Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Canopy Collapses, Killing Florida Man in Bar Harbor
(Bar Harbor) A Florida man was killed Monday morning in Bar Harbor when a large canopy collapsed on him. The Bar Harbor Fire Department responded to the Bar Harbor Regency Hotel on Eden Street shortly before 7 a.m. and worked to free the victim from the collapsed debris. Despite their heroic efforts, they say 64 yo Mark King of Boynton Beach succumbed to his injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Officers responded to the site shortly after and conducted an initial death investigation. Further investigation will continue and will include the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and OSHA.
(Bar Harbor) The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and OSHA are continuing to investigate the Monday morning death of a Florida man at a Bar Harbor hotel. The Bar Harbor Fire Department was called to the Bar Harbor Regency on Eden Street yesterday about 6:46 a.m. after a large canopy there collapsed. Firefighters worked to free the victim from beneath the damaged debris. In spite of their efforts, 64 yo Mark King of Boynton Beach died of his injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers from the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Departments responded and conducted an initial death investigation, which has now been turned over to the other agencies.
Lowell Domestic Violence Incident
(Lowell) A domestic violence incident in Lowell that began Sunday afternoon ended peacefully yesterday. Authorities responded to a call from a woman reporting the incident on West Old Main Road about 4 p.m. Sunday and were able to remove the victim to safety. Officers then began negotiating with her husband, 55 yo Andrew York, who remained inside the residence and refused to come out. With the help of the Maine State Police Tactical and Crisis Negotiation teams, York finally surrendered about 4:30 Monday afternoon. He was arrested and taken to the Penobscot County Jail where he faces domestic violence-related charges.
(Lowell) A domestic violence incident in Lowell that resulted in a 24 hour standoff ended peacefully yesterday afternoon with the arrest of 55 yo Andrew York. Authorities report a woman called 9-1-1 about 4 p.m. Sunday, reporting the incident at a home on West Old Main Road. Police arrived and were able to escort the woman to safety, but York refused to come out of the house as officers remained on the scene. About 2:30 Monday afternoon, the Maine State Police Tactical and Crisis Negotiation Teams were called in. York surrendered about two hours later. He was arrested and taken to the Penobscot County Jail where he faces domestic violence-related charges.
Maine School Ups Security After Post by Republican Lawmaker
(Cumberland) Greely High School in Cumberland has upped security after a Republican lawmaker posted an unblurred photo of a transgender student athlete at the school on social media. The post by Representative Laurel Libby also included the name of the Greely student who placed in a recent indoor track and field event. Democrats and others were quick to criticize Libby for “using a student as political fodder.”
(Cumberland) Greely High School officials are adding security at the school as a precaution after a Republican lawmaker posted the name and an unblurred photo of a transgender student athlete. The post by Representative Laurel Libby of Auburn shows the student on a podium after placing in a recent indoor track and field event. While some supported the action, others were quick to condemn Libby for “using a student as political fodder” and called on her to “have a dose of humanity.”
Local Politics
Trump Administration Launches Title IX Investigation of UMaine
(Orono) The University of Maine is facing an investigation into its Title IX policies. USDA Acting General Counsel Ralph Linden on Saturday sent a letter to Governor Janet Mills, UMaine Chancellor Dannel Malloy, and the Maine Attorney General’s Office, announcing it was launching an investigation into what it called the state’s “blatant disregard” of an executive order issued by the President that aims to bar transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports. The Bangor Daily News reports Maine is the third state to be investigated in this way by the new Administration, after California and Minnesota. The USDA said the University receives more than a hundred million dollars, though that figure is over multiple years. Sources say UMaine received less than $18M in federal funding in 2024.
(Orono) Governor Janet Mills last week stood her ground on Maine’s Human Rights Act, a move that didn’t go over well with President Donald Trump. As a result, the President was quick to order an investigation into Maine’s Title IX policies, including an investigation of the University of Maine system by the USDA. USDA Acting General Counsel Ralph Linden sent a letter to Mills, the Maine Attorney General’s Office, and UMaine Chancellor Dannel Malloy, announcing an investigation into what it called the state’s “blatant disregard” of an executive order issued by the President that aims to bar transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports. According to the Bangor Daily News, Maine is not the first state to face such action – California and Minnesota also facing similar investigations. UMaine is subject to investigation because it receives federal funding.
Republicans to Hold Press Briefing on State Education Policies
(Augusta) Legislative Republicans have planned a press conference for Noon today to address Maine’s recent National Assessment of Educational Progress results – also known as the annual report card of student results. They say the results show the failure of Maine’s Education Department to produce academic achievement, and they plan to address what they say are “new and ongoing threats to student learning”. The press conference is planned for noon or later if the legislative session runs over. It will be held at the Maine Statehouse and also livestreamed on FB.
(Augusta) Legislative Republicans have blamed a focus on DEI practices for the state’s poor showing on the recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, or the state’s report card. They say the results show a failure of Maine’s Education Department to produce academic achievement. To address that issue and what they say are “new and ongoing threats to student learning,” they plan to hold a press conference at the Maine Statehouse today. The press conference is planned for noon or later should the legislative session run over and will also be livestreamed on FB.
Senator Collins Opposes Withholding of Federal Funds Over Transgender Issue
(Washington, DC) Senator Susan Collins joined other Maine voices in saying she will oppose President Trump withholding federal funding from the state over the Maine Principals Association’s decision to allow transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. WMTW reports Collins issued a statement that began by saying people who are transgender need to be treated with respect and dignity, especially young people. Collins did say she is opposed to allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports on the basis of Title IX, saying the landmark legislation stands for fair and safe athletic competition, which could be undermined by allowing biological males who identify as transgender to compete in women’s sports. Collins is Chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which writes legislation that allocates federal funds to numerous government agencies and organizations.
(Washington, DC) In response to threats from President Trump of withholding federal funding from Maine, Senator Susan Collins said she is opposed to allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports on the basis of Title IX, saying the landmark legislation stands for fair and safe athletic competition. Collins said that could be undermined by allowing biological males who identify as women to compete in women’s sports. However, when it comes to the issue of withholding federal funding over the matter, Collins said she will oppose such action. WMTW reports Collins issued a statement following the threat from President Trump that began with saying people who are transgender need to be treated with respect and dignity, especially young people. Collins is Chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which writes legislation that allocates federal funds to numerous government agencies and organizations.
Environment
MDMR Undertaking Expanded Lobster Research Initiative
(West Boothbay Harbor) The Maine Department of Marine Resources is undertaking an expanded lobster research initiative designed to engage more fishermen in data gathering and provide more consistent data characterizing the lobster fishery from federal waters. The Lobster Sea Sampling Program is the largest at-sea sampling program for lobster in the northeast. Funding for the program will also support the Fishery Directed Data or FDD program to help better understand the offshore juvenile lobster population. Participating fishermen will receive small mesh ventless lobster traps, tablets on which to record information, and more. For information, contact MDMR.
(West Boothbay Harbor) If you’re a lobster fisherman or woman out on the water, YOU are the expert. The Maine Department of Marine Resources wants to harness that expertise through an expanded lobster research initiative. The initiative, supported by four years of funding totalling $1.6M, is designed to engage more fishermen in gathering data and providing more consistent data characterizing the lobster fishery from federal waters. The Lobster Sea Sampling Program is the largest at-sea sampling program for lobster in the northeast. Funding for the program will also support the Fishery Directed Data or FDD program to help better understand the offshore juvenile lobster population. For information, contact MDMR.
Peregrine Falcon Closures at Acadia National Park
(ANP) Starting March 1st, the National Park Service will temporarily close areas including Jordan Cliffs Trail, Precipice Trail, and Valley Cove Trail in Acadia National Park to protect nesting peregrine falcons from inadvertent human disturbance or harassment. Human activities near nesting areas can lead to temporary or permanent abandonment of the nest by adults, leaving chicks susceptible to hypothermia, starvation, and predation. In addition, the parking lot for the Precipice Trail will remain closed to vehicles until further notice. The areas will be actively monitored and violations strictly enforced.
(ANP) It’s nesting season for peregrine falcons. In 2024, three breeding falcons made their homes on Acadia’s cliffs. In order to protect the nesting pairs and their chicks, beginning March 1st, the National Park Service will temporarily close Jordan Cliffs Trail, Precipice Trail, and Valley Cove Trail in Acadia National Park in order to prevent inadvertent human disturbance or harassment. Human activities near nesting areas can lead to temporary or permanent abandonment of the nest by adults, leaving chicks susceptible to hypothermia, starvation, and predation. In addition, the parking lot for the Precipice Trail will remain closed to vehicles until further notice. The areas will be actively monitored and violations strictly enforced.
Health
ACA Act Funding Slashed
(The Hill) The Trump Administration has slashed funding for Affordable Care Act navigators by 90%. Navigators help people sign up for ObamaCare coverage on the law’s exchanges. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last week announced health insurance navigators will receive just $10 million per year over the next four years. Navigators received $98 million in 2024. The health agency justified the cuts by noting navigators enrolled only point-six percent of plan selections during open enrollment at a cost of $1,061 per enrollment. But The Hill references experts, who say navigators were much more effective in enrolling people in lower income communities in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, enrolling close to 300,000 people in those programs.
Critical CDC Information Goes Dark as Flu Season Ramps Up
(KFF) While the flu season has been prevalent this year, information is reportedly anything but. KFF Health News reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a critical source of urgent analyses of flu and other public health threats, has gone quiet in the weeks since President Trump took office. They say CDC analyses that would inform people about such outbreaks as the flu, bird flu and other diseases are delayed and that the CDC has cut off communication with doctors, researchers, and the World Health Organization. On his first day in office, the President announced the U.S.’s withdrawal from the W.H.O., the organization that tracks global health threats and trends.
Sports
The Celtics in Toronto tonight to take on the Raptors. Meanwhile, the Toronto hockey team in Boston tonight as the Maple Leafs hit the ice against the Bruins.