Author: Seamus Othot

The Bangor Police Department arrested a mailman on Monday after he allegedly drove a mail delivery vehicle while drunk. [RELATED: Two Bangor Residents Arrested After Drunk Driving Hit-and-Run…] At approximately 4:02 p.m., the Bangor Police Department responded to reports of a mail van operating erratically in the area of French Street. Police located the van and identified the operator as Anthony Federico, 43, of Bowerbank. While speaking with Bowerbank, the police noticed signs of impairment. Following additional investigation, police arrested Federico on a charge of operating under the influence. He was transported to the Penobscot County Jail. Image of Federico…

The Brewer police arrested two alleged drug traffickers on Wednesday and discovered a dead dog while executing a search warrant, leading to an additional animal cruelty charge. [RELATED: Androscoggin County Man Charged With Animal Cruelty In Wanton Cat Killing…] Sgt. Christopher Woodman of the Brewer Police Department led the execution of a search warrant related to drug trafficking operations at a Brewer residence. Police discovered and arrested David Zabala, 40, of Brewer, and Cassandra Cote, 34, of Bangor, at the residence. According to police, Zabala was out on bail following a prior domestic violence arrest and refused police instructions, resisting…

The Maine State Police is investigating unrelated deaths in Augusta and Standish that occurred just one day apart. [RELATED: MSP Investigating Child Death in Penobscot County…] On Monday, at approximately 11:15 p.m., the Augusta Police Department responded to an unspecified incident on Flagg Street. When officers arrived, they discovered a deceased adult male, and the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit began an investigation. The body was transported to the Office of the Maine Medical Examiner for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death and to identify the man. Police promised to release more information as it…

Local and federal law enforcement discovered an illicit biolab with links to China operating out of a Las Vegas home over the weekend, possibly containing biological agents with “unusually high transmissibility,” with potentially “extensive exposure” in the area. [RELATED: DCNF EXCLUSIVE: USAID Quietly Sent Thousands Of Viruses To Chinese Military-Linked Biolab…] The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) issued a statement and held a press conference on Monday, announcing a raid on a biolab located in a residence on Sugar Springs Drive in Northeast Las Vegas. The LVMPD and FBI spent multiple days investigating and safely extracting biohazardous material from…

The Lewiston Police Department arrested a homeless man on Tuesday after he allegedly robbed a bank on Sabbatus Street. [RELATED: Three New York Men Busted with False Identities After Fraud Scheme Targeting Banks in Wiscasset and Boothbay Harbor…] At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Lewiston Police Department responded to reports of a bank robbery at the Maine Family Credit Union on 555 Sabattus St. Investigators arrived and found that a suspect had entered the bank and demanded cash from a teller. Police did not specify whether the suspect was armed or if he threatened the teller. The Lewiston Police Department collaborated…

The Maine State Police arrested a Howland sex offender on Wednesday after he allegedly violated the sex offender registration requirements and had contact with a minor. [RELATED: Howland Sex Offender Let Off With Time Served After Passport Fraud Conviction…] Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit mounted a six-month-long investigation into James Cameron, 62, of Howland, which ultimately led them to apply for and receive an arrest warrant. Troopers took Cameron into custody in Howland. He was transported to the Penobscot County Jail and faces four counts of violation of sex offender registration and two counts of prohibited contact with a…

The Maine State Police are investigating a fatal crash that took place in Vassalboro on Monday between a pickup truck and a commercial vehicle. [RELATED: State Police Investigating Fatal Crash in Pittsfield…] At approximately 6:40 p.m., troopers responded to reports of a head-on crash on Route 3 near Ritch Road involving a Chevy Silverado pickup truck and a Ford F-650 commercial vehicle. Investigators believe that the driver of the pickup truck, Ryan Page, 48, of China, crossed the center line, prompting the commercial driver, Douglas Boivin, 64, of Jay, to swerve to the right in an attempt to avoid the…

The Maine Fire Marshal’s Office arrested a Buckfield man on Monday after he allegedly manufactured explosives and detonated them in a snowbank. [RELATED: Frozen Pipes, Heaters Spark Accidental Structure Fire in Norway, Fire Marshal Says…] At approximately 11:00 a.m., the Marshal’s Office arrested Zachary Williams, 50, of Buckfield while executing a search warrant at his residence on Allen School Road. During the warrant execution, investigators allegedly discovered and seized multiple items that could be used in the manufacturing of explosives. Investigators believe that Williams was behind a January 12 incident on Decoster Road in Sumner. During that incident, explosives were…

The Brunswick Police Department arrested a Brunswick man on Saturday after he was allegedly injured while attempting to burglarize a home armed with a knife and a baseball bat. [RELATED: Armed and Armored Burglar Arrested in Portland After Fleeing Police on Electric Scooter…] Police responded at approximately 6:41 p.m. after a caller on Linnell Circle reported a man without a shirt shouting. Officers arrived to discover the man, identified as Timothy Miller, 41, of Brunswick, with several injuries to his face and body. The investigation revealed that a homeowner had allegedly awakened to find that Miller had broken into his…

The Oxford Sheriff’s Department arrested a fugitive wanted on four outstanding warrants after he was found hiding in Otisfield. [RELATED: Oklahoma Fugitive Wanted on Child Porn Charges Arrested in Waldoboro…] Deputies developed information leading them to suspect that the wanted Anthony Jensen, 45, was hiding out at a residence on E Andrews Hill Road in Otisfield. Jensen was subject to four active arrest warrants on charges of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, failure to stop for an officer, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, and operating a vehicle after license suspension or revocation. He was also wanted for a felony…

The Portland Police Department arrested a Falmouth man on Sunday after he allegedly broke into a home carrying a firearm, assaulted a resident, and fled from police on a scooter while trafficking fentanyl. [RELATED: Nine Protesters Arrested for Criminal Trespass Outside Susan Collins’ Portland Office…] At approximately 12:54 p.m., police responded to a reported disturbance at 64 Munjoy South Street. Police arrived to discover that the door had been kicked in and that the suspect allegedly threatened a resident with a firearm and struck him with the weapon before fleeing. At approximately 3:40 p.m., law enforcement spotted the suspect traveling…

The Penobscot Sheriff’s Department arrested a Bangor man on Saturday after he allegedly assaulted a resident of a group home in Hermon where he worked. [RELATED: Westbrook Police Arrest Maintenance Worker for Stealing Medication…] At approximately 4:50 p.m., the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department responded to a reported assault at a residential group home in Hermon, allegedly carried out by an employee. When deputies arrived, they determined that the injuries were serious enough to require the resident to be transported to a hospital for treatment. The Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigation Division mounted an investigation into the alleged assault and eventually identified…

The Kennebec Sheriff’s Department is investigating a shooting incident caught on video last Friday outside a Farmingdale apartment building. [RELATED: Kennebec County Pursuit Ends in Police Shooting and Arrest of Man Wanted on Felony Charges…] At approximately 9:19 p.m., Kennebec deputies responded to an apartment building at 60 Hasson Street in Farmingdale after receiving reports of multiple gunshots. By the time deputies arrived, they were unable to locate any persons or vehicles of interest. The Maine State Police, Gardiner Police Department, and Hallowell Police Department responded to assist in the investigation but did not immediately find anything. As of Thursday,…

As businesses across the state are closing on Friday in protest against ICE as part of a “National Shutdown” that amounts a long weekend, others have decided to stay open while promising customers that they still oppose ICE. [RELATED: Mills Maintains Radical Anti-ICE Rhetoric After They End Crackdown on Maine…] “While many Maine businesses will be closed today for the strike, we have made the decision to remain open from 10am-6pm,” said the Briar Patch Bookstore in Bangor “The Briar Patch stands in solidarity with our fellow businesses that will be closed as well as the immigrant members of our…

The Westbrook Police Department was busy on Wednesday, arresting a maintenance worker who allegedly stole medication and a sex offender who reportedly failed to register. [RELATED: Westbrook Driver Busted After Striking School Bus in Standish and Causing a Road Closure…] During the day, a patrol officer responded to reports from a housing complex resident who claimed that a maintenance worker keyed into her apartment and stole her medication. The officer investigated the alleged theft and eventually applied for and received a search warrant for the residence of suspect John Bendle, 36, of South Portland. Westbrook officers executed the search warrant…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a woman on Thursday following a stabbing incident at a Bangor home the previous Saturday. [RELATED: Bangor Man Arrested for Attempted Murder After Attacking His Neighbor With a Machete…] Police responded shortly before noon on January 24 to reports of a knife assault at a Larkin Street residence. When officers arrived, they discovered a female victim with severe laceration injuries, but the suspect had allegedly fled by the time law enforcement arrived. The victim was transported to a local hospital by the Bangor Fire Department and has since been released. The Bangor Police Department’s Criminal…

A Noble High School student was killed on Thursday after a crash between a pickup truck and an Amtrak Downeaster train in North Berwick. [RELATED: 19-Year-Old Dies in Falmouth Crash…] North Berwick Police Chief Stephen Peasley confirmed the crash in an interview with WMTW and provided them with a timeline of the events. At approximately 2:30-2:45 p.m. on Thursday, police received a call reporting a collision between a vehicle and a train on the town’s Elm Street, near the intersection with Buffum Road. Police arrived to discover a crash between a pickup truck and an Amtrak train. The driver was…

Border Patrol agents working out of the Calais border station apprehended four illegal immigrants on Saturday after reports of suspicious activity at an ATM. [RELATED: Chinese Illegal and Suspected Scammer Busted by Border Patrol in Fort Fairfield Carrying Over $40k Cash…] “The relationships we have built with local law enforcement and residents make these types of apprehensions possible. Border Patrol agents are members of these communities and have a vested interest in making them as safe as possible,” said  Houlton Sector Chief Derrick Stamper. Agents responded to the Machias Savings Bank in Calais after reports of suspicious activity at its…

Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) failed to lower the temperature of her anti-ICE rhetoric on Thursday, even as she responded to reports from Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) that ICE is ending its “enhanced operation” in the state. [RELATED: Collins says ICE has Ended “Enhanced” Operations in Maine after Pressing Noem to Pause Crackdown…] “The reported end of ICE’s ‘enhanced operation’ in Maine does not end the pain and suffering that they have inflicted on communities across our state — people who have been terrorized, mothers who have been separated from their children, businesses who have been threatened, all by their own…

The Maine State Police urged people on Thursday to be on the lookout for an antique pickup truck stolen from Ashland, Massachusetts. [RELATED: Waterville Man Rams Police Cruiser While Fleeing in Stolen Vehicle…] Police reposted a notice from the Ashland Police Department last Thursday, reporting the theft of a red 1941 Willys 441 pickup truck that appears to be in pristine condition. The vehicle was first reported stolen on Saturday, January 17. Ashland police provided the license plate number, 3HZX67, along with pictures of the vehicle but did not include additional information about the theft. They requested public assistance in…

The Lewiston-based, Somali-operated Global Home Care has continued to rake in millions in MaineCare benefits despite overbilling the taxpayer-funded program by nearly $100,000. [RELATED: Portland Office Becomes a Hub for Medicaid “Home Health” and Somali Money Transfers…] Global Home Care, also known as Global Home Health Care, drew a substantial $7,164,937 in Medicaid funds from 2019 to 2024, according to Department of Health and Human Services records obtained by The Maine Wire through a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) request. That number is likely far from the total amount received by the company. According to records from the DHHS Division…

Somali-born state Rep. Yusuf Yusuf (D-Portland) runs a home care business with apparent ties to an interconnected network of Somali-operated companies drawing millions in Medicaid funding, and operating out of a Portland office equipped to funnel taxpayer money back to Africa. At the same time, Yusuf’s wife works at Legit Home Care in Portland, which faced a MaineCare audit and drew in $7,116,267 between 2019-2024, according to Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) records obtained under the Freedom of Access Act (FOAA). Rep. Yusuf, currently serving his first term in Maine’s legislature, revealed in his source of income filing…

A Democrat-led bill set for a public hearing on Thursday would give government agencies the power to bar concerned citizens or journalists from government property without due process and to prevent them from communicating with government officials. [RELATED: House Democrats Attempt to BAN Maine Wire Reporter from House Chambers – Maine Wire TV…] “LD 2150 undermines the First Amendment, violates due process, expands vague and discretionary government powers, and contradicts decades of federal case law. Most dangerously, it shifts the burden of proof from government to citizen, authorizing punishment without trial,” said Harris Van Pate from the Maine Police Institute…

The Portland Police Department arrested nine protesters outside of Sen. Susan Collins’ (R-Maine) office on Tuesday after they refused to leave a staged “pray-in” event meant to protest the senator’s support for ICE funding. [RELATED: Portland PD Arrests Six Anti-Ice Protesters For Causing Disturbance at Residence Inn…] A group of far-left “faith leaders” hosted the event outside Sen. Collins’ office on the eighth floor of One Canal Plaza in Portland. According to Maine Public, protesters came dressed in religious clothing, sang, read scripture, prayed, and chanted outside Collins’s office, urging her to reject a Homeland Security funding bill that would…

A Portland mental health clinic and its providers agreed to pay a $20,000 settlement after Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigators found a variety of record-keeping failures regarding scheduled drugs. [RELATED: Penobscot Deputies Bust Drug Traffickers After They Initially Refused to Comply with Traffic Stop…] “Maintaining complete and accurate records is a baseline obligation of all DEA registrants, required to prevent controlled substances from being diverted from the legitimate drug supply,” said U.S. Attorney for Maine Andrew Benson. “Investigations such as this—where investigators discovered undisclosed instances of actual drug diversion—reinforce the need to timely record and report such instances to the DEA,”…

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey launched an email address on Monday, encouraging Mainers to report federal immigration enforcement activity, including specific information such as the names and contact information of anyone involved. [RELATED: Mills Blames Trump, Demands ICE Pullout After Minnesota Killing Report—Calls Agents “Reckless” and Urges Congress to Cut Funding…] “Across our nation, we are seeing numerous reports of apparent civil rights violations and improper use of force by federal agents who have been sent into areas targeted for immigration enforcement by the federal government,” said Frey. “With the federal government now surging federal agents into Maine under the…

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Westbrook man on Friday after he allegedly crashed into an occupied school bus while driving drunk, and fled from deputies. [RELATED: Federal Report Reveals Tragic Circumstances Surrounding Fatal Standish School-Bus Crash…] At approximately 7:32 p.m., Cumberland deputies responded to reports of a 2001 maroon GMC Sierra driving erratically. The caller reported that the truck was leaving the road and almost striking multiple vehicles. During the police response, the truck allegedly sideswiped an occupied school bus after forcing it off the road and continued on. The driver then allegedly struck a telephone pole on…

The Portland Police Department arrested six anti-ICE protesters after they surrounded hotels on Friday night, banging drums and causing a disturbance, and refused to obey law enforcement orders to leave. [RELATED: Portland PD Issues Criminal Summons for Anti-ICE Protester Outside Hotel…] At approximately 9:00 p.m., police responded to the Residence Inn at 145 Fore Street and the AC Hotel at 168 Fore Street for reports of disturbances. Initially, police believed that the protesters were not causing any issues, but at approximately 10:20 p.m., a group of about 40 protesters allegedly began causing a disturbance by banging drums and blowing whistles.…

The Rockland Police Department arrested a Bangor man on Friday while executing a search warrant as part of an investigation into drug trafficking operations. [RELATED: Hope Man Arrested Following Break-in at Rockland Business…] Rockland officers executed a search warrant at a residence in the town’s south end following a month-long drug trafficking investigation. While executing the warrant, police seized approximately 40 grams of crack cocaine and arrested one suspect, Jason “JD” Viorla, 40, of Bangor. Police believe that Viorla also had ties to New York and North Carolina. He was charged with felony aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs. The charge…

The Portland Police Department issued a criminal summons for one of the protesters who gathered outside a Residence Inn on Thursday night, causing a disturbance and banging on a drum set because they believed ICE agents were staying at the hotel. [RELATED: Anti-ICE Protester Blows Air-Horn In Faces of Brewer Officers While They Investigated A Series of False Threats Against Schools…] At approximately 10:07 p.m., Portland Police responded to the Residence Inn at 145 Fore Street after reports that a crowd of roughly anti-ICE protesters had gathered outside the hotel. The crowd, apparently believing ICE agents were staying inside, caused…

Maine State Police arrested a Cross Lake Township man on Thursday following an alleged domestic violence incident that turned into an hours-long police standoff involving a tactical team and crisis negotiators. [RELATED: Clifton Standoff Leads to Rescue of Victim and Arrest of 71-Year-Old on Domestic Violence Charges…] State Police responded at approximately 7:46 a.m. to reports of a domestic disturbance at a Cross Lake Township residence. The caller informed the police that her boyfriend was allegedly threatening her and destroying things in their home. By the time the troopers arrived, the caller had already fled the residence. Troopers found the…

Democrats on Maine’s Legislative Council voted on Thursday against considering an emergency bill that would require Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to issue confidential license plates to law enforcement officers after she refused to issue them to ICE. [RELATED: Bellows Orders Maine Staff to Report ICE Sightings, Tightens Access Rules in State Offices…] In response to mounting ICE enforcement activity in Maine, Bellows decided to deny new requests from immigration officials for undercover plates, potentially putting ICE agents at risk from protesters and helping illegal immigrants evade arrest. Democrats in the legislature decided to throw their support behind Bellows’ policy…

An investigation into an unassuming office building on Portland’s Anderson Street has revealed an interlinked network of lucrative Medicaid agencies co-located with Dahabshiil, an Emirati money transfer business favored by the Central Bank of Somalia. MaineCare spending records obtained under the Freedom of Access Act show that the five MaineCare agencies located within the office building at 203 Anderson St. have increased their combined annual billing from $901,126.85 in 2019 to $4,057,917.75 in 2024. The building houses a branch of Dahabshiil, the largest money transfer business in Africa, founded in Somalia and now based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).…

The Maine Wire can exclusively confirm that ICE agents arrested an Angolan national who has been working as a York County Corrections Officer since 2024. [RELATED: ICE Arrests Old Orchard Beach Police Officer from Jamaica for Overstaying Visa…] York County Corrections Officer Mauro Inacio Bernardo is currently in ICE custody in Massachusetts and is being held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility, according to ICE records. The Maine Wire has confirmed that Bernardo is a York County Corrections Officer, using York County employment data obtained through a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) request. Those records reveal a Mauro I. Bernardo,…

Two Chinese men living in New York pleaded guilty to mortgage fraud charges on Wednesday after they conspired to obtain three homes for use as illegal marijuana grow facilities. [RELATED: Man Enters Guilty Plea in Maine’s First Federal Case for Illegal Marijuana Grow House…] Tony Liang, 37, of Brooklyn, New York, headed up a conspiracy to obtain over $500,000 in mortgage loans from two Maine banks. He and his co-conspirators used the loans to purchase residences in Bucksport, Eddington, and Canaan, after they falsely represented to the banks that the properties would be used as residences. Throughout the loan application…

The Rockland Police Department arrested a Hope man on Tuesday morning after a local business reportedly lost over $3,000 in a break-in. [RELATED: Teenaged Thieves Arrested After Trying to Escape Rockland Police Detention…] At approximately 8:20 a.m., police responded to an unspecified business on Main Street for a report that it had been burglarized overnight. Police determined, based on evidence recovered at the scene, that the suspect had prior knowledge of the business. He was allegedly able to disable the business’s security system and access their safe with little difficulty. He reportedly made off with over $3,000 from the safe.…

RSU 34 went into lockdown on Wednesday morning after receiving a threat, prompting the University of Maine (UMaine) to issue an alert due to its proximity to the school district. [RELATED: Lockdown at Southern Maine Community College Lifted After Armed Man Taken Into Custody…] The school district, which serves Old Town, Alton, and Bradley, received a threat Wednesday morning, prompting the district to place all of its schools on lockdown while police responded to investigate the situation. The Bangor Daily News reported that the lockdown alert went out to parents at 8:19 a.m. They reported that roughly 20 law enforcement…

Cumberland County Chief Deputy Brian Pellerin is running as an independent against Democrat York County Sheriff William King, he announced on Monday. [RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: York’s County Mechanic Suspended for Just One Day After Pulling Someone Over in a Cruiser The Sheriff Lent Him… “I am running as a principled Independent, committed to professional, nonpartisan leadership in public safety. I believe the Office of Sheriff must remain above partisan politics. Public safety leadership requires accountability, transparency, and a clear focus on putting people over politics,” said Pellerin. Pellerin has worked in law enforcement for over thirty years and has experience at…

An Anti-ICE protester deliberately interfered with the Brewer Police Department and blew an air horn at officers while they investigated false threats made against schools across the state. [RELATED: ICE arrests 50 in Maine as Federal Immigration Enforcement Expands, Prompting Warnings and Preparations…] Multiple school districts across the state, along with various other institutions, including banks and businesses, began receiving a variety of threats, ranging from school shootings to bomb threats, according to sources who spoke to the Maine Wire. The Brewer Police Department was collaborating with another unspecified law enforcement agency to investigate a person of interest in the…

President Donald Trump took executive action on Tuesday to bar large “institutional investors” from purchasing single-family homes, aiming to make homeownership more achievable. [RELATED: Trump Vows to Help Americans Buy Homes by Banning Massive Investors from Purchasing Single Family Housing…] “To preserve the supply of single-family homes for American families and increase the paths to homeownership, it is the policy of my Administration that large institutional investors should not buy single-family homes that could otherwise be purchased by families,” said President Trump in the order. The order, “Stopping Wall Street from Competing with Main Street Homebuyers,” follows up on a…

A vehicle smashed through a Westbrook business on Monday, reportedly causing significant structural damage. [RELATED: Woman LifeFlighted After Explosion, Structure Fire at Friendship Home; Fire Marshal Investigating…] At approximately 1:45 p.m., the Westbrook Police and Westbrook Fire Department responded to the Westbrook Crossing Shopping Center at 11 Main Street following reports of a vehicle crashing through the AT&T store. No pedestrians on the sidewalk, store employees, or customers were injured in the crash. The driver, identified as a 47-year-old woman from Portland, had to be extracted from the car by emergency personnel and was transported by ambulance to a local…

State Police arrested 24-year-old Shawn Stephen Samuels of Orrington on Sunday after he allegedly murdered his 12-week-old daughter in a domestic violence incident. [RELATED: Mistrial Declared After Jury Fails to Reach a Verdict on Man Accused of Killing a Toddler…] On Friday morning, the Penobscot Regional Communications Center received a call reporting an unresponsive 12-week-old infant, Lyla Samuels. Orrington Fire and Rescue, the Brewer Fire Department, and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the residence. The infant was transported to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Because of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident, the Maine…

Bangor police arrested a Bangor man on attempted murder charges on Tuesday after he allegedly attacked his neighbor with a machete. [RELATED: NH Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Stabbing A Lebanon, Maine Man Seven Times…] At approximately 6:40 p.m. on Thursday, officers responded to Sunset Avenue for reports of a man being attacked by his neighbor with a machete. Officers arrived to determine that the victim had been able to disarm his attacker. The victim suffered multiple lacerations on his head and was transported to a local hospital. He is expected to recover. The victim identified his alleged attacker…

The Penobscot Sheriff’s Department arrested two New York felons on firearm charges on Thursday during the execution of a search warrant in Lagrange. [RELATED: Hartland Man Shot After Brandishing Knife at Police During Execution of Search Warrant…] At approximately 8:00 p.m., Penobscot deputies, along with the Maine State Police Tactical Team, executed a search warrant at a Town Road residence in Lagrange. They obtained the warrant as part of an investigation into drug trafficking activities and the possession of firearms by convicted felons. During the search, law enforcement seized multiple firearms and suspected drugs. The suspected drugs will undergo laboratory…

The Brunswick Police Department arrested three New York men on Friday after they were allegedly found with false identities during an investigation into attempted fraud at banks in Wiscasset and Boothbay Harbor. [RELATED: Attempted Bank Fraud in Houlton Leads to Cross-Border Chase Into Canada Involving Canadian Mounted Police…] At around 1:30 p.m., the Wiscasset Police Department responded to reports of attempted bank fraud at the First National Bank in Wiscasset. A male suspect reportedly attempted to impersonate a customer and presented bank tellers with a fraudulent military ID containing the customer’s personal information. The suspect then attempted to withdraw $6,700…

A Medicaid-funded home care agency based in Portland was ordered to pay back nearly $400,000 in over-billed MaineCare payments in late 2024 after it failed to provide a variety of required documents despite multiple deadline extensions. In the subsequent year, 5 Stars Home Health Care President Mostafa Alahmedi failed to provide documents that would substantiate hundreds of thousands of dollars in MaineCare benefits paid out for “home-based care.” All told, Alahmedi received more than $1 million in taxpayer-funded payments before the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) shutoff the money spigot. Those MaineCare payments include $432,384.72 paid out…

The Maine State Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal crash in Falmouth on Saturday that claimed the life of a 19-year-old from Connecticut. [RELATED: State Police Cruiser Struck by Mercedes During Turnpike Crash Response in Wells…] At approximately 1:57 p.m., State Police troopers responded to a crash on the Falmouth Spur, near the I-295 north on-ramp. The caller who reported the crash said that the vehicle had seemingly gone off-road and hit a guardrail. Falmouth Fire and Rescue joined troopers and arrived to find a white 2013 Subaru Impreza with the driver trapped inside. Rescue personnel extracted the…

The Maine State Police joined a national initiative to enforce safety standards for commercial vehicles last week and found that a staggering 80 out of the 390 trucks examined posed a risk to the public. [RELATED: Maine Immigrant Rights Coalitions Defends CDLs for Noncitizens Despite Fatalities Involving Foreign Drivers…] The State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit joined the national Distracted, Reckless, Impaired, and Visibility Enforcement (DRIVE) campaign held by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). As part of the three-day initiative, the state police inspected 390 commercial trucks and found that 80 of those inspected, roughly 20 percent, posed…

The Maine State Police are investigating after a woman was found dead at a Skowhegan property on Wednesday. [RELATED: Corinth Woman Killed in Shooting, Son Charged With Murder…] The Skowhegan Police Department received a report at approximately 11:37 p.m. that a person was not breathing at a residence located at 361 West Front Street. Officers arrived to discover a deceased woman and called the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit to assist with the investigation. The deceased woman was transported to the Office of the Maine Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy was conducted on Thursday. Detectives worked…

Maine’s Legislative Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on Wednesday for a bill from Rep. Bill Pluecker (I-Warren) that would apparently ensure that some illegal immigrants can continue receiving state-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits despite federal changes. [RELATED: Nearly 700,000 Ineligible People Have Been Removed from SNAP Rolls Since Trump Took Office: Rollins…] “For nearly thirty years, Maine has provided state-funded SNAP to lawfully presentimmigrants who may have been excluded from federal benefits. This programreflects our values and pragmatic recognition that hunger harms all Mainers,” said Pluecker while addressing the committee. “It is important that the…

The Maine branch of the Fraternal Order of Police expressed its staunch support for immigration officials and enforcement action in Maine, condemning Gov. Janet Mills’ (D-Maine) anti-ICE rhetoric and any attempts to obstruct law enforcement. [RELATED: ICE Expected in Lewiston, Portland; Mills Scrambles for Answers as Trump Escalates Pressure…] “The Maine Fraternal Order of Police stands in support of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carrying out lawful enforcement operations in Maine, and we stand with all duly sworn law enforcement officers across the country who put their lives on the line to uphold the rule of law and protect…

The Rockland Police Department arrested school bus driver Jeffrey Colburn, 65, of Camden, on Thursday on manslaughter charges following a months-long investigation into the fatal Rockland bus crash that killed 12-year-old RSU 13 student Brayden Callahan. [RELATED: Rockland School Bus Driver Placed on Leave After Fatal Collision, Records Show Prior OUI Conviction…] Rockland police took Colburn into custody after a grand jury indictment was handed down, and the Knox County District Attorney’s Office issued a warrant for his arrest. The Rockland Criminal Investigation Division has worked with the Knox District Attorney’s Office since the tragic crash in November. The investigation…

The Maine State Fire Marshal is investigating an alleged arson incident in Ellsworth on Wednesday after a vacant single-family residence sustained fire damage. [RELATED: State Fire Marshal Investigating Suspected Arson at Vacant Mexico Home…] At approximately 5:50 p.m., the Ellsworth Fire Department responded to 384 Water Street for reports of a structure fire at the vacant home. The flames were subdued in time to cause only minor fire damage. The local fire department called in the Fire Marshal’s Office to help identify the cause of the fire. The Marshal’s Office classified the fire as incendiary, meaning that they believe it…

Three 18-year-olds were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly shooting up a Wiscasset home on Tuesday while a father and a minor were inside. One of the three was also charged with shooting up an Alna home last week. [RELATED: 18-Year-Old Arrested After Week-Long Investigation Into Bullet Holes Left in Alna Home…] Just after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Wiscasset Police Department responded to an Old Sheepscot Road residence after receiving reports that someone had shot at the home. Investigators discovered that three shots were fired at the residence. One bullet struck and shattered the storm door glass, penetrated the interior…

The U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) launched an investigation Wednesday targeting 18 educational institutions, including two Maine school districts, for potential Title IX antidiscrimination law violations for allowing males to participate in female sports. [RELATED: Defiance Over Duty: Maine Education Chief Puts Ideology Above Education in Title IX Standoff…] “In the same week that the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the future of Title IX, OCR is aggressively pursuing allegations of discrimination against women and girls by entities which reportedly allow males to compete in women’s sports. Time and again, the Trump Administration has…

The taxpayer-funded University of Maine School of Law’s Dean of Students sent out a notice to students and staff Thursday, encouraging them to call an anti-ICE hotline and providing pointers on recording immigration enforcement activities. [RELATED: Just 5.5 Percent of Maine College Professors Are Registered GOP — UMaine Law Profs Include Zero Republicans…] “The ACLU of Maine, ILAP, and Clinics at Maine Law have collaborated to create the attached document, “Preparing for & Responding to Immigration Enforcement Activity in Maine.” This document includes embedded hyperlinks that cover how to prepare for an ICE encounter, what to do if you witness an…

A 71-year-old woman was tragically killed on Wednesday after her vehicle was struck while she was parked on the shoulder of Harpswell Island Road. [RELATED: Two Maine DOT Workers Killed After Driver Failed to Stop at a Stop Sign in a Waterville Work Zone…] At around 2:49 p.m., the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department received a report of a crash on Harpswell Island Road in Harpswell, near the intersection with Tower Hill Road. Deputies and the Harpswell Fire and EMS Department responded to the scene. They discovered Jean Appleby Johnson, 71, seriously injured and administered life-saving measures shortly after the crash,…

Penobscot Sheriff’s Deputies busted two alleged drug traffickers on Tuesday after they reportedly initially failed to comply with a traffic stop in Milford. [RELATED: Somerset Bust Leads to Seizure of Over a Pound of Drugs and Arrest of Out-of-State Traffickers…] At approximately 1:30 a.m., Penobscot deputies were conducting an unspecified investigation on French Settlement Road when they spotted a suspicious vehicle that reportedly approached their location and abruptly stopped. Deputies reportedly observed multiple traffic violations and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle reportedly failed to stop and continued traveling toward Greenbush. Additional deputies responded and attempted to stop…

A Falmouth man was sentenced to pay $590,912 in restitution to the IRS on Tuesday after he evaded taxes and used company funds to purchase an island home. [RELATED: Portland Property Manager Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Stealing Money from Low-Income Tenants, and Defrauding taxpayers…] Jeffrey Riddle, 59, of Falmouth, pleaded guilty to tax evasion in December 2024 and was sentenced to three years of probation in addition to the restitution he was required to pay. On his tax returns from 2006 through 2014, he reported that he owed a substantial amount of taxes but failed to pay…

The New Hampshire State Police arrested a Merrimack woman on Wednesday after she allegedly fled from the police and barricaded herself in her car, following an earlier August arrest for fleeing law enforcement. [RELATED: Kennebec County Pursuit Ends in Police Shooting and Arrest of Man Wanted on Felony Charges…] The NH State Police responded at approximately 1:06 a.m. to assist local police after a suspicious 2016 Volkswagen GTI was discovered parked near Citizens Bank in Londonderry. Londonderry officers tried to speak with the vehicle’s operator, Heather Lewis, 34, of Merrimack, but she allegedly fled westbound on Route 102 toward Hudson,…

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department closed in on a suspect early Wednesday morning following a week-long investigation into six bullet holes discovered in a newly constructed Alna home as the owners were moving in. [RELATED: Lincoln Sheriff’s Department Investigating After Six Bullet Holes Found in New Home…] On January 6, Lincoln deputies began their investigation when the homeowners of a newly constructed Head Tide Hill Road residence discovered six bullet holes in the building on the same day they closed on the purchase and began moving in. Some of the bullets went through windows and traveled into the house. Deputies…

A Chinese woman living in New York pleaded guilty on Monday to operating illegal marijuana grow sites at properties she owned in Madison and Norridgewock. [RELATED: Maine Sheriff Raids Three More Black Market Pot Houses, Seizes $39k, 900 Plants, and a Toyota — One “Brooklyn” Woman Arrested…] Jiamin Liao, 30, of New York City, purchased a property at 571 Thurston Hill Rd., Madison, in order to convert it into an illegal marijuana cultivation facility. In March 2024, the Somerset Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at the Madison property, along with another residence at 114 Upper Main St., Norridgewock, which…

Two Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) workers were tragically killed in Waterville on Tuesday after a driver allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign posted during construction, resulting in the workers being launched from a bridge. [RELATED: State Police Cruiser Struck by Mercedes During Turnpike Crash Response in Wells…] The Maine State Police responded at approximately 9:37 a.m. to reports of two pedestrians being killed in a crash on I-95 southbound near mile marker 127. The MDOT had closed down the travel lane near the end of the on-ramp from Kennedy Memorial Drive as part of bridge construction and…

The Bangor Police Department arrested an Orland man on Saturday after he was allegedly found stealing from a Bangor supermarket and masturbating before serving drinks as a vendor. [RELATED: Nude Weiner Arrested on NH Highway After He Fled Stolen Vehicle Crash…] According to a police press release, Bangor officers responded to an unspecified local supermarket at approximately 1:32 p.m. after receiving reports of a vendor concealing merchandise. The supermarket’s loss prevention team also reported that while reviewing security footage to identify the alleged theft, they witnessed the vendor, Thomas Taylor, 74, of Orland, masturbating in the store in view of…

U.S. Marshals arrested a fugitive from Oklahoma on Friday after he was found allegedly hiding out in Waldoboro to evade arrest on child pornography charges. [RELATED: U.S. Marshals Lug Illegal Alien Listed on Mass Sex Offender Registry Hiding in Maine…] “The United States Marshals Service will track you, we will find you, and we will return you to face the consequences of your actions. There is no safe haven,” said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Josh Taylor for the District of Maine in a press release. Marshal Service investigators determined that Jaime A. Oktay, 56, of Oklahoma, had allegedly fled to…

The Brunswick Police Department arrested a Topsham man on Saturday after he allegedly swapped a Brunswick man’s snowblower for a broken one while taking money to fix the stolen machine. [RELATED: Topsham Felon Found with 20 Stolen Firearms Sentenced to Six Years in Prison…] At approximately 7:00 p.m., the Brunswick Police Department received a report that Benjamin Jacques, 44, of Topsham, had allegedly swapped a Brunswick resident’s snowblower for a broken one. The caller explained that he found Jacques on the Nextdoor app and made arrangements for Jacques to fix his snowblower. Jacques allegedly took the snowblower and returned a…

Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 75 is holding lessons aimed at sexual abuse prevention for students as young as kindergarteners, using a curriculum from a radically pro-gender ideology non-profit that includes excerpts from books like Bodies Are Cool, The Bare Naked Book, and Uncle Willy’s Tickles: A Child’s Right to Say No. [RELATED: Out Maine Secures Grants to Send Pro-Trans Children’s Books Across the State’s Schools, Libraries, and Even Pediatricians’ Offices…] The non-profit Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSMM) prominently boasts that they serve Mainers of “all genders” and hides lesson plans behind a password in an apparent…

Rep. Kathy Javner (R-Chester) tragically passed away on Saturday after continuing to serve in the legislature as a staunch pro-life advocate despite battling cancer. [RELATED: Republican Rep from California Dies Suddenly at Age 65…] “We mourn the passing of Rep. Kathy Javner, who was serving her fourth term representing House District 29 and as Ranking Member of the 132nd Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services,” said the Maine House Republicans. “A faithful servant, Kathy reflected Christ’s love through humility, hard work, and compassion. Rooted in Maine values and shaped by years of cross-cultural service and teaching, she…

Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot) is running for Maine’s Second Congressional District (CD2) House seat, currently held by Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), he announced on Monday. [RELATED: Sen. Joe Baldacci Defends Censure of Laurel Libby During Debate with House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham…] “I’m running for Congress because Maine needs a fighter in Washington, D.C. — someone who understands what it means when groceries, health care, and housing become unaffordable, and who will actually do something about it. I’ll vote to restore ACA subsidies, protect Social Security and Medicare, crack down on corporate greed, and stand up for small businesses…

The Maine State Legislature’s Judiciary Committee held an over seven-hour public hearing on two “restorative justice” style bills: one to allow the automatic sealing of some criminal records and one to re-institute parole. LD 1911 The committee began by hearing testimony on LD 1911 put forward by Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland). The bill would allow for the automatic sealing of criminal records for a variety of crimes, including drug offenses, if certain conditions are met, such as having no pending charges. “An old arrest or conviction record can be an albatross around people’s necks. Individuals who have paid their…

A St. Albans traffic stop conducted by the Somerset Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday led to the arrests of two Mainers and a man from the Dominican Republic on drug trafficking charges. [RELATED: Somerset Bust Leads to Seizure of Over a Pound of Drugs and Arrest of Out-of-State Traffickers…] At approximately 9:00 p.m., Deputy Allen Jones initiated a traffic stop on a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado with three occupants while patrolling Webb Ridge Road in St. Albans. The investigation revealed that one of the vehicle’s occupants, Destiny Alton, 44, of Saint Albans, was allegedly subject to an active arrest warrant for domestic…

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published a report on Friday revealing the tragic circumstances surrounding the horrific crash last month when 5-year-old Simon Gonzalez was killed after being struck by a school bus. [RELATED: Sheriff Releases More Details on Tragic School-Bus Crash that Killed a 5-Year-Old in Standish…] The NTSB, a federal agency responsible for investigating high-profile crashes, released its preliminary report, providing details without laying blame on the victim or the driver, Lori Ann Merrifield, 64. According to the report, the bus was at a stop on Route 35 in Standish at approximately 8:00 a.m. when a seven-year-old,…

The Somerset Sheriff’s Department executed a drug bust in Pittsfield on Wednesday, seizing over a pound of fentanyl and cocaine and arresting two alleged drug traffickers from out of state. [RELATED: Penobscot Sheriff’s Department Starts the Year With Massive Drug Bust in Enfield…] At approximately 1:50 p.m., Somerset deputies executed a search warrant at the home of Julie McDaniel, 69, on Sibley Pond Road in Pittsfield. The department obtained the search warrant after a months-long investigation into drugs allegedly being sold from the home. During the search, law enforcement allegedly located 780 grams of fentanyl and cocaine, along with a…

Piscataquis Sheriff Bob Young will be retiring from his position at the end of 2026 after serving as sheriff since 2018 and working with the department for 42 years. [RELATED: Maine DOC Orders Piscataquis County Jail to Stop Taking New Prisoners After Failing Health and Safety Inspections…] “It’s been a good run, 42 years of working for the folks of Piscataquis. I didn’t intend to stay this long. Starting as a corrections officer/dispatcher, I was figuring on 2 to 3 years. Being Sheriff wasn’t even a loose thought rolling around my mind. But, as with all of us, the years…

Sen. Susan Collins voted with Democrats to move a controversial resolution forward on Thursday that would require President Donald Trump to immediately cease all hostilities with Venezuela without congressional authorization. Sen. Collins says that she maintains her support for the military action that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, but she believes Congress should be involved before any prolonged military operation takes place. [RELATED: President Trump: U.S. CARRIES OUT STRIKE ON VENEZUELA, MADURO CAPTURED…] “With Maduro rightfully captured, the circumstances have now changed. While I support the operation to seize Nicolas Maduro, which was extraordinary in its…

The Maine State Police took to social media on Thursday to warn of an alleged rise in the use of counterfeit cash across the state in recent weeks. [RELATED: Word of the Year: Fraud…] Police stated that the majority of recent counterfeit bills discovered have been used in business deposits, but urged vigilance from anyone using cash. The increase in counterfeit activity has spanned across the state from Bangor to Van Buren, though police did not release information on the number of incidents reported. Recent incidents have reportedly primarily involved $100 bills marked with “for motion picture use only” and…

President Donald Trump moved to withdraw the U.S. from 66 international organizations, treaties, and conventions on Wednesday that he determined are contrary to the American national interest. [RELATED: Trump Withdraws the U.S. from the World Health Organization on First Day in Office…] “The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own, or a threat to our nation’s sovereignty, freedoms, and general prosperity,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a press release. “President Trump is clear: It…

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) unveiled a new database last week showing how much money American universities have taken from foreign nations, with Qatar emerging as the top donor and China ranking fourth. [RELATED: Just 5.5 Percent of Maine College Professors Are Registered GOP — UMaine Law Profs Include Zero Republicans…] “America’s taxpayer-funded colleges and universities have both a moral and legal obligation to be fully transparent with the U.S. government and the American people about their foreign financial relationships. We are grateful to the many stakeholders for their feedback in designing this portal and look forward to vigorously…

A Dominican drug trafficker will spend the next five years in prison after he was sentenced on Tuesday for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle kilograms of fentanyl from Massachusetts to Maine. [RELATED: Feds Bust Dominican Republic-Based Fraud Ring Targeting Grandparents in New England, Nationwide…] Alexis De Leon, 30, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty in March to drug trafficking charges. Investigators learned that someone using the name “Leon Leon” was using a Facebook account, among other means, to contact co-conspirators and potential buyers in Maine to arrange drug…

President Donald Trump is taking action to help Americans fulfill the dream of homeownership, he announced on Wednesday, by barring institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes. [RELATED: Janet Mills, MaineHousing Announce Funding for 311 Apartments Across 8 Developments…] “For a very long time, buying and owning a home was considered the pinnacle of the American Dream. It was the reward for working hard, and doing the right thing, but now, because of the Record High Inflation caused by Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress, that American Dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people, especially younger…

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department is investigating after a family found six bullet holes in their newly constructed Alna home on Tuesday, just as they were moving in. [RELATED: Auburn Police Searching for Suspect in Drive-By Shooting That Left Two Bullet Holes in a Local Residence…] At approximately 4:16 p.m., deputies responded to reports of a house being shot at on Head Tide Hill Road. The owners of the newly constructed home had just closed on the property and were moving in when they discovered six bullet holes in the side of the house facing the driveway. Some of the…

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) died suddenly following an unspecified medical emergency on Monday at the age of 65, sparking messages of condolence from President Donald Trump and other Republicans, and shrinking the Republicans’ already slim House majority. [RELATED: Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Throws in Towel After Tango with Trump…] “I want to express our tremendous sorrow at the loss of a great member — a great, great, great member — Congressman Doug LaMalfa, who passed away yesterday,” said President Trump during an address delivered to Republicans on Tuesday. “He was a defender of everybody, and our hearts go out…

The York County Sheriff’s Department suspended its mechanic for just one day after he allegedly pulled someone over in an unmarked cruiser lent to him by the department, despite being a civilian, according to police records obtained by The Maine Wire. The mechanic was not charged, and the responding deputy told dispatch to disregard the incident but failed to inform the victim that the driver who pulled him over was not a deputy. [RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: York County Corrections Officer Was Living With a Fugitive, Faced No Disciplinary Action for Months…] Loghan Aycock, 21, an electrician, was on his way home…

Portland School Board Chair Sarah Lentz delivered the district’s annual “State of the Schools” address to the Portland City Council on Monday, notably focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and placing “equity” above academic achievement. [RELATED: Portland Schools, Teachers’ Union to Collude on ‘Progressive Discipline’ Policy, Emphasizing ‘Restorative Justice’ and ‘Safe Spaces’…] “First Equity: it is not one priority among many. It is the foundation of everything that we do,” said Lentz. Lentz began her address with a “land acknowledgment,” setting the tone for the speech to follow. https://twitter.com/TheMaineWire/status/2008577705374347345 “We are operating in a national landscape where immigrants and…

The Piscataquis Sheriff’s Department recovered two tractors on Friday after they were allegedly stolen from a Barnard Township residence. [RELATED: Wiscasset Police Make Arrest in Armed Robbery and Liquor Theft, 19-Year- Old Now in Custody…] The Sheriff’s Department began its investigation after receiving a report that two tractors and other unspecified items had been stolen. Deputies were quickly able to obtain information on the location of the stolen tractors and secured a search warrant for the alleged location of the stolen farm equipment. During the execution of the warrant, deputies recovered the stolen items and arrested the alleged perpetrator, identified…

The Maine Legislature is set to consider a Democrat-led bill during a Wednesday public hearing that would expand the existing “Good Samaritan” law, providing increased immunity for drug users. [RELATED: Halsey Frank: Maine’s new, not-so-good Samaritan law…] Under the current law, drug users are immune from prosecution or arrest based on any information gathered during a medical or law enforcement response to a drug overdose. The law even prevents law enforcement from arresting someone who is subject to an unrelated outstanding warrant if they are identified during the response, with exceptions for some violent or other serious crimes. [RELATED: Crimes…

The Auburn Police Department arrested a woman on Sunday after she was reportedly found with three different types of drugs during a bail compliance check. [RELATED: Intoxicated Rumford Man Pepper-Sprays Woman, Three Children Inside Apartment…] The Auburn Police Department’s Patrol Division arrived at 41 Valley Street to conduct a bail compliance check on Stephanie Bell, 51, of Auburn. During the check, officers searched Bell’s residence and allegedly found her in possession of marijuana, psilocybin—commonly known as “magic mushrooms”—and methamphetamine. Officers also reportedly discovered three firearms that Bell was prohibited from owning. Bell was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of…

The Penobscot Sheriff’s Department started the year with a massive drug bust in Enfield on Friday that led to six arrests and charges for a seventh suspect, drug seizures, and the recovery of stolen items at a residence that had been previously raided just months earlier. [RELATED: Traffic Stop Turns Into Drug Bust, Old Orchard Beach Man Charged With Cocaine, Meth Trafficking…] At approximately 12:30 p.m., the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team executed a search warrant for a residence on Mohawk Road in Enfield. During the warrant execution, deputies allegedly discovered and seized methamphetamine and made six arrests…

As Gov. Janet Mills’ (D-Maine) administration has blown millions on no-bid contracts, and allegations of Medicaid fraud have touched upon sitting Democratic state representatives, the Maine GOP filed a records request for the number of fraud reports received and investigated by the Office of the State Auditor. [RELATED: Somali-Linked Lawmakers Who Attacked Trump Now Engulfed in Expanding Medicaid Fraud Scandal…] “After seeing reports of millions of dollars in overbilling in Maine’s welfare system and hundreds of millions of dollars in no-bid contracts, the taxpayers of Maine deserve to know what measures have been taken to protect them,” said Maine GOP…

Amid the Mills Administration’s unchecked spending, including thousands of pages and billions of dollars on no-bid contracts, it’s also expending taxpayer funds on grants for transgender individuals with drug problems, records show. On November 29, 2024, Maine Governor Janet Mills’ (D) administration approved a batch of grants focusing on the state’s drug problems. One such grant was awarded to the Maine Transgender Network non-profit, which presents radical LGBTQ ideas and gender ideology to minors. [RELATED: Board Member of LGBTQ+ Nonprofit Resigns After Complaining About Racism, Minors Crossing “Sexual Boundaries”…] The group requested and received $300,000 in taxpayer funds to “expand…

The U.S. Border Patrol Houlton Sector arrested an Ecuadorian illegal immigrant in Rangeley early this month with a criminal history and pending arson charges in New York. [RELATED: Border Patrol Sets All Time Apprehension Record in Maine as Crossings Shift Along Northern Border…] The Houlton Sector announced the arrest on December 16 but provided scant details. The Maine Wire reached out and received more information from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesman. “Under Secretary Noem, our brave law enforcement agents are delivering on President Donald Trump’s and the American people’s mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens…

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned the sale of new models of foreign-made drones this week, citing national security concerns as drones increasingly become weapons of war and China reportedly controls 90 percent of the global drone market. [RELATED: Portland City Council Blocks Police Drone Plan, Despite Safety, Search and Rescue Benefits…] “Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, offer the potential to enhance public safety as well as cement America’s leadership in global innovation. But criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of these technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland,” said FCC…

The Maine State Police are gathering information after local police discovered two dead adults in Tremont. [RELATED: Maine State Police are Investigating the Death of a Kennebunk Man Found in Northern Hancock County…] At approximately 8:57 a.m. on Tuesday, the Southwest Harbor Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an incident near Big Rocks Road in Tremont. The 911 caller informed the police that he found two deceased adults. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit responded to assist the Southwest Harbor Police and is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The bodies are set to be transported…

A suspect allegedly trashed a Waterville police cruiser on Sunday after ramming it with a stolen vehicle while attempting to escape law enforcement. [RELATED: Mass Man Wanted by U.S. Marshals Arrested After Crashing Into NH Police Cruiser During Chase…] At approximately 8:30 a.m., Waterville Police officers responded to Dunkin’ Donuts on College Avenue following reports that a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo had been stolen. Officers then searched the area and spotted the stolen vehicle on Kennedy Memorial Drive and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. Instead of complying, the driver allegedly refused, and a pursuit ensued. The driver fled southbound…

The CSX railroad company began clearing a Bangor homeless encampment on Monday morning that was located on their property near the train tracks between Washington Street and the Penobscot River. [RELATED: Bangor City Council Delays Clearing of Massive Homeless Encampment by Two Months…] The Bangor City Council set a December 19 deadline for the camp to be cleared, though that deadline was missed by three days. At the time the deadline was set in November, there were an estimated 40-50 people living in the encampment on property owned in part by CSX and in part by the city. According to…

A new U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) crackdown on child exploitation came to the aid of 205 minor victims and led to charges for 293 alleged sex offenders, including two in Maine, officials said. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. Operation Relentless Justice was conducted over two weeks and included agents from all 56 FBI field offices, including the bureau’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). “Operation Relentless…

The RSU 10 school district reversed course on its plans to include a co-ed locker room in its newly constructed Mountain Valley Community School in Mexico after parents voiced outrage over the prospect. [RELATED: New Maine School Set to Open With Co-Ed Locker Room…] “I am frustrated that restoring a prior-planned wall of separation in the locker room by sex designation ultimately required the concerned citizens and families of RSU 10 to involve their State Senators and Representatives,” said School Board member Kristen Chapman in a statement provided to The Maine Wire. WMTW reported on Friday that the school board…

The Westbrook Police Department arrested a fugitive from Virginia on Wednesday who was wanted for sexually abusing minors. [RELATED: Howland Sex Offender Let Off With Time Served After Passport Fraud Conviction…] The Westbrook Police Department received a notice from a Virginia sheriff’s department suggesting that someone who was wanted in that commonwealth on three felony counts of sodomy against a child was believed to be residing in Westbrook on an extraditable warrant. Officers went to the address provided by the Virginia sheriff and located the suspect. The suspect was identified as the female Merveilles Saidi, 33, of Virginia. She was…

President Donald Trump took executive action on Thursday aimed at ensuring American dominance in space exploration, commerce, and defense, pushing for another moon landing in 2028. [RELATED: Trump Picks SpaceX Astronaut and Businessman to Serve as NASA Head…] “Superiority in space is a measure of national vision and willpower, and the technologies Americans develop to achieve it contribute substantially to the Nation’s strength, security, and prosperity,” a White House statement read. “The United States must therefore pursue a space policy that will extend the reach of human discovery, secure the Nation’s vital economic and security interests, unleash commercial development, and…

A Howland sex offender convicted of passport fraud was sentenced to time served on Thursday during his sentencing hearing, after spending 14 months in prison. [RELATED: Florida Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison Following Fraud Scheme…] Eric Ericson, 73, of Howland, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann to time served in the U.S. District Court in Bangor after Ericson was convicted of passport fraud in October following a three-day trial. He has already spent 14 months in prison, and his time served will be followed by three years of supervised release. Ericson applied for a passport…