Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Fire Marshal’s Office Investigates Fireworks Incident
(Lewiston) The State Fire Marshal’s office was called to an apartment building in Lewiston Monday afternoon to assist with a fireworks related injury. Public Information Officer Shannon Moss reports to Star 97.7, a team of investigators responded to the apartment building on Horton Street about 4:30 p.m. and found a 39 yo man seriously injured when a firework exploded inside his unit. The victim was flown to Maine Medical Center in Portland where he was listed in critical condition at last report. No other persons were injured. The investigation is ongoing.
(Lewiston) A Lewiston man was seriously injured Monday afternoon when a fireworks device exploded inside his Horton Street apartment. The Lewiston Fire Department responded to the building about 4:30 p.m. and then called in the State Fire Marshal’s office. Authorities have not yet released the name of the 39 yo victim, but say he was taken by helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland where he was listed in critical condition at last report. No one else was injured, and first responders say there was minimal damage to the apartment. The investigation into that incident is ongoing.
Local Politics
Judge Says Fishermen Can Sue for Defamation
(AP) A group of lobster fishermen has been given the go-ahead to sue one of the world’s largest Seafood watchdog groups for defamation. In 2022, Monterey Bay Aquarium in California red-listed lobster from the U.S. and Canada, adding the catch to its do-not-eat list because of a perceived risk to the endangered right whale becoming entangled in lobster fishing gear. That prompted some retailers to pull the crustaceans from their stores. The AP reports Judge John Woodcock ruled the fishermen had indeed made a case they suffered damage to their industry’s reputation as a result, after the aquarium attempted to have the lawsuit tossed. In writing his opinion, Judge Woodcock said, “Reputation and goodwill cannot be adequately replaced through awarding damages, and this injury lingers as long as the “red listing” does.
(AP) New England fishermen have harvested lobster for years, drawing people from around the world to enjoy the crustaceans and other seafood harvested here. But in 2022, Monterey Bay Aquarium, a seafood watchdog group based in California, red-listed lobster from New England and Canada; because, they said, fishermen’s gear posed an entanglement risk to the endangered right whale. That prompted some retailers, such as Whole Foods, to stop selling the catch of the sea for which Maine and other New England states have become famous. Now, the AP reports lobster fishermen can proceed with a defamation lawsuit against Monterey Bay. Judge John Woodcock ruled the fishermen had indeed made a case they suffered damage to their industry’s reputation as a result of the negative label.
Bill Would Prevent Doxxing
(Augusta) A new bill introduced at the Maine Statehouse seeks to make it illegal for adults to publicly disclose the personal information of minors without their consent, a practice known as “doxxing”. Fox 23 reports the legislation was proposed by a Freeport lawmaker after a post by Auburn Republican lawmaker Laurel Libby named and showed an unblurred picture of an alleged transgender athlete on social media. The post went viral, potentially endangering the student and causing Greely High School to add extra security as a precaution. Libby was censured by the Maine House of Representatives for the action.
(Augusta) Last month, Republican lawmaker Laurel Libby posted on social media a clear picture of a transgender athlete and named that student, as well, in a practice known as doxxing – disclosing the personal information of minors without their consent. Now a Freeport lawmaker has proposed a bill to make the practice illegal. Libby’s post went viral, potentially endangering the student and causing Greely High School to add extra security as a precaution. Libby was censured by the House of Representatives for the action.
King Votes No on Transgender Legislation
(Washington, DC) Senator Angus King this week voted no on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a federal rule that would ban transgender athletes from school sports programs. Citing concerns over state’s rights, King said under the bill, if a single Maine school district decided not to comply with the federal mandate, all federal education funding to the entire state would be lost. King added he was not comfortable balancing all federal education funding on an issue that singles out such a small number of students nationwide, including in Maine, and that takes away the decision-making power of local communities. The bill did not reach the 60-vote threshold and failed to advance by a count of 51-45.
Pingree, Wittman Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Working Waterfronts
(Washington, DC) A bill entitled The Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act would create a grant program and preservation loan fund to provide funding options for waterfront preservation efforts. Maine Representative Chellie Pingree this week reintroduced the bill, pointing to the rapid disappearance of working waterfronts. Pingree said very little of Maine’s 5,000 miles of coastline is still dedicated to ocean commerce. She pointed to climate change and last year’s series of fierce storms and the damage that wreaked havoc on such facilities. Pingree brought forth the legislation with Republican Rob Wittman of Virginia. The bill would also establish a Working Waterfronts Task Force at the Department of Commerce.
Local Farmer Accompanies Pingree to Trump’s State of the Union
(Washington, DC) Congresswoman Chellie Pingree took an important guest to President Trump’s State of the Union Address last night – Brunswick farmer Seth Kroeck. Kroeck manages Crystal Spring Farm and is one of thousands of American farmers hit hard by the new administration’s federal funding freeze, which Pingree and others call illegal. Kroeck said as spring and the beginning of farm season approaches, budgets have been set, seed and fertilizer ordered, labor hired, and machinery ready. But under the current administration, his farm is facing a freeze of nearly $90K in USDA contracts, leaving Kroeck and thousands of other farmers holding the bill.
Environment
End-of-Time-Change Bills
(Augusta) This Sunday, clocks will spring forward to Daylight Saving Time. Yesterday in Augusta, two bills were voted on and passed in committee that would stop the changing of the clocks. WABI reports one bill would have the state stay on daylight saving time year round, while the other would keep daylight standard time all year. If the legislation concerning Eastern Daylight Time is passed, it will have to wait for federal approval. Standard time approval could go into effect right away.
(Augusta) Daylight Savings, Atlantic Standard, Eastern Standard – when it comes to the biannual time change, opinions rise and fall like the cycle of the sun. At any rate, the majority of us wish we’d pick a time zone and stay there. In Augusta this week, two bills were voted on and passed in committee that would do just that – stop the changing of the clocks. WABI reports one bill would have the state stay on daylight saving time year round, while the other would keep daylight standard time all year. If the legislation concerning Eastern Daylight Time is passed, it will have to wait for federal approval. Standard time approval could go into effect right away.
Maine’s Sea Grant Could Be Only Such Funding Cut
(Maine) Some federal lawmakers are asking the Trump Administration to restore the Maine Sea Grant, the $4.5M initiative that depends on federal funding for environmental and economic research along Maine’s coast. The program abruptly lost funding when the Trump administration sent a letter saying the program was “no longer relevant to the focus of the Administration’s priorities and program objectives”. U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree immediately blamed Trump’s “personal vendetta against our state” for the shutdown, an accusation that may have some merit. The Bangor Daily News reports the National Sea Grant program has funding partnerships with higher learning organizations in more than 30 states, the territories of Puerto Rico and Guam, and elsewhere. So far, Maine’s is the only Sea Grant program to be unfunded.
(Maine) The University of Maine and the state’s coastal communities received some devastating news last weekend when the Trump Administration abruptly cut funding for the Maine Sea Grant. The $4.5M initiative uses the funding to train young fishermen, provide support for coastal fishing communities, and ensures environmental and economic research along Maine’s coast. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree immediately drew a line between Trump’s action and his power struggle with Governor Janet Mills, calling it a “personal vendetta” on the part of the President. The National Sea Grant has more than 30 programs nationally, with Maine’s so far being the only one that has been unfunded. Experts have said the move will have a negative impact on every coastal community in Maine. Some federal lawmakers are calling on the Administration to restore the funding.
Economy
Maine DOL Publishes Report on Workforce Trends
(Augusta) The Maine Department of Labor this month released a report on workforce trends in the 2000s. Among the report’s findings, the share of jobs held by people 55 and over increased from 16 to 28 percent, while the share held by those aged 35-54 decreased from 50 to 40 percent. The report also found the population of those 65 and over who are working increased by 70 percent. Reasons cited for and characteristics of people not in the labor force? The overwhelming majority are retired (more than half), enrolled in school, have health or disability reasons, or say they have home responsibilities, respectively.
Health
Apple Health Study Could Bring Breakthroughs
(Boston Globe) Apple opened a massive new health study last month that will track data from hundreds of thousands of iPhone owners who volunteer to participate. The goal is to uncover previously unseen connections between the human body and all manner of medical conditions. The Boston Globe reports data collected from i-phones, smartwatches, and other Apple devices will be flowing through the office of cardiologist Calum MacRae, Vice Chair for scientific innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and principal investigator for the Apple study. MacRae said he hopes eventually millions of people will share their data to help improve medicine.
When it Comes to Longevity, Study Concludes Lifestyle Beats Genetics
(Bloomberg) Worried about the role of your ancestors (i.e., family genes) when it comes to whether or not you’ll see that 100th birthday? Recent studies point to environmental and lifestyle factors as playing a far greater role than genetics in determining the likelihood of dying young. Bloomberg reports the study is the largest yet to untangle the contributions of nature and nurture to healthy aging. According to the study, a range of external factors, including exercise and smoking, collectively dubbed the “exposome” — was almost 10 times more likely than genetic risk factors to explain premature mortality. The study was conducted by scientists from the University of Oxford and Massachusetts General Hospital and published in the Nature Medicine Journal.
Technology
Loaves and Fishes Computer Lab Funded by Downeast Graphics and Printing
(Ellsworth) Patrons of Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Ellsworth will soon have a new resource – a computer lab that clients can access to help them apply for jobs, research public assistance, attend classes and workshops, print out resumes and more. The lab will sport four computers, along with video conferencing capability and high speed internet, with the addition of more computers planned. The lab is made possible through a four-year grant offered by Dom Efter and Arlyn Whitelaw, owners of Downeast Graphics and Printing, who say they believe in supporting such initiatives that assist people to move forward to be successful.
(Ellsworth) The owners of Downeast Graphics and Printing, Dom Efter and his wife, Attorney Arlyn Whitelaw, say they believe in supporting initiatives that assist people to move forward to be successful. And that’s not just talk. Dom and Arlyn are providing Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Ellsworth with a four year grant that will provide the pantry’s patrons with much needed technology. A computer lab will soon be available, offering the use of four computers, video conferencing capability, and high speed internet. Clients can use the technology to help them apply for jobs, research public assistance, attend classes and workshops, print out resumes and more. The pantry says the lab should be ready before the end of the month.
Sports
The Nashville Predators beat the Bruins last night 6-3. Bruins off tonight. They’ll be in Carolina Thursday to take on the Hurricanes. Celtics on the home court tonight against the Portland Trailblazers.
The Red Sox beat the Pirates yesterday in Spring Training 12-4. The Red Sox continue Spring Training today with an afternoon game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Red Sox/Blue Jays Thursday.
Eighth grade phenom Quinn Pelletier was named Sports Illustrated National Boys’ Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 23rd. The Madawaska teen isn’t even in high school yet, but he scored 43 points in Madawaska’s Class C regional north game against Mattanawcook on February 22nd.