Let’s hear it for Maine blueberries – you know, the ones that don’t get “recalled.”Four states are facing a serious recall of blueberries produced not in the wild barrens of the Pine Tree State but in Oregon.Maybe next time they’ll get Wyman’s on the phone and order from Maine’s finest.Just a suggestion…The Oregon-produced berries were recalled in Michigan, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin, as well as in Canada.Nearly 60,000 pounds were recalled due to potential contamination…

The commander of the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mason has been relieved of duty, military officials announced Sunday.They didn’t disclose the reasons for firing Capt. Chavius Lewis as the top officer of the guided-missile destroyer.Lewis, who had led the ship for just 15 months, was canned Friday by Rear Adm. Alexis Walker, head of a carrier strike group, “due to a loss of confidence in Lewis’ ability to command,” according to a Navy press release.The…

Eight years in the making, a controversial power corridor running through the North Maine Woods, transporting hydroelectric power from Quebec, has now gone live. The 145-mile New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) will bring this power from Canada into New England, primarily Massachusetts, where it is expected to help provide power to 1.2 million households. Colloquially known in Maine as the “CMP Corridor,” the new transmission line was developed by Avangrid, the parent company of…

Portland Mayor Mark Dion is sounding the alarm over the city’s worsening homelessness crisis, warning that the state’s largest city can no longer shoulder the burden alone as public safety concerns escalate. Dion, who has repeatedly pointed to growing encampments and rising shelter demand, said Portland is attempting to confront a problem that has far outpaced the city’s capacity. In recent remarks, he noted the city provided shelter to roughly 2,000 individuals last year, with…

After many months of negotiations, Northern Light and Anthem have finally agreed upon a new contract, allowing patients to continue receiving in-network coverage for their care. Details of the contract have not been released, but the agreement will be applied retroactively to November 1, meaning that all care from Northern Light will be considered in-network by Anthem regardless of when the services were rendered. Northern Light and Anthem’s new contract will be valid for the…

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…

Daughter Jasmine Vincent, image from a friend’s GoFundMe page

Tore it down to go skinny dipping with Snoop Dog

Former fitness executive Ben Midgley announced his gubernatorial run in Kennebunkport on Tuesday, pledging to commit 100 percent of his efforts going forward to helping the Maine people rather than the “political class.” Midgley touted his lack of a political past as a strength, and claimed that his experience as a successful businessman, first as president of the national gym chain Planet Fitness then as CEO and founder of Crunch Franchising, would allow him to…

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a bill into law prohibiting pharmacies from selling tobacco products beginning in April of next year. Fiscal estimates suggest that this move will cost the state about $800,000 in the next fiscal year with projections indicating similar levels of loss expected for FY 2027-28 and FY 2028-29. Although many retail pharmacies, including CVS in 2014 and Hannaford in 2020, have independently decided to stop offering tobacco products in…

Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed the $320 million supplemental budget into law Monday that contains a number of increased taxes and fees for Mainers, including on tobacco, streaming services, high-value real estate transactions, hunting licenses and fishing licenses, concealed carry permits, and others. Although the governor had originally proposed a handful of other new fees in her initial draft of the budget, these were ultimately removed before the bill took its final form. Among the…

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

The U.S. Army fired a four-star general for abusing his authority by giving an under-qualified female subordinate promotions and special treatment, according to a report from the Army Inspector General obtained by Military.com Tuesday. Gen. Charles Hamilton gave a subordinate officer, who had been found unfit for command, a leadership role with the help of Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Lieutenant General Walter Piatt, according to the report. Hamilton is the first four-star general to…

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree’s personal wealth has swelled over her decade in a half as a Member of Congress, according to her latest financial disclosure. In 2008, Pingree reported a total networth of between $316,000 and $568,000. Most of her assets were real estate, against which she owed significant liabilities. In 2022, however, Pingree reported annual income on her investments and business partnerships of between $113,505 and $1,035,000 — that’s in addition to her annual…

State lawmakers will soon consider a proposal to bring back parole for Maine’s incarcerated population, along with a handful of other recommendations from the Commission to Examine Reestablishing Parole. Sen. Craig Hickman (D-Kennebec), a chair of that commission, has introduced a bill (LD 720) that would turn some of that commission’s recommendations into law, chief among them the restoration of parole – i.e. early release for prisoners – which has not existed in Maine for…