Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Federal Audit Finds State Failing in Response to Reports of Child Abuse
(Augusta) The State of Maine failed to meet requirements in response to reports of child abuse and neglect in 94% of cases. That’s the findings of a federal audit that examined the issue. The Portland Press Herald reports although the audit reviewed cases from two to three years ago, it’s another critique of a child welfare system that failed to prevent multiple child deaths in recent years. The Office of the Inspector General identified Maine as one of the top five states of concern for child abuse and neglect. A spokesperson for DHHS said the report may not reflect important corrective steps already taken by the agency or steps it is in the process of implementing.
(Augusta) A federal audit finds the State of Maine failed to meet requirements in response to reports of child abuse and neglect in 94% of cases. The Portland Press Herald reports in the audit of 100 cases that occurred between the fall of 2021 and 2022, Maine failed to meet at least one requirement in nearly all its responses to child abuse and neglect cases. The Office of the Inspector General identified the Pine Tree State as one of the top five states of concern for child abuse and neglect cases, where in 2021, four children died at the hands of a family member or members within weeks of each other. A spokesperson for DHHS said the report may not reflect important corrective steps already taken by the agency or steps it is in the process of implementing.
Surry Fire Destroys Two Vehicles
(Surry) Two vehicles were destroyed and a house damaged in a Thursday morning fire in Surry. Assistant Fire Chief Russell Smith said crews were called to a residence on Route 172 shortly before 9:30. The cause of the fire is unknown, but may have started with one of the vehicles, neither of which had been driven recently, according to the State Fire Marshal’s office. No one was at home at the time of the blaze. Crews from Ellsworth, Blue Hill, and Orland also responded.
(Surry) Crews from Surry, Ellsworth, Blue Hill, and Orland responded to a home on Route 172 in Surry Thursday morning on a report of vehicles on fire. Surry Assistant Fire Chief Russell Smith said two vehicles were destroyed and some siding on the house was damaged. No one was at home at the time of the fire, which was reported shortly before 9:30 a.m. The state Fire Marshal’s Office said the cause of the fire is unknown but may have started with one of the vehicles, neither of which had been driven recently.
Unexploded Artillery Device Found on Deer Isle Beach
(Deer Isle) A Deer Isle resident made a startling discovery while metal detecting with friends on Saturday. The Penobscot Bay Press reports Bert Yankielun was teaching friends the art and science of hunting for hidden historical artifacts when he found a decades-old unexploded ordinance. Not at first realizing its significance, Yankielun took the object home and put it in his barn. A few days later while washing away debris from around the device, the object’s significance became clear. Yankielun called the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, which put him in touch with the State Police bomb squad, which then secured it in a bomb proof container. It’s unclear how the explosive device ended up on the Deer Isle beach.
Local Politics
Voter ID Law Could Be on Ballot Next Year
(Augusta) If you voted in person this year, you may have had someone request that you sign a petition for a referendum question asking that people be required to show voter identification in order to vote in Maine. Organizers say they now have enough signatures to put the question before voters in a November 2025 referendum. The proposal would require people to present a photo ID at the polls or when requesting an absentee ballot unless they have a religious exemption that doesn’t allow them to be photographed.
(Augusta) The election is barely past, but some organizers were at the polls a week ago asking voters to sign a petition to get a referendum question on the ballot NEXT November asking that people be required to show voter identification in order to vote. The Portland Press Herald reports the citizen initiative has secured 165,000 signatures – 125,000 on Election Day alone – enough to put the question before voters next year. The proposal would require people to present a photo ID at the polls or when requesting an absentee ballot unless they have a religious exemption that prevents them from being photographed.
Gun Safety Advocates Push for Red Flag Law
(Augusta) Gun safety advocates are working to secure enough signatures to ask Maine voters to pass a red flag law that would make it easier to take firearms from a person perceived as posing a risk to themselves and/or others. After the Lewiston tragedy, lawmakers added more teeth to Maine’s yellow flag law, but activists say it doesn’t go far enough. If successful, the Portland Press Herald reports, Maine would join 21 other states and Washington, DC in codifying an extreme risk protection order, otherwise known as the red flag law.
(Augusta) After the Lewiston tragedy, lawmakers added more teeth to the state’s yellow flag law. Still, the current law requires a mental health evaluation among other steps, in order to take firearms away from a person who might pose a risk to themselves or others. Gun safety advocates say the law – Maine is the only state with the so-called “yellow flag” law – doesn’t go far enough. The Portland Press Herald reports activists are well on their way to securing enough signatures to ask Maine voters to pass a red flag law that would make it easier to secure weapons in such cases. If successful, Maine would join 21 other states and Washington, DC in codifying – or making more clear and concise – an extreme risk protection order, otherwise known as a red flag law.
Recount Continues in Augusta
(Augusta) Meanwhile, the ranked choice recount in the race for Maine’s Second Congressional District between Democrat Jared Golden, Republican Austin Theriault , and write-in Diana Merenda continued into its third day yesterday. The Secretary of State’s Office has said they hope to have results later today.
(Augusta) Meanwhile, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’s Office has said they hope to have results later today in that ranked choice recount for Maine’s Second Congressional District between Democrat Jared Golden, Republican Austin Theriault, and write-in Diana Merenda. The ballot recount goes into its fourth day today.
Economy
Local Companies Share in Final Phase of PRIME Funds
(Maine) Carver Shellfish in Beals, Nautical Farms in Machias, and Zero Energy Homes in Mount Desert – those are among 48 businesses that will share $7M in grant awards from Governor Janet Mills’s Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan to help Maine technology companies create jobs and strengthen the economy. The final phase of the PRIME Fund program received 134 applications seeking more than $20M. Awards were focused on businesses in the state’s targeted technology sectors, including but not limited to biotech, forestry and agriculture, and marine industries.
(Maine) Forty-eight businesses will share $7M in grant awards from Governor Janet Mills’s Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan to help Maine technology companies create jobs and strengthen the economy. The final phase of the competitive Pandemic Recovery for an Innovative Maine Economy – or PRIME Fund – received 134 applications seeking more than $20M. Among the 48 companies awarded funds, Carver Shellfish in Beals, Nautical Farms in Machias, and Zero Energy Homes in Mount Desert. Nearly sixty percent of this final round of awards went to firms that had not received any previous MTI or pandemic relief funding.
Education
Human Remains Linked to Wabanaki to Be Returned
(Deer Isle) Human remains and artifacts linked to the Wabanaki will soon be returned to Maine after more than 70 years. The Portland Press Herald reports the remains were found between 1948 and 1952 under a shell mound on Oak Point in Deer Isle by H. Gordon Rowe and were donated to Yale University’s Peabody Museum in 1969 by Rowe’s wife. Eight cultural items that had been in the possession of the museum, including spearheads and other artifacts, found over a hundred years ago in Knox and Penobscot Counties were determined to be of Wabanaki origin, as well. They, too, will be returned, according to the Federal Register. Repatriation of the remains and other items is scheduled to occur on or after December 12th, with the Peabody responsible for determining the most appropriate requestor if competing requests for the items are received.
(Deer Isle) Some 70 years ago, human remains now linked to the Wabanaki were found in Deer Isle by a man by the name of H. Gordon Rowe. Rowe’s wife later donated the remains to Yale University’s Peabody Museum, which now plans to return the remains to Maine. The Portland Press Herald reports eight cultural items that had been in the possession of the museum, including spearheads and other artifacts, found over a hundred years ago in Knox and Penobscot Counties were determined to be of Wabanaki origin and will also be returned. The determination to return the items to Maine comes as part of a recent inventory under the National American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990. Repatriation of the remains and other items is scheduled to occur on or after December 12th, with the Peabody responsible for determining the most appropriate requestor if competing requests for the items are received.
Environment
Conservationists May Sue Aquaculture Group
(Maine) A group of conservationists says it will sue Cooke Aquaculture, alleging the company violated the Clean Water Act at 13 ocean salmon pen sites around Swans Island, Eastern Bay, Machias Bay and Cobscook Bay. In a letter sent to the company, The Conservation Law Foundation accuses Cooke of multiple violations, including discharge of fish fecal matter, uneaten food pellets, discarded ropes, plastics, and chemicals. The Bangor Daily News reports CLF plans to file the lawsuit within 60 days if the issues can’t be resolved through negotiations. Officials with Cooke Aquaculture were not immediately available for comment.
Health
23 & Me to Lay Off 40% of Workers in Restructuring Move
(Reuters) More than 14 million people have traced their ancestry through DNA testing firm 23 & Me. Now that company is tracing its business steps and making some big changes. The company plans to let go about 40% of its workforce, or 200 employees, and discontinue further development of all its therapies as part of a restructuring program. CEO Anne Wojcicki said taking those difficult steps was necessary in order to focus on the long-term success of core consumer business and research partnerships. Reuters reports the company is evaluating strategic alternatives, including licensing agreements and asset sales, for its therapies in development.
(Stat) 23 & Me, the genetics startup that captured the public imagination and then faced nearly fatal business challenges, announced this week it would halt efforts to develop new medicines and will lay off 40% of its workforce. The company, instead, will focus on selling genetic tests to consumers and using the resulting data for research. The publication STAT reports in closing its therapeutics division, 23 & Me ended a bold bet made nearly a decade ago – that it could use the genetic data collected to not only assist drug companies but even become one itself. As of February of this year, more than 14 million people had used the company to trace their ancestry through DNA testing.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Multi-millionaire to Add 24-car Garage to Mansion
(Bar Harbor) A 28 room mansion on nine waterfront acres would be more than enough for most people. But the Bangor Daily News reports Douglas Schumann of Bristol, Connecticut needed space to house his collection of antique cars. Schumann is the current owner of the mansion known as East of Eden in Bar Harbor, which he bought in 2020 for $5M. Now Schumann plans to build a nearly 16K foot accessory building with an 8,000 foot garage, topped by a four bedroom apartment that will include a game room and butler’s pantry. The garage will house his collection of 24 antique cars. Schumann is the founder and majority owner of PQ Controls in Bristol.
(Bar Harbor) The Bar Harbor mansion known as East of Eden was built by William Ruger, heir to the Ruger Firearms Company, in 1910. It was purchased for $5M in 2020 by Douglas Schumann, founder and majority owner of PQ Controls in Bristol, Connecticut. The 28 room mansion on nine waterfront acres is palatial in itself. But Schumann has a collection of 24 antique cars. The Bangor Daily News reports Schumann plans to add a nearly 16K foot accessory building to the campus, with 8,000 feet of garage space, topped by a four bedroom apartment that will include a game room and butler’s pantry. Schumann owns a winter home in Naples, Florida. You can see photos of some of his cars on his FB page.
Sports
The Bruins lost to the Stars last night in Dallas 7-2. Bruins at TD Garden Saturday afternoon for a rematch against the St. Louis Blues.
Celtics home Saturday night against the Toronto Raptors