaganza”…] “The goal of this bill is to address the shortage of safe and affirmative recovery housing options for LGBTQIA Mainers.” said Rep. Osher, presenting her bill. Osher lamented that, out of the over 900 recovery residences across the state, only eight explicitly state that they serve LGBTQ people. Existing anti-discrimination laws require any of those…

The Maine District of the U.S. Marshals Service issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday for Kristofer G. Haken, 46, an allegedly dangerous biker gang member wanted federally as well as in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Haken, of Londonderry, New Hampshire, has a November 8, 2024, arrest warrant for two counts of elevated aggravated assault and one count of criminal conspiracy from the Portland Police Department. The initial incident leading to the arrest warrant took place on July 30, 2024, on Forest Ave. in Portland. During that incident, numerous suspected members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club were arrested in connection…

The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources voted unanimously last month in favor of a bill from Rep. Arthur Bell (D-Yarmouth) that would prohibit the sale of an array of new appliances that fail to comply with Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) rules. [RELATED: Trump Ends War on Water Pressure with Executive Order to ‘Make American Showers Great Again’…] “At its heart this bill is about efficiency: efficient use of dollars spent on electricity, gas and water. This bill will save Maine ratepayers approximately $3 million annually in 2030, and up to $9 million annually in 2040. These are dollars…

Rep. Katrina Smith (R-Palermo) presented a bill on Monday on behalf of House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor), addressing vague Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) language by requiring agencies to define what they mean by “equity.” [RELATED: AI Startup Reveals DEI-Related Language Embedded in Maine Education Laws…] “At its core, LD 1593 is about transparency, accountability, and public trust. It does not seek to interpret the social or political intentions behind equity initiatives. Instead, it seeks to ensure that when public institutions invoke the term ‘equity’ to justify actions such as adopting personnel policies, awarding contracts, or shaping…

An unidentified man was caught on camera allegedly keying a Tesla on Sunday outside a Portland Hearts of Pine soccer game, and the vehicle’s owner is offering a $500 reward to anyone who can identify the alleged vandal. [RELATED: Alleged ‘Queer’ Tesla Vandal Charged In Connection With GOP Firebombing…] “Last night at the @hearts_sc game, my car was keyed. It was parked in Deering Park near the tennis courts. Thanks to Sentry mode, Mike found footage of the individual keying the car. I’m unsure if this person attended the game, but I did find a couple of photos from the…

Sen. Anne Beebe-Center wants to limit celebrations and curtail Mainers’ fun with a bill to reduce the hours allowed for commercial fireworks usage and increase penalties for violations that came up for public comment during a public hearing on Monday. [RELATED: Lewiston Democrat Wants State Workers to Get Days Off for Muslim Holidays…] “I submitted this legislation on behalf of a constituent of mine, who had reached out because he was frustrated with the amount of fireworks that were constantly going off in my district over the summer. While I am one of countless people who enjoys a good fireworks…

Maine Attorney General (AG) Aaron Frey has joined a group of twenty attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenging his mass firing of over 10,000 HHS employees. [RELATED: Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Frey, Orders Trump Administration to End Freeze on Education Funding…] The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island and is led by Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha, New York AG Letitia James, and Washington AG Nick Brown. The case is set to be heard by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose,…

Once again, a Maine transgender-identifying male athlete seized victory over girls at a high school track meet on Friday, as Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) continues to resist President Donald Trump’s executive order barring males from girls’ sports. Meanwhile, the Maine Principals’ Association insists the state’s policy does not discriminate against girls and is consistent with Title IX, and recently offered a legal memo from a powerful law firm in the state that counsels school districts on how to forestall parental engagement in their policies in support of their position. [RELATED: Maine School Districts Must Allow Male Athletes in Girls’ Sports,…

The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife voted on Wednesday in favor of a bipartisan proposed constitutional amendment from Rep. Elizabeth Caruso (R-Caratunk) that would secure Mainers’ right to hunt and fish. [RELATED: Blue Hill Rep’s Bid to Restrict Coyote Hunting Season Fails in Committee, Regardless of Whether There Are Any Deer in Northern Maine…] “If your house is like mine, hunting and fishing is our way of life. It’s the meat that fills our freezer and feeds our family all yearlong. For many Maine communities, it’s also a pillar of our local hospitality and tourism economies,” said…

Have you ever been in the middle of a binge session of Real Housewives and heard your stomach grumble? If so, you might have thought what a drag it would be to waddle to the store to cash in your SNAP benefits on a jumbo bag of chips and some Yoo-hoo to wash them down, and you’re right. Well, worry no longer, help is on the way, and its name is UBER. Since Fall 2024, anyone receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, commonly known as food stamps, has been able to use the taxpayer-funded program to have groceries delivered…

A violent male criminal using the name Ashley Lynn Bushey, 54, is currently being housed in a women’s prison following a series of drug trafficking and assault arrests. [RELATED: Trans-Identifying Murderer Given Taxpayer-Funded Sex Change Drugs Alleges Mistreatment and Wants Sentence Reduction and Transfer to Women’s Prison…] According to the Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) records, Bushey has previously gone by the names Jason Robert Bushey and Dale Michael Norwood. Bushey, a six-foot-two man, is serving a minimum five-year sentence at the Maine Correctional Women’s Center in Windham following an April 25, 2024, arrest for burglary, elevated aggravated assault, criminal…

A group of Democrat legislators, headed by Rep. Mana Abdi (D-Lewiston), would take away Mainers’ say in their local school budgets, opening the door for schools to secure potentially massive spending and tax increases without taxpayer approval. [RELATED: Westbrook Voters Approve $51 Million School Budget with 13% Property Tax Hike by 138 Votes…] “The intention behind budget referenda was to ensure accountability, but in pratice they have become costly, low turnout exercises that do not reflect the will of the broader public,” said Rep. Abdi. Rep. Abdi put forward LD 1579, “An Act to Abolish School Budget Referenda,” with support…

Rep. John Edar (R-Waterboro) is working to ensure that Maine schools never repeat the dangerous precedent set during the COVID-19 pandemic again, with a bill to prohibit schools from adopting mask mandates. [RELATED: Maine AG Frey Sues HHS Secretary Kennedy Over Termination of $11 Billion in COVID-Era Federal Grants…] “While masks were implemented with good intentions to protect the health and safety of our students and staff It’s essential to recognize the negative effects they brought to our educational environments,” said Rep. Edar, presenting his bill. “One of the most significant challenges masks pose is their impact on communication and…

The Manchester, New Hampshire school district is working to conceal its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) related materials from the public eye after the district drew complaints from parents for giving students a handout on the “Wheel of Power and Privilege.” [RELATED: Waterville Teacher Calls on the Secret Service to Assassinate Trump, Says She’d Do It Herself if She Could…] Last week, the Manchester School District sparked outrage when eighth-grade students of the Henry J. McLaughlin Middle School returned home with a packet titled “Cultural Fluency 2.0: Microaggressions,” from their Language Arts class unit on the Holocaust. Despite being nominally…

An English teacher at Waterville Senior High School took a break on Tuesday from instructing students on grammar and syntax to publicly call for the Secret Service to assassinate President Donald Trump and his supporters. [RELATED: Transgender-Identifying Waterville City Councillor Resigns, Blaming Trump for Her Decline in Health…] “The Secret Service has the perfect opportunity, if they choose to step up and take it. You are the ones with power. Coordinate. Take out every single person who supports Trump’s illegal, immoral, unconstitutional acts. Look at the sycophants and give them what they’re asking for. Every other country sees what’s happening…

Is the generous application of bail in pre-trial criminal cases, or early release when it comes to convicted and incarcerated criminals putting society at greater risk? Encountering what appears to be an uptick in arrests of individuals whose alleged crimes are compounded by the charge of “violating conditions of release,” The Maine Wire recently reviewed hundreds of cases in search of an answer. This review comes at a moment when policy-makers are seeking to expand early release and soften the sentencing guidelines in Maine state law. Maine legislators, particularly Democrats, have pushed over the current session for increasingly lenient criminal…

A bipartisan group of Maine representatives joined together on Thursday to kill a “Defend the Guard” bill from Rep. Benjamin Hymes (R-Waldo) that would have protected National Guardsmen from foreign combat deployments unless Congress formally declared war. [RELATED: Maine Legislature Debates Bipartisan Defend the Guard Bill to Prevent Casualties in Undeclared Wars…] “I think really the biggest challenge to defending the Guard in Maine is people not really understanding the way the Constitution is written, and when we’re supposed to go to war, and who’s supposed to have the authority to do that,” said Rep. Hymes speaking to The Maine…

The New Hampshire Free State Project (FSP) hosted its annual NH Liberty Forum this past weekend, featuring presentations from a variety of pro-liberty speakers, including a number of Mainers headlined by Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn), who spoke on the importance of free speech and education freedom. [RELATED: Rep. Laurel Libby Files Emergency Appeal in Lawsuit Against Speaker of the House Over Censure Fallout…] “I think for most of us, free speech is just it’s like breathing, right? It’s something that just is there. It’s assumed, and so we hardly notice it, or at least I hardly noticed it until someone…

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda is moving forward with a new road map announced this week for phasing out synthetic, petroleum-based food dyes from the nation’s food supply. [RELATED: FDA Bans Cancer-Linked Food Dye Ahead Of RFK Jr’s Confirmation Hearing…] “If they want to eat petroleum, they ought to add it themselves at home, they shouldn’t be feeding it to the rest of us without out knowledge or consent,” said Sec. Kennedy during a Tuesday press conference. “We are going to get rid of the dyes, and…

President Donald Trump an executive order on Thursday to end “disparate-impact liability,” which essentially compels employers to consider race when hiring or risk legal penalties, and restore meritocracy to hiring in areas where the federal government has discretion. The goal of the action, his order reads, is to “guarantee equal opportunity, not equal outcomes.” [RELATED: Here’s How Democrats Want to Integrate More Race-Based Education into Public Schools…] A bedrock principle of the United States is that all citizens are treated equally under the law. This principle guarantees equality of opportunity, not equal outcomes. It promises that people are treated as individuals,…

Cumberland County Sheriff’s detectives faced an unexpected, hours-long standoff with a career criminal after arriving at a Baldwin home to conduct a routine bail check. [RELATED: Lewiston Police Respond to Two Shootings in Two Days on Same Street…] Detectives arrived at the residence on Sand Pond Road in Baldwin, only to discover Jermaine Faulk in the building’s backyard, allegedly violating the bail conditions from a March arrest. Faulk’s March arrest for felony aggravated domestic violence assault led to bail conditions that prevented him from being at the Sandy Pond Road address or near the victim, who lived at the Baldwin…

President Donald Trump aims to restore “common sense” to school discipline practices with a Wednesday executive order that will end the consideration of race and “equity ideology” when determining how students will be punished. [RELATED: Two-on-One Student Assault on Lewiston School Bus Caught on Viral Video…] “The Federal Government will no longer tolerate known risks to children’s safety and well-being in the classroom that result from the application of school discipline based on discriminatory and unlawful ‘equity ideology,'” said President Trump in his order. The order outlines the history of race-based school discipline guidelines that incentivized school officials to give…

Rep. Kristen Cloutier (D-Lewiston) withdrew a bill earlier this month that would have put taxpayer-funded tampons in public school boys’ bathrooms, marking a victory for the Mainers who agree that men cannot menstruate. [RELATED: Maine Democrats Push Bill to Require Tampons in Boys’ Bathrooms Across the State’s Public Schools…] Rep. Cloutier’s bill, LD 155, died on April 8 when the House and Senate both voted to accept her “leave to withdraw” request. The bill was initially set to be considered in the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, but it was withdrawn before any work session or public hearing could…

The Maine Legislature’s Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA) held public hearings for four Democrat-led bills on Tuesday aimed at increasing race-based education requirements for Maine schools and increasing costs for Maine taxpayers. [RELATED: Harpswell Rep Quietly Withdraws Bill That Would Have Made LGBTQ Education Mandatory for Maine Schools…] While Maine faces a federal lawsuit and funding loss for refusing to comply with President Donald Trump’s order barring men from women’s sports, Maine Democrats appear intent on running afoul of one of his other orders, “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” by promoting more race-based education requirements. LD 339…

Rep. Mike Soboleski (R-Phillips) penned a letter to U.S. Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi, signed by nearly every Republican in the Maine state legislature, calling for a review of they called the Maine’s burdensome, costly and unfair “clean energy” policies. [RELATED: Mainers Overflow Hearing to Speak Out on Both Sides of Proposed Net Energy Billing Repeal…] “I am writing to request a review of certain state-level laws and programs in Maine that may conflict with the principles outlined in President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order titled “Protecting American Energy From State Overreach,” issued on April 8, 2025. This Executive Order…

President Donald Trump’s administration issued stop-work orders earlier this month on three University of Maine (UMaine) offshore wind development projects, funded through a $12.6 million grant, for alleged violations of grant terms. [RELATED: Trump Places Indefinite Halt on Offshore Wind Development and New England Fisherman Celebrate…] “Here is the letter from the Trump Administration to the University of Maine to stop work orders to three University of Maine grants all surrounding offshore wind research,” said Rep. Reagan Paul (R-Winterport) on X. “It’s good to see the University of Maine on the radar. Remember that this floating offshore wind research project…

China may be integrating advanced artificial intelligence technology into its illicit bioweapons programs, according to the State Department’s 2025 report on international compliance with weapons agreements. [RELATED: Chinese Satellite Company Directly Helping Houthi Terrorists Attacks on U.S. Interests: State Department…] “China probably is unable to make complex scientific equipment without Westerninnovation. It probably is capable of using publicly available artificial intelligence andmachine learning (AI/ML) tools to advance efforts related to BW applications,” said the report. A signatory to the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention, China is barred under international law from developing a bioweapons capability. The annual “Adherence to and Compliance…

The federal jurist assigned to the federal lawsuit against Maine for refusing to bar transgender-identifying men from women’s sports, U.S. Magistrate Judge John Nivison, recused himself from the case on Friday after previously recusing himself from Rep. Laurel Libby’s (R-Auburn) lawsuit against her censure order. [RELATED: DOJ Files Civil Suit Against Maine, Rep. Libby and Two Maine Students Join AG Bondi in Live Presser…] Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a civil Title IX antidiscrimination lawsuit against Maine after the state obstinately refused to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports.”…

The Winthrop and Monmouth Police Departments both rescinded their applications for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) partnership program on Saturday that would have allowed local police to detain people on suspected immigration violations. [RELATED: Wells Police Department Becomes First Local Maine Law Enforcement Agency to Participate in ICE Program…] “The Town of Winthrop has rescinded its application to participate in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program that uses local police officers to detain people suspected of being illegal immigrants due to the liabilities that could involve,” said the town in a statement on its website. “Under the…

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce confirmed on Thursday that the Chinese satellite company, Chang Guang Satellite Technology, is “directly” helping the Yemen-based Houthi terrorists target U.S. warships and interests in the Red Sea. [RELATED: Trump Executive Order Aims to Restore U.S. Maritime Dominance and Counter Chinese Shipbuilding…] “We can confirm the reporting that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited is directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests,” said Bruce, during a press briefing. “China consistently attempts … to frame itself as a global peacemaker … however, it is clear that Beijing and China-based companies provide key economic and…

Pope Francis passed away early Monday morning at the age of 88 after a 12-year pontificate, just hours after making his final public appearance for Easter and meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance. [RELATED: Pope Francis Appoints Liberal Cardinal To Head DC Archdiocese As Trump Takes Office…] Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7.35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was devoted to service to the Lord and His Church. He taught us to live the values…

New Hampshire U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante ruled on Wednesday that the Trump administration must give 72 hours’ notice before transferring a Guatemalan illegal immigrant arrested in Massachusetts out of the NH facility where he is currently held. [RELATED: Numerous Chinese Massage Parlors in Maine, Some Run By Illegal Aliens, Busted for Sex Trafficking…] The illegal immigrant, Juan Francisco Mendez, 29, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in New Bedford, Massachusetts, last week and is currently being held in the Strafford County House of Corrections in Dover, NH. ICE agents smashed the windows of Mendez’s car…

Maine’s House Democrats slipped a surprise vote onto Thursday’s legislative calendar to force through a proposed equal rights amendment to the state constitution that would make transgender identity legally inviolable. [RELATED: Trans-Identifying Murderer Given Taxpayer-Funded Sex Change Drugs Alleges Mistreatment and Wants Sentence Reduction and Transfer to Women’s Prison…] “Today we voted on a Constitutional Amendment being brought to the people that would place “gender identity and gender expression” into the Maine Constitution in addition to adding sex and perceived race to give “equal rights” under the law. This would allow for women to be completely erased under Maine law,”…

President Donald Trump moved to reinvigorate the U.S. seafood industry and restore U.S. dominance on Thursday with an executive order that drew praise from Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) as well as the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA). [RELATED: Trump Executive Order Aims to Restore U.S. Maritime Dominance and Counter Chinese Shipbuilding…] “The United States should be the world’s dominant seafood leader. But in addition to overregulation, unfair trade practices have put our seafood markets at a competitive disadvantage,” said President Trump in his order. “Nearly 90 percent of seafood on our shelves is now imported, and the seafood trade…

It’s been a busy week for law enforcement in the Paris area. On Thursday, a Maine State Police tactical team joined the Paris Police Department in a raid on a South Paris drug den, leading to drug seizures and the arrests of two repeat offenders. [RELATED: Rumford Police Arrest Fugitive, Domestic Violence Suspect After Standoff in Separate Incidents…] The Paris Police Department obtained and executed a warrant for 21 Park St. in South around 2 p.m. The tactical team joined based on information obtained prior to the warrant, suggesting that the raid could be dangerous. Authorities seized unspecified amounts of…

The Maine Rail Group (MRG), a pro-railway non-profit lobbying organization, is presenting survey data claiming that 58 percent of Mainers would “occasionally” ride a train line between Portland and Orono in order to push for a new taxpayer-funded passenger railway. [RELATED: Democrat Plan Naming Maine Railroad For Floridian Teeters on Derailment…] “This survey shows that Maine people support the vision we have for offering reliable, rapid passenger service to our three largest metro areas,” said MRG President Peter Cole. “This will bring the same benefits to the Second Congressional District now enjoyed by the First District, and forge a major…

Rep. Cheryl Golek (D-Harpswell) withdrew a bill from consideration on Monday that would have mandated LGBTQ education curriculum in all public schools across the state. [RELATED: Maine Democrats Now Want to Mandate LGBTQ Education Even As Schools Risk Funding Loss Over Ongoing Title IX Concerns…] Golek’s bill, LD 1482, drew strong support from her party, with nine co-sponsors, and would have mandated LGBTQ+ education in the mandatory Maine history and American history courses. Despite seemingly strong support from her party, Golek quietly requested leave to withdraw her bill, which was granted on Monday. She did not offer an explanation for…

Maine Republicans are working to end some of the new restrictions placed on gun ownership in the state last year with a trio of bills either to repeal the 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases or the background check requirement for private sales. [RELATED: Federal Judge Issues Injunction Against Maine’s 72-Hour Waiting Period after Purchasing a Firearm…] The Judiciary Committee held public hearings on three bills on Wednesday, drawing a multitude of Mainers to testify on both sides of the issue. Two of the bills, LD 208 from House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) and LD 1230 from…

Yarmouth Police last week arrested a transgender-identifying man, Deserai Collins, 33, after he allegedly stole a van in Portland, led law enforcement on a multi-town chase, and crashed into two police cruisers, injuring two officers. [RELATED: Monson Man to Square Off Against Bill Belichick’s Squeeze in Miss Maine USA Beauty Pageant…] The owner of Portland’s Pedego Electric Bike store reported the theft of one of his company vans on April 10, claiming it had been stolen overnight. Yarmouth police officers eventually spotted the van driving north on Route 1. They attempted to stop the vehicle, but Collins allegedly refused to…

Mainers had the opportunity on Tuesday to testify on three Republican-led bills that aim to protect students from sexually explicit material and give parents more say in what happens to their children in school. [RELATED: Maine Democrats Now Want to Mandate LGBTQ Education Even As Schools Risk Funding Loss Over Ongoing Title IX Concerns…] “Parents should be the decision makers on all matters regarding their children,” said Rep. Sheila Lyman (R-Livermore Falls), presenting a bill to the committee. The two bills aimed at expanding parental rights came from Rep. Lyman, while Rep. Reagan Paul (R-Winterport) proposed a bill to protect children…

U.S. Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi, joined by women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines, Maine Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn), Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, and two Maine female athletes who lost opportunities to male students, announced a lawsuit against Maine on Wednesday morning for refusing to bar men from women’s sports. “We believe they are failing to protect women, and it’s not only an issue in sports, it is a public safety issue. These boys are allowed to go in women’s restrooms, they are allowed to go in the women’s dressing rooms and get fully naked and change, biological boys, and…

Maine firearm dealers could be forced to hand out “public health brochures” with their firearms thanks to a bill from Rep. Holly Stover (D-Boothbay) proposed at the start of this month aimed at imposing public health warnings on gunsmiths and dealers. [RELATED: Maine’s Gun Grabbers Propose New Legislation to Crack-Down on Firearms, Including a Ban on Magazines That Hold Over 10 Rounds…] Rep. Stover’s LD 1379 drew support from eight Democratic co-sponsors and is set to be considered in the Judiciary Committee, though no date has been set for a public hearing or work session. Under the proposal, all firearms…

President Donald Trump’s administration is taking new steps to crack down on illegal immigration this month, with fines of nearly $1,000 per day for immigrants who ignore deportation orders and a deadline for illegal immigrants to register with the government. [RELATED: Trump Administration Repurposes Biden’s ‘CBP One’ Phone App to Encourage Illegal Aliens to Self-Deport…] “We are going to start fining illegal immigrants $1,000 a day if they remain in the country. The message is loud and clear,” said Department of Homeland Security (DHA) Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin speaking on Newsmax. “If you don’t leave now, and…

Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 70’s school board voted unanimously on Monday night to defy the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) and the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) by adopting policies consistent with federal Title IX anti-discrimination laws and banning males from female school sports. The Hodgdon school board is the first to vote to accept President Donald Trump’s executive order “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sport,” based Title IX guidelines, in defiance of the state government’s position. [RELATED: U.S. Department of Education Refers Maine to Justice Department After AG’s Office Balks at Resolution Over Title IX Violations…] State legislators who…

Worcester, Massachusetts, is now mandating a new regimen of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training for firefighters, just months after declaring itself an official transgender sanctuary city, in an apparent rebuff of President Donald Trump’s various orders opposing both DEI and gender ideology. [RELATED: Massachusetts City Declares Itself a Sanctuary for Transgenderism in Wake of Misgendering Spat…] “Integrating DEI into firefighter training isn’t just about policy—it’s about building aculture of respect, inclusivity, awareness, and readiness to serve all members of ourdiverse community,” said Worcester Chief Equity Officer Kevin Lovaincy, “This curriculum equips recruits with the tools to navigate diverse environments,…

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) must resume federal education funding for Maine, according to a Friday ruling from George W. Bush-appointed U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock, granting a request from Maine Attorney General (AG) Aaron Frey. [RELATED: AG Frey Sues USDA Over Freeze on Federal Funding Following Maine’s Refusal to Ban Males from Girls’ Sports…] “This temporary restraining order confirms the Trump Administration did not follow the rule of law when it cut program funds that go to feed school children and vulnerable adults. This order preserves Maine’s access to certain congressionally appropriated funds by prohibiting an…

Maine State Rep. Michelle Meyer (D-Eliot) introduced legislation in February, and carried over into the current emergency session last month, that would expand Maine’s assisted suicide program through an amendment to the 2019 Maine Death with Dignity Act. If enacted, the measure would waive the current 17-day waiting period applicants currently face. On Friday, the legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on her bill that would impact a controversial process. [RELATED: Toronto Academics Push Government-Assisted Suicide as Remedy to “Unjust Social Circumstances” Like Homelessness…] “After five years of successful implementation, Maine’s Death with Dignity act has…

Massachusetts State Rep. Chris Flanagan (D-Barnstable) was indicted by a Boston grand jury on Friday for an alleged fraud scheme that netted him tens of thousands of dollars, which he allegedly used for both personal and political expenses. [RELATED: Boston City Councilor Arrested on Corruption Charges…] “Today’s charges against Massachusetts State Representative Christopher Flanagan reveal an appalling breach of public trust. According to the indictment, Mr. Flanagan defrauded the very organization he was supposed to serve – allegedly funneling tens of thousands of dollars into his own pockets to pay off personal bills, buy luxury items and bankroll his political…

An Augusta father was silenced at a Wednesday public school board meeting when he used his testimony to criticize the Augusta school board’s interpretation of Title IX anti-discrimination laws that allow transgender-identifying males into girls’ sports. [RELATED: Mills’ Continued Defiance of Trump’s Deadline for Title IX Compliance Could Cost Maine Hugely…] “I’m sorry, but negative comments will not be allowed,” said Augusta School Board Chair Martha Witham. https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/1910402614031757723 Augusta father Nick Blanchard began his testimony by praising the board members who voted in favor of an interpretation of Title IX that does not allow males in girls’ sports. When he…

President Donald Trump aims to restore U.S. maritime dominance with a Wednesday executive order promoting domestic shipbuilding in direct response to China ascendant position in the industry globally and a mounting trade war between the two superpowers. [RELATED: Jared Golden Urges Crackdown on Chinese Ship Manufacturing and Investments in the U.S…] “The commercial shipbuilding capacity and maritime workforce of the United States has been weakened by decades of Government neglect, leading to the decline of a once strong industrial base while simultaneously empowering our adversaries and eroding the United States’ national security,” said President Trump in his executive order. The…

Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) is poised to ignore the April 11 deadline set by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for Maine to comply with Title IX anti-discrimination laws which the federal government found it to be breaking by refusing to prevent transgender-identifying males from competing in women’s sports or using women’s restrooms and locker rooms. [RELATED: Federal Department of Education Sends Maine DOE Final Warning on Transgender Athlete Policy…] “There have been no negotiations that I’m aware of. No negotiations,” said Mills on Thursday, speaking to Maine Total Coverage on the impending deadline. Mills told the outlet that Maine does…

A group of Maine Democrats, led by Sen. Craig Hickman (D-Kennebec), began a push last week to lower the state’s voting age to 16 years via a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds legislative majority and a statewide referendum vote in order to be enacted. [RELATED: Angus King Co-Sponsors Bill to Block Trump’s Election Integrity Executive Order…] The proposed resolution, LD 1446, drew support from eight Democratic co-sponsors, along with Rep. Bill Pluecker (I-Warren), who often sides with Democrats. If the proposal clears the daunting two-thirds majority requirement in the legislature, the Secretary of State will compose a…

Amidst President Donald Trump’s attempts to restore domestic manufacturing to the U.S. with his controversial tariffs, he took the time on Wednesday to fight for Americans’ small personal freedoms with an executive order ending the war on showers. “In my case, I like to take a nice shower to take care of my beautiful hair. I have to stand under the shower for 15 minutes till it gets wet. It comes out drip, drip, drip, it’s ridiculous,” explained President Trump while signing the order in front of press. “We’re going to open it up so people can live, and we’re…

While some Republicans work this legislative session to eliminate state vehicular inspections or at least make them less burdensome, Sen. Brad Farrin (R-Somerset) and Rep. Wayne Parry (R-Arundel) have each proposed bills to make inspections more expensive and invasive. [RELATED: Inspecting the Inspectors: Electronic Surveillance System for Vehicle Inspections, and Fee Hikes, Proposed…] Both legislators’ bills—considered during a Tuesday public hearing in the legislature’s Transportation Committee—would increase the price that mechanics are legally allowed to charge for state inspections and allow the Maine State Police to force mechanics to use an invasive electronic surveillance system to monitor inspections. The system…

Two Republican-led bills aimed at restoring religious exemptions for vaccine requirements for schools received a contentious joint public hearing in the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs on Monday, drawing numerous passionate testimonies from both sides of the issue. [RELATED: Maine Court Says Doctor Who Injected 5-Year-Old with COVID-19 Vaccine Without Parental Consent Has Immunity…] “To deny a child the right to an education is nonsensical given the real world reality of exposure in non-school settings. I think of our college students who choose to attend in other states that allow exemptions. These students, most often, go on to secure…

The Maine Senate GOP unanimously opposed the reappointment of Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Chair Philip Bartlett on Tuesday, citing his suspicious dealings with solar companies and soaring energy costs under his leadership. [RELATED: Mainers Overflow Hearing to Speak Out on Both Sides of Proposed Net Energy Billing Repeal…] “Ratepayers and businesses are going to continue to suffer because of Chairman Bartlett’s refusal to acknowledge that massive solar companies are driving up energy costs,” said Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart (R–Aroostook). The Senate Republicans issued a press release discussing the vote and explaining the role of the PUC to ensure…

As Maine’s Department of Corrections (DoC) loses federal funding for transferring one transgender-identifying male murderer to a women’s prison, the question may arise: is too much being made out of a single case? Are the state’s prisons simply accommodating the special needs of inmates, or is the system itself being taken for a ride? [RELATED: DOJ Pulls Federal Funding from Maine’s Department of Corrections for Housing a Dangerous, Biological Male in a Women’s Prison…] Andrew Balcer, the individual cited on Tuesday morning by Attorney General Pam Bondi, is not the only transgender-identifying inmate catered to by Maine prisons. To better…

The White House’s Office of Management and Budget issued new policies on Monday intended to allow the federal government to take better advantage of rapidly improving artificial intelligence (AI) technology, following a January 23 executive order from President Donald Trump. [RELATED: AI Startup Reveals DEI-Related Language Embedded in Maine Education Laws…] “Under President Trump’s leadership, America is well-positioned to maintain its global dominance in AI. To better serve the public, the Federal Government must capitalize on the advantages of American innovation while maintaining strong protections for Americans’ privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties,” the White House said in a statement.…

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi pulled non-essential federal funding from the Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) on Monday in response to the state’s decision to house a male convicted multiple murderer in a women’s prison because he declared that he is transgender. [RELATED: Maine Man Who Murdered His Parents and Dog Moved to Women’s Prison…] Maine’s prisons are state-run and most of their funding comes from the state budget. In 2019, Maine spent $190,489,256 on prisons which, according to the Urban Institute, amounted to the state’s seventh costliest expenditure. According to Maine’s Department of Corrections, the U.S. Department of Justice…

Attorney General Aaron Frey joined the attorneys general of 20 other states on Friday in suing President Donald Trump’s administration to stop the closure of three federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). [RELATED: Maine AG Aaron Frey, Blue State Coalition Secures Preliminary Injunction Against Trump Admin, Halting NIH Cuts…] “The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – one of the targeted agencies – has placed almost its entire staff on administrative leave and will cut hundreds of grants for state libraries and museums. The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Frey and the coalition seeks…

Maine Attorney General (AG) Aaron Frey added to his growing list of lawsuits against President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday when he announced the state has filed suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for freezing some of its education funding to Maine. [RELATED: USDA Freezes Part of Maine’s Federal Funding over Transgender Athlete Policy…] “Under the banner of keeping children safe, the Trump Administration is illegally withholding grant funds that go to keeping children fed. This is just another example where no law or consequence appears to restrain the administration as it seeks capitulation to its lawlessness,” said…

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Department executed a massive drug bust on Gagnon Road in Fairfield early Friday morning, leading to the arrests of six people and the seizure of substantial quantities of illegal drugs. [RELATED: Police Seize Over Four Pounds of Crystal Meth and Make Three Arrests in Auburn Drug Bust…] The Sheriff’s Department secured a search warrant for the Gagnon Rd. residence based on suspicion that it was being used to sell and distribute illegal drugs. A large team of law enforcement agents led by Detective Lieutenant Gottardi, including five Sheriff’s Department detectives, five deputies, and assistance from the…

The Wells Police Department became the first local Maine law enforcement agency to join a partnership program with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Wednesday, empowering the department to work as immigration enforcers. [RELATED: NH State Police Join List of Law Enforcement Partnering with ICE While Maine Agencies Remain Off the List…] Wells Police Chief Jo-Ann Putnam confirmed to the Maine Morning Star that Wells applied to participate in ICE’s 287(g) program two weeks ago, and their application was accepted. Wells is participating in the Task Force Model portion of the program, which “serves as a force multiplier for law…

Maine’s highways could soon be monitored by automated speed-tracking cameras that could be used to issue tickets without a driver ever interacting with police if Republican Sen. Brad Farrin’s (R-Somerset) recent resolution is successful. [RELATED: Inspecting the Inspectors: Electronic Surveillance System for Vehicle Inspections, and Fee Hikes, Proposed…] The proposed resolution, LD 1457, introduced on Thursday, drew support from three Democratic and two Republican co-sponsors. It was set to be referred to a committee that day and was expected to be sent to the Committee on Transportation, though it has not yet been officially referred because Thursday’s Senate session was…

As Maine’s Democrats resist efforts by the federal government to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) ideology and radical gender education from schools, the Legislative Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs held a hearing on Wednesday for a bill that would increase transparency of public schools for parents seeking more information about what their children are being taught. [RELATED: Maine Democrats Now Want to Mandate LGBTQ Education Even As Schools Risk Funding Loss Over Ongoing Title IX Concerns…] “Like many of you, I have watched as parents across Maine——and the country——have become more engaged in their children’s education over the…

Democrat Reps. Chellie Pingree (ME-CD1) and Jared Golden (ME-CD2) had very different outlooks after President Donald Trump announced his controversial “Liberation Day” tariffs on Wednesday, causing stock markets to plummet. The ultimate goal was to restore U.S. economic independence and end the exploitation of the U.S. by other nations. [RELATED: Tariff Hikes Kick In Today, Trade War Looms…] Rep. Pingree sided with most Democrats in criticizing the new tariffs and claimed that they will do nothing to help struggling Americans. “Trump’s reckless use of tariffs will further escalate his global trade war and put extreme pressure on our economy—one that’s…

Attorneys from the Democrat Party-aligned Elias Law Group filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s new election integrity efforts on Monday on behalf of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and others. [RELATED: Trump Signs Executive Order to Ensure Election Integrity Across the Country…] “Now, rather than trying to make it easier for American citizens to vote, the President wants to make it easier for DOGE to access their sensitive personal information. We will do everything in our power to hold the President and his administration accountable for this…

DeepAudit, a non-profit tech startup using artificial intelligence tools to root out Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and ideologically-charged language, published a report on Monday identifying 14 statutes in Maine education law that appear to use DEI-related language. [RELATED: Federal Department of Education Sends Maine DOE Final Warning on Transgender Athlete Policy…] “We looked at 1000+ Maine education statutes to demonstrate that ideologically driven policies can be implemented across a vast system by being embedded in a few statutes. The few sections containing DEI are concealed from public scrutiny by the 1,000+ statutes that obscure their existence.,” said DeepAudit on…

A group of Democrat Maine legislators, headed by Rep. Cheryl Golek (D-Harpswell), introduced a bill on Thursday that would require Maine students to take LGBTQ Studies in order to pass through the public school system. [RELATED: U.S. DOE Investigates Maine Schools Over Secret Gender Transitions…] Golek’s bill, LD 1482, drew strong support from her party, bringing in nine co-sponsors, including Rep. Nina Milliken (D-Blue Hill) and Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Cumberland). [RELATED: Nina Milliken’s Bill to Abolish Life Sentences in Maine Gets the Death Penalty After Prosecutor Testifies to Gruesome Assault Case…] As introduced, the bill inserts new language into…

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins sent a letter to Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) on Wednesday announcing a pause in federal education funding from the department due to Maine’s repeated refusal to comply with federal law removing males from girls’ sports. [RELATED: Trump Admin’s USDA Pauses Millions in Funding to Maine Universities…] “You cannot openly violate federal law against discrimination in education andexpect federal funding to continue unabated. Your defiance of federal law has cost your state, which is bound by Title IX in educational programming,” Sec. Rollins wrote to Gov. Mills, adding: “Today, I am freezing…

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) joined a group of nine Democrats on Wednesday in co-sponsoring Sen. Alex Padilla’s (D-Calif.) bill to nullify the new election integrity measures implemented by President Donald Trump via executive order last week. [RELATED: Trump Signs Executive Order to Ensure Election Integrity Across the Country…] “The continued success of our unique experiment in self-government relies on each successive generation understanding our shared past, national values, and the framers’ careful – though imperfect – work. If we truly want a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, we must make sure the people have…

Maine Republicans have put forward two bills in recent days to remove the language in the Maine Human Rights Act’s (MHRA) which lays the legal basis of Governor Janet Mills (D) pretext for refusing to comply with a White House executive order to protect girls’ school sports. The specific language in the MHRA includes “gender identity” as a class protected against discrimination, and was added to the state’s human rights law in 2005. [RELATED: Federal Department of Education Sends Maine DOE Final Warning on Transgender Athlete Policy…] “Every piece of legislation we brought forward, the argument’s always the Maine Human…

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday intended to combat ticket scalpers and predatory practices by online concert and event ticket vendors, who impose numerous fees and make concerts unaffordable for many Americans. In the signing ceremony, President Trump appeared in the Oval Office with the musician Kid Rock who thanked him for the action. Last year the musician reached out to then Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to press for a tougher stance on scalpers. https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1906831242336559372 “America’s live concert and entertainment industry is the envy of the world. But it has become blighted by unscrupulous middlemen who…

Republicans on the Maine Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee reversed course on a bill last Tuesday that would have initially increased the number of charter schools in the state, but instead proposed an amendment to lower the cap to prevent the establishment of a school aimed primarily at “new Americans.” [RELATED: Illegal Alien Previously Hired by York County Jail Arrested by ICE After Jail Set Goal of Hiring ‘New Americans’…] The original bill, LD 282, submitted by Rep. Gary Drinkwater (R-Milford), would have indefinitely increased the maximum number of public state-funded charter schools in the state from the current…

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) issued its final warning to the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) on Monday for its continued violation of Title IX anti-discrimination laws by allowing males to compete in girls’ sports. “Under prior administrations, enforcement was an illusory proposition. No more. The Trump-McMahon Education Department is moving quickly to ensure that federal funds no longer support patently illegal practices that harm women and girls,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. Earlier this month, the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found the MDOE in violation of Title IX for allowing transgender-identifying males…

A new bill from Rep. Gary Drinkwater (R-Milford) could give Mainers a better sense of how much of their tax money is spent on healthcare for illegal immigrants by collecting data on medical expenditures for asylum seekers. [RELATED: Trump Admin Orders End to Cash Welfare Benefits for Illegal Immigrants…] “So the question is, how are we covering them [asylum seekers]? One would assume it’s under MaineCare. So is this one of the reasons that MaineCare has exploded, and we can no longer afford it as a state,” said Rep. Drinkwater speaking with The Maine Wire. The bill, LD 429, had…

Codee Houston, 33, of California, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges on Thursday at the U.S. District Court in Bangor, admitting to transporting drugs from his home state into Maine. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI worked in cooperation with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and multiple police departments in Penobscot and Hancock counties on the investigation that led to Houston’s arrest and indictment. [RELATED: Man Stabbed Multiple Times on Portland Street: Portland PD…] From May 2022 to May 2023, Houston, along with other unnamed conspirators, worked to traffic large amounts of methamphetamine from California to Maine. Houston…

New details have emerged about Ronald Joseph, 43, the illegal Haitian immigrant, who allegedly raped and impregnated his 14-year-old daughter while living at an illegal immigrant shelter in Marlborough, Massachusetts, including an earlier pregnancy and a forced abortion, in a shocking story broken last year by The Maine Wire. [RELATED: Illegal Alien Charged with Aggravated Child Rape at Healey Hotel Arrested 8 Months After Maine Wire Exposé…] Joseph was finally arrested eight months after The Maine Wire first reported on his alleged crimes. Last week, Massachusetts independent journalist Jessica Machado published official court documents from Joseph’s dangerousness hearing, also known…

U.S. law enforcement arrested an alleged top MS-13 gang leader and Salvadoran illegal immigrant, Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, 24, on Thursday in a Virginia operation involving the FBI, along with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and local law enforcement agencies. [RELATED: FBI Extradites a Top MS-13 Narco-Terrorist on its Ten Most Wanted List Who Was Found in Mexico…] “I’m proud to announce that early this morning our brave law enforcement officers conducted a successful operation that captured a top MS-13 national leader. DOJ will not rest until we make America safe again,” said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on X.…

The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department arrested Jason A. Rocque, 47, after he was allegedly found with multiple firearms in his Chelsea home on Friday morning, despite being prohibited from possessing guns. [RELATED: Maine’s Gun Grabbers Propose New Legislation to Crack-Down on Firearms, Including a Ban on Magazines That Hold Over 10 Rounds…] Deputy Brandon Van Wyk executed a search warrant at Rocque’s home at 274 Windsor Road following an investigation that began earlier this month. Van Wyk’s investigation allowed him to establish probable cause that Rocque was illegally in possession of firearms as a convicted felon, and on this basis,…

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who just this week announced her candidacy for governor, has “serious concerns” about the new election integrity measures imposed by President Donald Trump in an executive order. [RELATED: A Failed 2023 Bill Could Have Forced Bellows to Resign Before Running for Governor…] “I have serious concerns about the policies proposed in the Executive Order that would make it harder to vote for women, military and overseas voters and rural citizens,” said Bellows. Bellows, who previously drew national attention for a failed and unconstitutional attempt to strip Trump from Maine’s 2024 presidential ballots, expressed her…

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) updated its guidelines on Wednesday to ensure that illegal immigrants and non-permanent residents aren’t receiving government-backed mortgages. [RELATED: Trump Admin Orders End to Cash Welfare Benefits for Illegal Immigrants…] “HUD-backed mortgages should benefit Americans who play by the rules and work hard, not those who enter our country illegally. Today, HUD acted to protect the American Dream of homeownership,” said HUD Secretary Scott Turner on X. https://twitter.com/SecretaryTurner/status/1905009082085351595 The HUD has altered the requirements for its Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, insured by the federal government, that help prospective homebuyers get low…

The Trump Administration’s multiple probes into Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) and her cabinet agencies have now expanded to include potential violations of federal law stemming from public school policies that allow school officials to keep secrets from parents about sex-change counseling for minors. The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) initiated an investigation into the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) on Friday for concealing children’s gender transitions from parents in a potential violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). “We have heard disturbing reports that dozens of Maine school districts allow for schools to create “gender plans”…

Democrat Rep. Jared Golden (ME-CD2) urged U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer to crack down on ascendant Chinese shipbuilding in a letter on Monday, accusing the Chinese government of predatory practices that seek to undermine the U.S. industry. [RELATED: Bath Iron Works Receives $34 Million from Navy for Six Workforce Initiatives…] “China’s discriminatory practices and cheating have forced U.S. shipbuilders, their suppliers, and workers to compete on an uneven playing field and have contributed to the decline of the U.S. shipbuilding industry,” said Rep. Golden. “While China has poured hundreds of billions of dollars of state funding into its shipbuilding…

Maine’s Democratic legislators have returned once again to one of their favorite legislative priorities: cracking down on Second Amendment rights. Multiple bills came before the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, including a ban on magazines that hold more than ten rounds. [RELATED: Maine Liberals Seek New Second Amendment Restrictions, Including 5-Round Limit…] “From the Las Vegas Music Festival to the Pulse Night Club in Orlando, to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, to Lewiston, Maine, the common denominator connecting these and dozens of other mass shootings in the United States is that the gunmen loaded their firearms with large capacity…

The Legislative Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety voted unanimously on Monday in favor of a bill from Rep. Nina Milliken (D-Blue Hill) that would allow prisoners to opt into additional monetary restitution for their victims. [RELATED: Blue Hill Rep’s Bid to Restrict Coyote Hunting Season Fails in Committee, Regardless of Whether There Are Any Deer in Northern Maine…] “Many of the folks that I have met in the prisons in Maine are extremely remorseful for the various offenses that they have committed and many of them do work every day within the prison setting to do what they…

As Secretary of State Shenna Bellows launches her campaign to succeed Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) in 2026, she has not resigned from her current position. A failed 2023 bill could have forced her resignation to avoid a conflict of interest. [RELATED: The Audacity of Shenna Bellows…] “The sanctity of our elections is extremely important to me, as it should be to all of you on this committee. The Secretary of State oversees our elections here in Maine and l feel that it is a conflict of interest for the Secretary of State to be overseeing the ballots for their own…

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday cracking down on voter fraud through a slew of election integrity measures, including universal proof-of-citizenship requirements for anyone registering to vote and increased enforcement of election laws. [RELATED: Records Show Legal and Illegal Aliens Are Voting in Maine and Costing MaineCare a Fortune…] “Above all, elections must be honest and worthy of the public trust. That requires voting methods that produce a voter-verifiable paper record allowing voters to efficiently check their votes to protect against fraud or mistake. Election-integrity standards must be modified accordingly,” said President Trump in his order. The…

The legislature’s Committee on Labor held a public hearing on Tuesday for a bill from Rep. Valli Geiger (D-Rockland) to change the minimum wage to a living wage based on MIT’s calculator, which would set Portland’s wage at over $25 per hour. [RELATED: Maine Looks to Replace Statewide Minimum Wage with Regionally Based Living Wage…] “I have observed that Maine has seemed to take a perverse pride in being a low-wage state, however, this has created a problem that we are now forced to find a solution for. We have consistently had the lowest median income of New England states,”…

As U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushes forward with his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda, efforts are growing to stop food stamps from being used to buy soda, but soda lobbyists have paid online “conservative” personalities to sway public opinion on their behalf. [RELATED: A GOP Bill Could Stop People Using Food Stamps for Junk Food…] Over the weekend, popular online supporters of President Donald Trump, including independent media personalities Ian Miles Cheong and Eric Daugherty, began posting statements advocating for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—commonly called food stamps—recipients to be allowed to…

A group of Maine House Democrats is working to enshrine the commemoration of the January 2021 Capitol protests into law with a bill from Rep. Rafael Macias (D-Topsham), declaring a “day to remember” and educating the public about the protest. [RELATED: Bombshell DOJ Report Finds More Than Two Dozen FBI Informants Present, Breaking Laws at January 6th Riot…] “Eight months after January 6 I was on crutches when I met Representative Chellie Pingree [D-Maine] outside the Capitol in D.C. I asked her what her pain level she felt on January 6. She said an eight. Then I asked what she…