Author: Seamus Othot

A citizen’s initiative aimed at ending the sale and production of recreational cannabis in Maine can now begin collecting signatures to put the question on the 2026 ballot after Secretary of State Shenna Bellows approved the initiative’s application on Monday. [RELATED: Mysterious Marijuana-Linked Vomiting Disorder Gets Official WHO Code as Emergency Room Cases Surge…] The initiative aims to place a referendum question before voters next November that would significantly amend the “Act to Amend the Cannabis Legalization Act and the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act” to essentially end Maine’s recreational cannabis industry. The changes would end commercial production and…

The Houlton Police Department arrested a man late last month after he was allegedly found distributing child pornography. [RELATED: Houlton Town Council Fires Manager Cameron Clark Following Months of Turmoil…] On November 3, police first received information from a witness claiming to have observed Brian F. Hayes, 36, of Houlton, in possession of child pornography. After speaking to the witness, Officer Jacob Goodman launched an investigation. During the investigation, officers established probable cause to seize Hayes’ phone and obtained a warrant to search its contents. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) assisted the Houlton Police Department in searching the device. The search…

York deputies arrested two wanted thieves in Lebanon on Wednesday after one was found hiding in a residence and the other fled into the woods. [RELATED: Plot Thickens: Three York County Corrections Officers Indicted on Charges of Accepting Bribes…] Deputy Levi Johnson went to a home on Creamery Hill Road at approximately 11:00 a.m. in search of two people wanted on multiple warrants. When he arrived, he reportedly spotted one of the suspects, Jonathan Gillis, 23, who is homeless, fleeing into the woods on foot. Johnson then entered the residence and located the second suspect, Tanya Gouin, 40, of Lebanon,…

The Rockland Police Department arrested an Arkansas sex offender on Sunday for failing to comply with sex offender registration, less than a month after they arrested him for the same crime. [RELATED: Unregistered Arkansas Sex Offender Busted in Rockland…] Police conducted a traffic stop on Sunday for a vehicle driven by Jonathon Daugherty, 23, of Arkansas. During the stop, they learned that he was allegedly refusing to register as a sex offender according to Maine law and violating his conditions of release by failing to comply with court-ordered check-in requirements. Officers took Daugherty into custody and charged him with violating…

The Sanford Police Department arrested an alleged robber on Sunday who reportedly stole from a Springvale 7-Eleven gas station six days earlier, sparking a manhunt. [RELATED: Sanford Police Chief Announces Run for State Rep After Dropping Out of National Race for Pingree’s Seat…] On December 3, the Sanford Police Department released an image from security footage inside the 7-Eleven, showing a suspect allegedly involved in a theft from the store that took place at around 9:00 p.m. on December 1. Image from the Sanford Police Department Police requested public assistance in identifying the suspect. Five days after requesting public assistance,…

The Brunswick Police Department busted two alleged poachers on Monday after they were discovered with two dead deer early in the morning that they reportedly shot from inside a vehicle. [RELATED: Former Game Warden Calls Out the Political Agenda Taking Hold of Maine’s Fish & Wildlife Service…] At around 1:46 a.m., Brunswick officers noticed a suspicious vehicle traveling on Pleasant Hill Road allegedly committing multiple traffic infractions and initiated a stop. The officer approached the vehicle and allegedly noticed a loaded crossbow on the passenger seat and two dead deer in the back. According to police, the vehicle’s sole occupant,…

Regional School Unit (RSU) 9 school board member Griffin Mayhew, 26, representing Wilton, died unexpectedly on Monday, just months after he first took office in June. [RELATED: Community Split Over Mt. Blue Principal’s Halloween Costume, But RSU 9 Confirms Black is Back on the Job…] “Griffin was an exemplary young man whose commitment, kindness, and thoughtfulness were evident throughout his service on the Board along with his support of student activities at Mt. Blue Campus. RSU 9, also known as the Mt. Blue Regional School, serves Chesterville, Farmington, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Starks, Temple, Vienna, Weld, and Wilton. Griffin…

Bharat Awasarmol, 49, residing in New Jersey, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to fraud charges related to a scheme spanning five states, including Maine, and seven victims in which he posed as a public official to convince people to give him gold. [RELATED: Scammer Busted for Impersonating FTC Commissioner and Convincing Victims to Hand Over Their Gold…] According to the U.S. District Court in Portland, Awasarmol conspired with other unnamed individuals to impersonate government officials over the phone, demanding that the victims purchase gold to hand over to the “government” for “safekeeping.” Awasarmol was arrested by FBI agents…

Current Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap, now running for the Second Congressional District House seat soon to be vacated by Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), disavowed claims that he was ever pro-life at Monday’s “Women for Dunlap” event. [RELATED: Golden Announces He Won’t Seek Re-Election in 2026, Drops Out of Re-Election Bid…] Dunlap emerged as the current Democratic frontrunner for the CD2 seat after Rep. Golden made his shocking announcement last month that he would not be seeking re-election in the hotly contested race. Before dropping out, Golden branded Dunlap as a pro-life Democrat based on a vote he cast over…

The Maine State Fire Marshal is investigating a fatal fire at a Sumner home that was powered exclusively by solar energy and propane. [RELATED: Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Falmouth House Fire…] The Sumner Fire Department responded at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday following reports of a structure fire on Valley Road. An individual who spotted the fire from a distance alerted the authorities. According to the Marshal’s office, first responders experienced significant difficulties reaching the building due to its “off-grid” location. There was a roughly mile-long approach that required firefighters to travel to the house in all-terrain vehicles and pickup…

The Paris Police Department arrested an alleged homeless burglar on Wednesday, who had been arrested and released twice in November. [RELATED: Drug-Using Squatters Removed from Paris Home…] At approximately 12:26 p.m., officers from the Paris and Norway Police Departments responded to reports of an active burglary in the 200 block of Alpine Street in Paris. The son of the property owner was watching the alleged burglar on a security camera and was able to provide a description of the male suspect to the police. The suspect reportedly fled on foot, and officers quickly found him in the immediate area and…

The Rockland Police Department arrested a South Thomaston man on Tuesday after officers allegedly saw him hiding drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop and discovered narcotics in his vehicle. [RELATED: Man Arrested in Rockland on Drug Charges Subject to Nine Sets of Bail Conditions…] Officers were patrolling the area of known “nuisance properties” on Tuesday when, around 10:45 p.m., law enforcement stopped a vehicle for traffic violations. The driver was identified as Timothy Chickering, 24, of South Thomaston, who was initially found to be driving with a suspended license. During the stop, officers allegedly witnessed Chickering attempting to conceal drug…

The U.S. House of Representatives acted to combat the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on American schools on Wednesday, passing a bill that would pull federal funding from schools that accept money from the Chinese government. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) joined 175 other Democrats in opposing the Republican-led bill from Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio). [RELATED: What If China’s Secret Weapon Was Sold at Your Local Gas Station: Shawn Ryan Show, Feat. Steve Robinson…] “China also uses informational warfare and it would love to influence what American students learn in classrooms from kindergarten through college. The CCP uses our…

President Donald Trump took action on Wednesday to repeal the burdensome fuel standards imposed by the Biden Administration that, according to the White House, provided a backdoor to force an electric vehicle mandate. [RELATED: Maine BEP Rejects Controversial EV Mandate…] “Biden’s burdensome regulations helped cause the price of cars to soar more than 25 percent, and in one case, they went up 18 percent in one year. Today we’re taking one more step to kill the green new scam,” said President Donald Trump. https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1996316723356561865 Trump announced the changes in the Oval Office while surrounded by officials and automotive executives, who…

A year-long investigation by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) culminated in the arrests of three alleged drug traffickers in Auburn on Monday after investigators discovered significant amounts of illegal drugs while executing a search warrant. [RELATED: Two Bangor Residents Arrested After Drunk Driving Hit-and-Run…] The investigation began on December 1, 2024, after the MDEA received information about a drug trafficking operation. Using community tips and information from local law enforcement, the MDEA identified Auburn as the base of operations for the trafficking ring following an extensive investigation. Exactly one year after the investigation began, the MDEA applied for and…

Police in Rockland arrested a man on drug charges on Thanksgiving Day who was already subject to nine separate active bail conditions. [RELATED: Florida Man and South Thomaston Woman Busted with Fentanyl in Rockland…] At approximately 2:00 p.m., the Rockland Police Department responded to reports of a verbal domestic situation in a parking lot off Limerick Street. In addition to the domestic situation, the caller also reported that the male and female were using drugs. Police arrived and made contact with two suspects: Andrew Blasius, 33, of Friendship, and Makayla Batty, 29, who is homeless. Batty was arrested on an…

The Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department arrested a lifetime sex offender registrant from Orneville on Tuesday following a “brutal” October assault against two women. [RELATED: Southern Maine Drivers’ Ed Teacher Charged With Assaulting Student…] On October 28, Piscataquis deputies responded at approximately 10:10 p.m. to reports of a violent assault that took place in Orneville. Deputies arrived along with the Three Rivers Ambulance Service to discover that a male “subject” had been seriously injured and that two women had been assaulted. The press release did not clarify whether the male “subject” was another victim, or whether he was the alleged perpetrator.…

The Maine State Police launched its new Cold Case Deck of Cards program on Wednesday, which will distribute cards featuring cold-case murder victims to prison inmates in an attempt to generate new leads. [RELATED: Maine Cops Again Seeking Tips In Unsolved 1991 Waterville Explosion/Fire Double Homicide…] “Cold case playing cards are one of many tools that may assist investigators in their ongoing efforts to solve Maine’s unsolved cases. These cards will help keep victims’ stories alive, and we hope they generate information that leads to prosecution,” said Department of Corrections Commissioner Randall Liberty. The program will release a 52-card deck,…

Two Bangor residents were arrested on Monday after they allegedly fled the scene of a drunk driving crash. [RELATED: Brunswick Man Arrested After Fleeing Scene of Fatal Hit-and-Run with a Bicycle…] At approximately 11:43 a.m., the Bangor Police Department responded to reports of a two-vehicle crash on Hammond Street. Witnesses told police that they saw one vehicle fleeing the scene, and law enforcement began searching for the car. Police eventually located the vehicle and identified the driver as Michele Payeur, 36, of Bangor. Security camera footage from a home near the crash allegedly confirmed that Payeur was driving during the…

ICE agents were allegedly spotted on the University of Maine Farmington Campus last week, inspiring taxpayer-funded professors to attempt recording their whereabouts and to call a hotline intended to help illegal immigrants evade law enforcement, according to internal UMaine Farmington communications obtained by The Maine Wire. [RELATED: Maine Immigrant Groups Set Up Hotline to Warn Illegals of ICE Activity…] “As a public institution, most of our campus is open to the public and to law enforcement. In the event an immigration official approaches an employee or student in person or otherwise contacts them, please immediately contact Laurie or Christine, who…

A trio of squatters fled from an abandoned home in Augusta on Saturday after it caught fire, authorities say. [RELATED: Fire Marshal’s Office Investigating Falmouth House Fire…] Firefighters responded to the blaze at 33 Pike Street on Saturday afternoon after callers reported seeing three men fleeing from a burning single-family residence, despite the home being abandoned at the time. The Fire Department was able to extinguish the flames, and no one was injured in the fire, though the cause remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal’s Office spoke with two of the squatters, who reported that…

The New Hampshire State Police arrested a Massachusetts fugitive wanted by the U.S. Marshals on Tuesday after he allegedly slammed into a police cruiser during a high-speed chase. [RELATED: U.S. Marshals Lug Illegal Alien Listed on Mass Sex Offender Registry Hiding in Maine…] At 1:21 a.m. on Tuesday, NH State Troopers received a report that the Epping, NH, Police Department had briefly engaged in a pursuit of a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado truck, which allegedly fled on Route 101 westbound. The Candia, NH, Police Department then allegedly spotted the same vehicle traveling at 105 mph. State Trooper Brian Knell later observed…

A Jay man was sentenced to four years in prison on Tuesday after selling drugs to a confidential informant and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. [RELATED: Oops! Jay Man Nabbed for Selling Guns and Drugs to a Confidential Informant] Thomas Ray Cook, 44, of Jay, was arrested after he sold $600 worth of cocaine in February from his home to an informant working with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. The next month, the informant returned to Cook and bought cocaine along with seven firearms for $1,600. Cook is prohibited from owning firearms following prior felony convictions, including aggravated…

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department received an unusual call on Tuesday when they were asked for assistance with an unexploded WWII-era British artillery shell. [RELATED: Maine ‘Gun Safety’ Coalition Oversees Negligent Firearm Discharge at Gun-Giveback…] At around 1:45 p.m., the Sheriff’s Department responded to a Harpswell residence for reports of unexploded military ordnance. Deputies secured the area upon arrival and contacted the Maine State Police Bomb Squad and the Harpswell Fire Department for assistance. The Maine Air National Guard’s 101st Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team joined the Bomb Squad in responding to the scene and identified the ordnance as a…

A New Hampshire woman was arrested in Southwest Harbor, Maine on Tuesday after she allegedly murdered her mother-in-law in Exeter, NH, in February and evaded arrest ever since. [RELATED: NH Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Stabbing A Lebanon, Maine Man Seven Times…] On February 9, authorities discovered the body of Janet Rischel Kelsen, 88, in her Exeter, NH home, and an autopsy revealed that she had been killed by blunt-force trauma to the head. Over the course of the investigation, the New Hampshire State Police gathered enough evidence to secure an arrest warrant for Kelsen’s daughter-in-law, Danielle Kelsen, 55,…

Did a powerful state council charged with setting the legislative agenda act in haste last month when it summarily tossed out scores of proposals? A series of recent re-steps suggests that it did just that. Maine’s Legislative Council heard appeals last Thursday regarding its decisions on 81 proposed bills that the council initially rejected and accepted 16 previously rejected proposals, though only two were submitted by Republicans. [RELATED: Maine’s Legislative Council Cherry Picks Which Proposals Will and Won’t be Considered as Bills in the Coming Session…] During their October meeting, the council, composed of six Democrats and four Republicans, voted…

The New Hampshire State Police arrested a Portland man early Sunday morning after he allegedly fled at high speeds while drunk driving a stolen truck, before crashing and being tracked down by a K-9 unit. [RELATED: Lebanon Man Arrested After Police Pursuit That Spanned Across Maine and New Hampshire…] NH State troopers received information at around 1:36 a.m. that a 911 caller had reported a vehicle driving dangerously on I-95 southbound in Portsmouth. Shortly thereafter, Trooper Patrick Vetter then spotted the vehicle, a 2014 Ford truck, traveling in North Hampton and driving erratically. He attempted a traffic stop, but the…

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested two Mexican illegal aliens earlier this month when they were found working for a paving company in Calais after having previously been deported from the country. [RELATED: Mexican Alien Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry Following Oakland Traffic Stop…] According to court documents, Calais Border Patrol Agent Matthew Crews was patrolling on the afternoon of November 11 and spotted what appeared to him to be a work crew loading paving equipment. He noticed that, as he was driving by in his marked vehicle, two of the workers appeared to be alarmed and were dressed in a…

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) is championing her decision to force female high school athletes to compete against males who identify as girls, especially as she runs for the U.S. Senate against progressive brawler Graham Platner. However, emails obtained under the Freedom of Access Act show that the Mills Administration and Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) officials were initially confused about who had the authority to impose the policy and were even reluctant to own the decision. Communications obtained by the Oversight Project and provided to the Maine Wire have revealed that Gov. Mills’ office, the MPA, and the Maine Department…

The Penobscot Sheriff’s Department arrested a 71-year-old man in Clifton on Monday on domestic violence charges after he allegedly threatening his victim with a firearm and sparking a several-hour standoff. [RELATED: Domestic Violence Charged-Fugitive Arrested in Norway, Maine After 12-Hour Standoff…] Deputies responded to a residence on Route 9 in Clifton at approximately 5:15 a.m. after reports of a domestic violence situation in which the victim was allegedly threatened with a firearm. The Sheriff’s Department deployed an “appropriate level of resources” to establish a secure perimeter required to safeguard the area, protect local residents and nearby drivers. After law enforcement…

A Milford man was arrested in Bangor on Sunday after he reportedly broke into an apartment, unwrapped the Christmas presents, and refused to leave. [RELATED: Milford Felon Arrested for Breaking Into a Car and Discharging a Firearm Within 500 Feet of a School…] The Bangor Police Department responded to a State Street apartment at approximately 8:38 a.m. when the tenant reported that he had awoken to find a man sleeping on his couch and refusing to leave. Officers arrived and quickly identified the alleged trespasser as Jose Harvey, 50, of Milford, based on his previous interactions with law enforcement. According…

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) joined tens of thousands of Maine voters on Sunday when she signed a petition to place a referendum question on the 2026 ballot to bar trans-identifying males from girls’ sports and spaces. [RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Parents Group Gathers 53,000 Signatures to Put Protecting Girls’ Sports on the 2026 Ballot…] “Thank you, Senator Susan Collins for signing the petition to Protect Girls Sports in Maine. We need more women and politicians like her that stands up for what is right,” said Facebook User Paul Mills, who posted a picture of the senator’s signature on the petition. The Protect…

A York County K-9 unit assisted with two arrests on Sunday night after deputies stopped two drivers, one of whom was allegedly transporting drugs while driving under false license plates. [RELATED: Drug Raids Involving K-9 Units Lead to Seizure of Fentanyl, Firearms, and Over a Kilogram of Methamphetamines…] Deputy Alex Markellos initiated a traffic stop in Alfred on the evening of November 23 after he noticed that the driver, Jeffrey Hodgkins, 34, of Waterboro, was using license plates belonging to a different vehicle. Deputy Cody Frazier soon joined Markellos with K-9 Rebel to assist in the investigation. K-9 Rebel allegedly…

An Auburn man will spend less than four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two September domestic violence incidents in which he fired a handgun in the direction of his girlfriend. [RELATED: 21-Year-Old Arrested in Auburn After Domestic Violence-Related Shooting…] The Lewiston District Court handed down a lenient sentence after Anthony Torres, 21, of Auburn, pleaded guilty on Thursday to two counts of domestic violence, reckless conduct with a firearm and one count of possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. Torres’ charges stemmed from two separate shooting incidents: one on Yagger Road in Norway on September 5,…

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department arrested an alleged scammer living in Texas on Friday after he reportedly impersonated a federal official and convinced a victim to send him gold to clear non-existent arrest warrants. [RELATED: Foreign Cyber Crew Hit Maine ATMs in “Jackpotting” Spree, Authorities Say…] According to the sheriff’s department, the investigation began a few weeks before the arrest after the daughter of an elderly victim learned about the scam and reported it to the police. The victim had recently purchased a new printer and contacted a tech-support number she found online, law enforcement’s statement said. The person on…

A Portland homeless man was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly stabbed a 66-year-old man without any provocation. [RELATED: NH Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Stabbing A Lebanon, Maine Man Seven Times…] At approximately 8:03 p.m., the Portland Police responded to reports of a stabbing taking place in Longfellow Square Park. Upon arriving at the park, police discovered a 66-year-old Freeport man with knife wounds on his face. The man was transported by ambulance to the Maine Medical Center, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Shortly after discovering the victim, the police found the alleged perpetrator, Donald…

The University of Southern Maine’s (USM) Huskies for Life, a pro-life organization, is facing online hatred and backlash for opposing abortion, including one comment from another student suggesting that they could be killed like Charlie Kirk. [RELATED: Maine College Students Take Advantage of Internet Anonymity to Celebrate Assassination of Charlie Kirk…] “these Charlie Kirk enthusiasts gotta be careful don’t they know what happened to that guy, [sic]” said one anonymous USM student. According to a member of the pro-life group who spoke with The Maine Wire, the post was made in response to a post on their account on the…

An armed robber reportedly threatened a woman at gunpoint in her home in downtown Wiscasset on Wednesday before she was able to escape and call the police. [RELATED: Rockland Minor Arrested for Assault and Robbery Incident Involving Strangulation…] According to Wiscasset police, the suspect knocked on the door of a residence on Lincoln Street and asked the female resident if he could use her phone. As the woman turned to get her phone, the suspect allegedly walked inside and pulled out a firearm. He then reportedly told her that he was robbing her. Somehow, the woman was able to escape…

The Bangor Police Department made an embarrassing blunder on Monday when former Public Information Officer Sgt. Jason McAmbley accidentally emailed a list of passwords to their media list while trying to send it to the new public information officer. [RELATED: Bangor City Council Ends Public Comment Over Zoom…] Sgt. McAmbley emailed the department’s list of media contacts, including reporters from The Maine Wire, the Bangor Daily News, the Portland Press Herald, and Maine Public, with the strange message bearing the subject line “Passwords” on Monday afternoon. Normally, the media list is used to share press releases on things like high-profile…

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Department arrested two people in Fairfield on Friday as part of an investigation into a drug-dealing operation in the county. [RELATED: High-Risk Windham Drug Bust Leads to Seven Arrests…] At around 12:05 p.m., Somerset deputies, along with detectives from the Waterville and Fairfield Police Departments, executed search warrants on Burrill Street for the residence and vehicle of Corey J. Schutz, 31, of Fairfield. Schutz is a felon with prior drug convictions in Kennebec County. The Sheriff’s Department Criminal Division obtained the search warrants as part of an investigation into drug trafficking operations in the area, assisted…

Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) addressed University of Maine students in Orono on Wednesday about the importance of free speech and drew outrage from left-wing student protesters who were joined by Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot). [RELATED: Laurel Libby Will Not Seek Reelection, Shifts Focus to Building Conservative Movement in Maine…] “Thank you to all who attended… both to listen and to protest! There is no better illustration for the importance of protecting ALL speech, and particularly that with which we disagree, than a vigorous protest outside,” said Rep. Libby in a social media post. “Had I the chance to speak when…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a Bangor man on domestic violence charges Wednesday after a neighbor heard the victim of an attack shouting from inside her home. [RELATED: Domestic Violence Charged-Fugitive Arrested in Norway, Maine After 12-Hour Standoff…] At approximately 5:15 a.m., police responded to a call for assistance made from a nearby house. When officers arrived in the area, they quickly identified the residence from which they could hear a woman screaming. As they approached, Officer Casey Walden allegedly witnessed Jesse Ramsdell, 28, of Bangor, actively assaulting the victim, who was calling for help. Police entered the residence and…

The Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department arrested two suspects in Orrington on Monday during the execution of a search warrant following a months-long investigation into multiple burglaries and thefts in the area. [RELATED: Fairfield Burglary Suspect Arrested After Chase Through Waterville…] Deputies executed a search warrant at a Ruby Lane residence at around 5:00 p.m. after securing the warrant following months of investigation. During the search, deputies seized over 60 grams of methamphetamine, ammunition, a stolen truck, and a stolen motorcycle. Law enforcement arrested Carl McCullough, 49, of Orrington, and Michael Smith, 60, of Brewer. Image of Smith from the Penobscot…

The owner of the Land’s End Gift Shop in Bailey Island caught two people on camera on Wednesday apparently stealing copper pipes from the building and causing a potentially catastrophic propane leak, and even explosion. [RELATED: China, Maine Trio Busted for String of Copper Cable Thefts Across Lincoln County…] Karen Hutchins, the shop’s owner, told WGME that at least 200 gallons of propane leaked out underneath the store, which has been in her family since 1959. She entered her store and was suddenly overwhelmed by the smell of propane. Hutchins told the outlet that she went into the store’s basement…

A South Berwick woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge of theft of government money after fraudulently stealing over $37,000 in COVID-era unemployment benefits. [RELATED: Maine’s Federal Court Continued Through Government Shutdown, Handed Down Over a Dozen Sentences…] Cori Godin, 46, of South Berwick, pleaded guilty to the charges after she falsely claimed to be unemployed for over a year in order to receive unemployment insurance benefits, including both federal and state funds intended to help people forced out of work by the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of…

An 85-year-old Durham man was killed on Tuesday when he was struck by a car while crossing the road to check his mailbox. [RELATED: Lisbon Man Struck a 72-Year-Old Pedestrian Before Fleeing the Scene, Later Arrested in Brunswick…] At approximately 5:01 p.m., the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department received a report that a vehicle had struck a pedestrian at the intersection of Royalsborough Road and Smith Farm Road in Durham. Deputies responded along with Durham Fire and Rescue personnel. They found Peter Lowe, 85, of Durham, dead at the scene. Based on a preliminary investigation, deputies believe that Sara Bolduc, 49,…

Three schools in Gray’s Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 15 went on a ‘lock out’ status for nearly an hour on Tuesday at the request of law enforcement, who were searching for four suspects that fled from the Maine State Police. [RELATED: Lockdown at Southern Maine Community College Lifted After Armed Man Taken Into Custody…] MSAD 15 announced the lock-out on Facebook at 11:39 a.m., explaining that it was implemented out of an abundance of caution at the request of local law enforcement as they resolved a situation in the area. The district did not explain what the situation was,…

The Maine State Police are investigating a crash that occurred in Pittsfield on Monday, leaving one driver dead. [RELATED: Fatal Crash in Lewiston: Car Slams into Home, Killing One and Injuring Two…] At around 5:55 a.m., police responded to a single-vehicle crash in Pittsfield on I-95 northbound near mile marker 143. When troopers arrived, they discovered that a 2012 Subaru Impreza had traveled off the road into the median, where it was lodged in the trees. Police were forced to extricate the driver, Rae Hartford, 56, of Scarborough, from the vehicle, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. During…

A Florida man and a woman from South Thomaston were arrested by Rockland police on Friday after they were allegedly found with fentanyl during a traffic stop. [RELATED: Unregistered Arkansas Sex Offender Busted in Rockland…] Shortly before midnight, Rockland officers conducted a routine traffic stop on a vehicle operated by Stacey Grierson, 53, of South Thomaston. During the stop, officers discovered that Grierson was on probation following a previous felony drug conviction. Officers then searched the vehicle along with passenger Johander Camacho Polanco, 24, of Florida. They allegedly discovered approximately 9 grams of fentanyl and approximately 28 grams of cocaine.…

Five Maine school districts are now facing a lawsuit from the Maine Human Rights Commission (MHRC), filed on Monday after the districts voted to comply with federal Title IX anti-discrimination law by barring transgender-identifying males from girls’ sports and spaces. The Maine Principals Association, which oversees school sports, and the Maine Department of Education have allowed student athletes to self-identify their genders, leading to a high profile show-down between state and federal authorities earlier this year. [RELATED: Danforth Teacher’s Refusal to Accept Radical Transgender Policy Leads to Unanimous Board Vote to Repeal the Policy…] The five districts facing a lawsuit…

During the longest-ever government shutdown, which lasted from October 1 to November 12, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine stopped posting its usual updates on notable prosecutions and convictions, but the wheels of justice nonetheless continued. [RELATED: Trump Taps LePage Appointee Andrew Benson as U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine…] On Monday, the district posted a series of press releases detailing the notable cases that took place. Here’s a look at what has been happening in the federal prosecutor’s office since the start of last month. Jason Brenner, 53, of New Jersey, was sentenced on September…

A Lebanon, Maine, man was arrested by the New Hampshire State Police on Friday after he allegedly fled from a routine traffic stop before crossing into Maine and fleeing on foot. [RELATED: What the Heck? Bath Woman Rams Brunswick Police Cruiser Twice During Pursuit…] At around 2:28 p.m., NH State Police Sergeant Gary Wood Jr. observed a 2005 Toyota Camry allegedly driving recklessly on Gonic Road in Rochester, NH. Wood attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver failed to stop and traveled northbound on Rochester’s Spaulding Turnpike. Wood initiated a pursuit, and the Camry allegedly continued speeding and…

The Houlton Police Department arrested a man on Monday after he allegedly stole cartons of cigarettes from a local smoke shop and attempted to flee on a bicycle. [RELATED: Man Busted for Burglarizing Lewiston Smoke Shop…] At around 6:34 p.m., Houlton officers Austin White and Joshua Robbins responded to the Maine Smoke Shop at 139 North Road after reports of a theft of cigarettes. Officers arrived, and the clerk at the smoke shop reported that a man entered the store wearing a black hoodie and a black surgical mask, took four cartons of cigarettes, and left without paying, fleeing on…

The Rumford Police Department arrested a convicted felon on Thursday after he allegedly cashed a $6,000 canceled check following over 20 convictions for similar crimes. [RELATED: Foreign Cyber Crew Hit Maine ATMs in “Jackpotting” Spree, Authorities Say…] Police received reports that a man had deposited a $6,000 canceled check into his account at a Rumford bank and withdrew the funds before the bank flagged the incident as fraudulent. According to police, the suspect, Rex Allen Call Jr., 40, of Mexico, Maine, was aware that the check had been canceled when he deposited it. It had reportedly been issued by another…

Justice John O’Neil declared a mistrial on Wednesday in the high-profile manslaughter case of Aziayh Scott, 24, of Louisiana, who is accused of the 2024 death of 22-month-old Quayshawn Wilson, his girlfriend’s son. “The state is extremely confident that Aziayh Scott is responsible for the injury that lacerated the liver of Quayshawn and caused his death,” said Assistant Attorney General Leanne Robbin, according to the Bangor Daily News. [RELATED: Fifty Years Since Toddler Mysteriously Disappeared From Maine Campsite…] Nonethless, O’Neil declared a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Scott is accused of causing the death…

While conducting a welfare check on Tuesday, Fairfield police discovered a dead body in a circumstance they termed unusual. [RELATED: Damariscotta Homeowner Finds Body of Missing Man on His Property…] At around 8:35 a.m., Officer Cameron Dubay of the Fairfield Police Department responded to requests for a welfare check on Burrill Street. Upon his arrival at the residence, Dubay discovered Jeremy Turner, 39, of Fairfield, deceased. After the body was discovered, Officer Casey Dugas and Detective Shanna Blodgett responded to the scene as well. Police contacted the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, which will assign someone to…

Sanford Police Chief Eric Small announced he will run as a Republican for a seat in Maine’s State House District 143 on Monday, just hours after ending his campaign for the First Congressional District U.S. House seat held by Rep. Chellie Pingree. [RELATED: Sanford’s Police Chief Drops Out of Republican Contest to Challenge Pingree’s CD1 Seat…] “I’m Eric Small, and I’m running to serve the people of Sanford at the State House so we can build a Maine that’s safe, affordable, and full of opportunity for everyone. Next November you’ll be asked to make critical votes to strengthen our state,…

Three former York County Corrections Officers were indicted on November 4 after they allegedly accepted bribes from a prisoner to smuggle contraband into the jail. [RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: York County Corrections Officer Was Living With a Fugitive, Faced No Disciplinary Action for Months…] “We take allegations such as these very seriously,” said York County Sheriff William King in a Thursday press release. “As soon as we learned of the allegations, we took immediate action. It is important to note that the action by these three individuals is not reflective of the dedication and professionalism of the remaining York County Corrections Officers.”…

A former York County corrections officer was in a romantic relationship and living with a wanted fugitive and former prisoner earlier this year until he was arrested at her home late this spring. She was allowed to continue working at the jail for months afterward and faced no disciplinary action. [RELATED: York County Deputies Arrest Fugitive Wanted by New Hampshire on Multiple Warrants…] In the April-June issue of its newsletter, the York County Sheriff’s Department announced the May 14 arrest of Daryl Terry, a fugitive with a long history of arrests on a variety of charges, including domestic violence. At…

Radically left-wing Senate hopeful Graham Platner is polling far below incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in a new poll obtained by Politico, showing the impact of his recent controversies on voter sentiment. [RELATED: Platner Shows Substantial Lead Over Mills Despite Mounting Controversies…] The poll, commissioned by the left-wing EMILY’s List political action committee and conducted by Impact Research, gave Collins a substantial lead over Platner, though a generic ballot placed Democrats ahead of Republicans. “Maine voters find Graham Platner’s comments blaming victims for sexual assault, calling the Mainers he is seeking to represent ‘racist’ and ‘stupid,’ and promoting violent political…

The Biddeford Police Department arrested a fugitive wanted on a charge of trafficking of prison contraband after he fled police and refused to submit to arrest. [RELATED: Biddeford Man Arrested on Aggravated Drug Trafficking Charges…] At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, a Biddeford police officer stopped a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle’s operator, Harley Winchenbach, 33, of Biddeford, initially stopped but allegedly provided the officer with a false name before fleeing in his car. After Winchenbach allegedly fled, police were able to identify him and learned that he was subject to an active arrest warrant on charges of trafficking in prison…

The Bangor City Council voted unanimously on Monday to end public comments held remotely via Zoom at its first meeting since electing three new members, including convicted killer Angela Walker. [RELATED: Killer Of Canadian Tourist In Old Orchard Beach Among Three New City Councilors In Bangor…] The left-wing city council unanimously agreed to a resolution that will end remote public comments, though Councilor Joseph Leonard expressed a willingness to bring back remote participation if the city is able to verify the identities of online participants. “Once staff feels comfortable doing that, rest assured, I’m going to absolutely bring that as…

Sanford Police Chief Eric Smalls ended his Republican bid for Rep. Chellie Pingree’s (D-Maine) First Congressional District (CD1) House seat on Monday, arguing that he will be a more effective police chief if he steps down from campaigning for Congress. [RELATED: Sanford Police Chief Eric Small to Run for Congress…] “This decision is not about stepping away–it’s about stepping where I can be most effective. As Sanford’s Police Chief, I have seen first hand the challenges our families face–from public safety to affordability–and I believe real change begins right here at home,” said Chief Small on Facebook. “I am grateful…

Maine will only resettle 50 refugees through the federal refugee program in the 2026 fiscal year after President Donald Trump drastically reduced the annual refugee resettlement cap from 125,000 to just 7,500, implementors in the state say. [RELATED: Trump Dramatically Reduces Number of Refugees To Be Accepted into the U.S….] Maine State Refugee Coordinator Inza Ouattara, who works for Catholic Charities and administers the federal refugee resettlement program for the state, told Maine Public about the change. He claimed that the federal program resettled 490 refugees across Maine in the 2025 fiscal year, spanning from October 1, 2024, when former…

Four-term congressman Jared Golden’s (D-Maine) surprise announcement on Wednesday that he would not be seeking re-election drastically altered the high-stakes race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat. [RELATED: Golden Announces He Won’t Seek Re-Election in 2026, Drops Out of Re-Election Bid…] Rep. Golden attributed his decision to growing political polarization on both sides. He ended his announcement without endorsing a successor but appeared to take shots at both Republican frontrunner former Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic challenger Matt Dunlap, Maine’s state auditor. Prior to Golden’s announcement, he was polling below former Gov. LePage in multiple polls, with a May poll…

The FBI charged three Chinese citizens last week after they allegedly conspired to smuggle biological materials into the U.S. while working as researchers at the University of Michigan, which has become a hub of illegal Chinese activity. This marks the second time this year federal agents have made such arrests related to the same institution. [RELATED: Chinese Nationals Caught Trying to Smuggle Dangerous Biological Agent Into the U.S….] “These are the latest charges in a string of cases stemming from Chinese National students’ criminal activities at university research centers. FBI Counterintelligence will NOT tolerate any attempt to exploit American institutions…

Police in Rockland arrested a sex offender from Arkansas on Saturday after he was found sleeping in an unmarked van outside a business. [RELATED: Bowdoin Sex Offender Arrested in Rockland After Making Contact With a Minor in Camden…] At around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, Rockland patrol officers noticed a van with no license plates parked outside a business after hours. Officers investigated the vehicle and discovered a man sleeping inside. The man allegedly provided a false name and date of birth initially. Despite this apparent attempt to obscure who he really was, officers were able to identify the man…

The University of Southern Maine (USM) is hosting what it describes as “the largest campus and community drag show in Northern New England” later this month as a fundraiser for “LGBTQIA+ programming” at the state-funded school. [RELATED: Thomaston Public Library “SO Excited” to Host Drag Storytime for Kids: Announcement…] Maine’s taxpayer-funded USM will hold the 26th Annual Royal Majesty Drag Show on its Portland campus in Hannaford Hall at the Abromson Community Education Center. According to the event’s promotional material, it will take place on November 21 and will be hosted by men using the drag names Arabella the Goddess…

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department is searching for an alleged scammer who attempted to steal $19,500 from an elderly Maine couple. [RELATED: Chinese Illegal and Suspected Scammer Busted by Border Patrol in Fort Fairfield Carrying Over $40k Cash…] Cumberland deputies responded to the Androscoggin Savings Bank in Gray for reports of fraud. There, they made contact with bank management and an elderly couple who had fallen victim to an internet-based scam. According to the Sheriff’s Department statement, the scammers convinced the victims that they were due a rebate, so the victims proceeded to allow them access to their computers or…

Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 54, encompassing Skowhegan and surrounding towns, held an event for Maine’s “Seventh Annual Day of Welcome” on Friday, which included discussions on “male gender stereotypes” and “kids’ assumptions of gender roles.” [RELATED: AG’s Office “Recruitment Video” Shown in Maine Schools Promotes DEI, Gender Ideology Discussions for Children in Elementary School and Up…] An employee of the Margaret Chase Smith Community School posted an image of an email sent by a teacher, Mary Pono, to the school’s staff announcing their Day of Welcome event. The image the employee posted, stating that it was what students would…

The nation’s first-ever transgender-identifying state lawmaker, a former New Hampshire Democratic representative for Nashua, pleaded guilty this week to the charge of sexual exploitation of children after convincing his partner to send him sexually explicit images of children at a daycare. [RELATED: Horrific Text Messages Show How Trans NH State Rep Allegedly Used Daycare Connections to Collect Explicit Photos of Children…] The former representative, a male who uses the name Stacie Laughton, was first elected to the NH House of Representatives in 2012 in what was heralded as a landmark moment for the LGBTQ community, as he was the first…

Deputies of the Penobscot County Sheriff arrested an armed, homeless sex offender in Stetson with help from some canine friends after he allegedly fled through the woods while absconding from probation following multiple felony convictions. [RELATED: Former Maine DOC Probation Officer Decorated for Pursuit of Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges…] At approximately 10:22 a.m. on Thursday, Penobscot deputies responded to a residence on Mullen Road in Stetson after probation officers requested assistance in apprehending a suspect, Mackenzie Kori Sibley, 40, who is homeless and was wanted on a probation revocation warrant after allegedly absconding from his probation…

A Lewiston man with an extensive criminal history pleaded guilty on Thursday to a manslaughter charge after a 2023 shooting incident that killed a man and eventually culminated in his arrest following a dramatic hours-long standoff. [RELATED: Killer Of Canadian Tourist In Old Orchard Beach Among Three New City Councilors In Bangor…] Jerry Thibodeau, 38, of Lewiston, pleaded guilty to the charge on Thursday after previously pleading not guilty to a charge of murder in the killing of Anthony Ayotte, 40, of Lewiston. On November 3, 2023, Thibodeau dropped Ayotte off at the St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center emergency room…

Lewiston police arrested a 19-year-old on Tuesday after he allegedly fired a gun from a parking lot in a mixed urban residential and commercial area. [RELATED: Rockland Police Arrest Juvenile for Shooting Incident that Spawned from Social Media Dispute…] At around 9:30 p.m., police responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot near the intersection of Oak Street and Sabattus Street. When the police arrived, a witness told them that she had seen individuals in the vehicle pointing a green laser at the surrounding buildings. She said that she heard a single gunshot as she was entering…

Conservatives picked up an additional seat on the Augusta City Council election on Tuesday after a newcomer defeated the incumbent in one of the city’s two at-large council seats up for re-election. [RELATED: Liberals Claim Victory in Augusta School Board After Two Conservative-Leaning Candidates Ran and Split the Vote…] Augusta residents had three council seats to vote on: the Ward 3 seat currently held by Michael Michaud and two at-large seats held by William Savage and Stephanie Sienkiewicz. All three incumbents ran for re-election. The Augusta Democrats urged voters to re-elect both Savage and Sienkiewicz. Voters were offered a list…

The U.S. Marshal Service apprehended an alleged New York murderer on Tuesday after he was found riding an electric scooter in Winterport. [RELATED: U.S. Marshals Lug Illegal Alien Listed on Mass Sex Offender Registry Hiding in Maine…] “You cannot outrun justice when the U.S. Marshals in Maine are on your trail. Through enhanced interagency collaboration, offenders will be found, arrested, and brought to justice. There is no safe haven,” said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the District of Maine Josh Taylor. With information from U.S. Marshals in New York, the Maine Violent Offender Task Force (MVOTF) determined that Lamont Dolberry,…

Police in Paris, Maine, arrested two alleged drug abusers on Monday while enforcing a writ of possession to remove squatters from a residence. [RELATED: South Paris Man Dead After Being Struck by “Mini-Cannon” During a Private Fireworks Display…] At around 10:30 a.m., the Paris Police Department, along with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department and the Norway Police Department, enforced a court-ordered writ of possession at 21 Park Street. The writ of possession authorized law enforcement to remove the individuals allegedly squatting illegally on the property and return possession of it to its rightful owner. Law enforcement removed multiple people from…

Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) will not seek re-election in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, he announced on Wednesday, citing increased political polarization and rising political violence, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, as reasons for his decision. [RELATED: Jared Golden Receives Poor Polling News…] “After much deliberation, I’ve decided not to seek reelection in 2026. I’m confident that were I to run again, I would win. But recent events have made me reconsider whether the good I can do in Congress still outweighs the cost to my family,” said Rep. Golden on X. “I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in…

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member and transgender-identifying male Wil Theime, who goes by Ramona, secured victory in the Brunswick Town Council race by a single vote after campaigning on rent control. [RELATED: DSA Endorsed Brunswick Town Council Candidate Wants Rent-Control for the Town…] “I’m proud to announce that I won my race tonight… by one vote. Off to a recount,” said Theime on Bluesky. https://bsky.app/profile/ramonaforbrunswick.bsky.social/post/3m4ufaqwnz22r Theime won the District 6 Town Council seat against incumbent Nathaniel Shed with 478 votes compared to Shed’s 477 tally, after running a radical socialist campaign focused on rent control. “I think that…

Liberal candidates dominated in Augusta’s school board election on Tuesday, retaining two seats and gaining a third previously held by a conservative after two conservative-leaning candidates ran for the same seat and split the vote. [RELATED: Augusta Prepares for Important Vote on Three School-Board Seats…] Going into the election, three seats were up for re-election on the nine-seat body: one at-large seat held by liberal Rita Pello, who ran for re-election; a Ward 4 seat held by conservative Katie McCormick, who could not run due to term limits; and a Ward 1 seat held by Staci Fortunato. One candidate, Kelly…

There was a ray of hope for Maine conservatives amid a string of failures at the voting booth on Tuesday, coming in the form of a very successful signature-gathering campaign from the Protect Girls’ Sports in Maine Ballot Question Committee (BQC), which aims to put a referendum question on the midterm ballot to ban males from girls’ sports. Volunteers stood outside polling locations across the state all day Tuesday and successfully gathered 53,000 signatures, which is over half of their 100,000 goal. [RELATED: Maine Parents Group Collecting Signatures for a Referendum Vote to Bar Males from Girls’ Sports…] “The Protect…

The effort to bring Voter ID to Maine began with a record-breaking collection of more than 170,000 signatures but ended Tuesday night with an embarrassingly fizzle as less than 40 percent of Mainers voted “Yes on One” to approve the election integrity measure. According to Decision Desk HQ, the vote stood at 215,641 against (62 percent) versus 132,053 in favor (38 percent) as of midnight. That means tens of thousands of Maine voters signed the petition to get Voter ID on the ballot but either failed to turn out on Election Day or wound up opposing the measure at the…

The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office is investigating a suspicious death after a woman was found dead with a gunshot wound near a “tent site” in Concord. [RELATED: Maine State Police are Investigating the Death of a Kennebunk Man Found in Northern Hancock County…] On Friday morning, the Concord Police Department received reports that a dead woman had been found outside a homeless encampment in a wooded area near the Concord/Pembroke town line off Manchester Street. The body was transported to the NH Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy. NH Attorney General John Formella announced on Monday…

The Lewiston Police Department arrested a man on Thursday after he allegedly burglarized a smoke shop. [RELATED: Burglar Makes Bomb Threat Against Bangor Non-Profit After Officers Discover Him Inside Their Building…] Earlier last week, the Lewiston police issued a statement including the suspect’s image from security footage, asking for public assistance in identifying the suspect. In response to that post, the Wiscasset Police Department reached out after their investigators recognized the suspect as Matthew Hamill, who they had reportedly arrested recently in connection with a similar crime. With that information, the Lewiston Police Department arrested Hamill in connection with an…

The Rockland Police Department arrested a juvenile on Monday following an alleged shooting incident sparked by a dispute over social media posts. [RELATED: Lewiston Police Arrest Drug Trafficker and Juvenile Involved in Earlier Shooting During Search Warrant…] On Friday, Halloween, at around 9:00 p.m., Rockland police responded to reports of shots fired at the city’s public restrooms on Tillson Ave. Officers arrived, but did not locate the suspect on scene. Police began an investigation, which included interviewing witnesses, collecting security footage, and gathering physical evidence. Their investigation revealed that a juvenile suspect had allegedly entered into a verbal confrontation with…

An alleged drunk driver crashed into a Broad Street convenience store in Auburn on Friday, rupturing a gas line and causing significant structural damage to the building. [RELATED: Suspect Rams Sheriff’s Cruiser During Drug-Fueled Police Chase Across Turner, Auburn, and Lewiston…] At around 11:24 p.m. on Halloween, Auburn police officers responded to reports that a car had struck Roy’s Foodland at 70 Broad Street and that the vehicle’s occupants were trapped inside. Police arrived to discover that a 2013 silver Nissan Juke, driven by Casey McKenney, 29, of Auburn, had struck the front of Roy’s Foodland, causing significant structural damage…

The York County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Shapleigh home on Sunday after the homeowner allegedly found that a drunken man had broken in while purportedly believing he was at a party in Sanford. [RELATED: Drunk Driver Arrested After Fleeing Police Responding to a Separate Crash Related to a Domestic Disturbance…] The Sheriff’s Department received reports at around 2:40 a.m. from a Shapleigh homeowner who woke up and discovered a strange man in her house. The homeowner told police that the man had left the house but was still on her porch. York Deputy Travis Jones responded to the house…

The Trump Administration has removed SNAP benefits from nearly 700,000 people receiving them illegally, based on recipient data provided by 29 states, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced on Sunday during an interview with FOX News. [RELATED: Mills Blames Trump, Republicans and Lauds AG Frey as Maine Joins SNAP Lawsuit…] “In that data we have found thousands and thousands of of [sic] illegal use of the EBT card. We’ve been moving people off of SNAP; we’ve got almost 700,000 people I think we’ve moved off just since the President took office. We’ve arrested about 118 people,” said Secretary Rollins. https://twitter.com/SecRollins/status/1985007736896053318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1985007736896053318%7Ctwgr%5Ef17704c595f9fe75af6ded256aab4e085a005604%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fpersonal-finance%2F700000-ineligible-snap-recipients-purged-after-usda-uncovers-widespread-food-stamp…

The Bangor Police Department arrested a 61-year-old man on Sunday after he allegedly stabbed a McDonald’s employee, leaving the worker hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. [RELATED: NH Man Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Stabbing A Lebanon, Maine Man Seven Times…] At around 6:25 a.m., the Bangor Police Department responded to reports that a male employee working at the McDonald’s at 441 Main St. had been assaulted by someone wielding a knife. Police arrived to discover the alleged stabber, Paul Bernard, 61, of Bangor, still at the crime scene and took him into custody. The victim was transported by ambulance for treatment…

Conservative activist and parental rights advocate Nicholas Blanchard is planning to sue the Augusta Police Department after he was arrested at gunpoint last month during a protest, while officers refused to charge him with any crime. [RELATED: Augusta School Board Shuts Down Dad Critical of Title IX Violations, Won’t Allow “Negative Comments” During Public Hearing…] Blanchard, who uses the name CornPop from Maine online, was at the Memorial Bridge in Augusta to counterprotest during a No-Kings rally on October 18 when, according to him, protesters called the police because they saw that he was carrying what appeared to be a…

The Rockland Police Department arrested a registered sex offender this week after he allegedly made contact with a minor. They charged him with assault on Friday after discovering additional evidence. [RELATED: U.S. Marshals Lug Illegal Alien Listed on Mass Sex Offender Registry Hiding in Maine…] At around 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the Rockland Police Department received a report that a registered sex offender, Matthew “Nate” Boegel, 27, of Bowdoin, was having contact with a juvenile. The Rockland Police launched an investigation with help from the Camden Police Department and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department. Law enforcement found Boegel together with…

The Trump Administration has drastically reduced the refugee admission cap for fiscal year 2026, dropping it from 125,000 to just 7,500 in a policy change that was formally added to the Federal Register on Friday, with many of those spots reserved for white South African Afrikaners. [RELATED: Catholic Charities Maine to Close Bangor Refugee Office Due to Cuts, Policy Changes from Trump Administration…] President Trump’s new refugee cap is the lowest ever, with the next lowest coming in at 15,000 in 2021 during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. Under former President Joe Biden, the cap was set at…

The Bangor Police Department requested public assistance on Friday in the search for a missing woman who was last seen or heard from in 2023. [RELATED: Missing Castine Woman Sparks Silver Alert…] Police are requesting any information on Katie Sereyko, 44, of Bangor, who has reportedly been missing since the spring of 2023. Her family last heard from her in May 2023. She is described as a white female with green eyes, brown, black, or blonde hair, 5’8″ tall, and weighing between 140 and 220 pounds. Though police are just now announcing that she is missing, reports of her family…

A Bath is facing a slew of charges after allegedly ramming into a Brunswick police cruiser twice on Thursday while fleeing from law enforcement. [RELATED: Attempted Bank Fraud in Houlton Leads to Cross-Border Chase Into Canada Involving Canadian Mounted Police…] At around 10:56 a.m., Brunswick police officers attempted to make a traffic stop on Route 1 near Cooks Corner after observing an alleged criminal traffic offense. Instead of stopping, the driver, Emily Schroder, 33, of Bath, allegedly fled at high speed. Police began a pursuit, but it was quickly terminated. Minutes later, an officer located the vehicle on Oak Street…

An alleged fraudulent theft attempt at a Houlton bank on Friday sparked a police pursuit, with suspects fleeing into Canada until they were arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). [RELATED: Houlton to Remove Surveillance Cameras, Destroy Data Under Settlement Agreement…] At around 4:39 p.m., Houlton Police Officer Sera Smalley responded to the Katahdin Trust Bank at 65 North Street after receiving reports that someone had attempted to use a fake passport to fraudulently steal. Smalley approached the bank on foot and saw a woman exiting the bank and walking swiftly on North Street. Bank employees informed Smalley that…

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department seized a pound of cocaine and arrested a man on probation on Monday during a routine traffic stop. [RELATED: Biddeford Man Busted in Portland for Drug Trafficking Following Traffic Stop…] At around 9:15 p.m., Deputy Jerold Winslow conducted a routine traffic stop of a red 2021 Ram truck on Route 1 in Newcastle for an equipment violation. The driver, Stephen Treadway, 44, of Brunswick, was on probation at the time of the stop. Deputy Winslow conducted a search of Treadway’s vehicle and allegedly discovered a 1 pound package of white powder that was later tested…

Rent control could be coming to Brunswick if Ramona Thieme, the only candidate across the state currently running to receive an endorsement from the Maine Democratic Socialists of America (MDSA), wins the race for the town’s District 6 Town Council seat. [RELATED: Portland City Official Rebuts Press Herald, Claims City is Enforcing Rent Control Ordinances…] “I think that a big part of the solution, ideally, would be a form of rent control, something tailored to the needs of Brunswick. I think the rent control down in Portland gives a lot of good ideas, though Portland is obviously a different place,…

The Auburn Police Department arrested a Lewiston man on Wednesday after he allegedly kidnapped his ex-girlfriend and tried to force her to steal from a Walmart while threatening to murder her if she refused. [RELATED: Auburn Police Searching for Suspect in Drive-By Shooting That Left Two Bullet Holes in a Local Residence…] An Auburn police officer was working a security detail at a Walmart on Wednesday when an employee approached him at about 1:30 p.m., informing him that a woman in the store said she was being threatened. The off-duty officer made contact with the 30-year-old woman, who told him…

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is searching for an arsonist who allegedly started a fire on Monday at a vacant mill building in Sanford. [RELATED: Portland Police Solve Decades Old Arson Murder…] On Monday morning at around 9:00 a.m., local fire and law enforcement personnel responded to reports of a fire at the International Woolen Mill in Sanford, which has been vacant for years. Sanford firefighters arrived to discover heavy smoke and flames engulfing a portion of the mill building. It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, but no injuries were reported as a result of the…

Kennebunk Select Board Vice Chair Leslie Trentalange issued a non-apology during Tuesday’s board meeting after she claimed that parents concerned about transgender-identifying males in girls’ sports and restrooms had pedophilic tendencies. [RELATED: Kennebunk Select Board Member Suggested Parents Who Don’t Want Trans-Males Competing in Girls’ Sports Have “Pedophilic Tendencies”…] “I made a statement that one could say pushed some boundaries at the recent school board meeting. If there are folks in the marginalized queer community that feel my message did not serve them or hurt them in any way, it is that which I regret,” she said. “I do also…