Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Maine State Police Investigate Palmyra Homicide
(Palmyra) Maine State Police are investigating a Wednesday morning homicide in Palmyra. They say about 1:30 a.m., the Somerset County RCC received a 9-1-1 call reporting a shooting at a residence on Madawaska Road. Deputies responded and found the body of 28 yo Jaquan Humphries of Massachusetts inside the home. They say Humphries had been living at the address. Investigators determined he died of a gunshot wound. His body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta. An investigation is ongoing, but detectives say they don’t believe there is any danger to the public.
Augusta Honors First Responder
(Augusta) If you happen to be traveling to Augusta tomorrow, you may be stopped by a procession of emergency response vehicles traveling from the Wells Fire Station to St. Augustine’s Church. Augusta Police Chief Kevin Lully tells Star 97.7, the procession will begin about 10 a.m. and proceed to the church for the funeral of Randall Lewis of the Augusta Fire Department who passed away unexpectedly in February while on vacation with his family. Lewis was a lifelong firefighter, serving 41 years with various departments. He was known throughout the state for his work with RCM, Radio Communications Management, providing radio communications vital to public works and school departments.
Local Politics
Court Sides With Gun Rights Groups in Waiting Period Case
(Augusta) A victory this week for a group of gun rights advocates regarding the state’s 72-hour waiting period law for gun purchases. WMTW reports the District Judge denied a motion by Attorney General Aaron Frey to temporarily suspend enforcement of a court-ordered preliminary injunction halting the waiting period requirement. The judge ruled Frey’s assertion that the three day waiting period could result in lives being saved did not correlate with the constitutional analysis he is bound to apply. The state has appealed the decision.
(Augusta) A federal judge has sided with a group of gun rights advocates over Maine’s 72-hour waiting period law. WMTW reports the District Judge denied Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey’s motion to temporarily suspend the enforcement of a court-ordered preliminary injunction halting the state’s 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases. The judge stated Frey’s prediction that the three-day waiting period may save lives doesn’t correlate with the constitutional analysis he is to apply. The state has appealed the decision.
Maine Senate Shuts Down Supplemental Budget
(Augusta) The Maine Senate yesterday killed a $121M supplemental budget bill, after Republicans refused to drop a demand that permanent MaineCare reforms be included in the emergency funding measure. The Portland Press herald reports lawmakers will now have to negotiate a new bill.
AG Aaron Frey Says Maine Has Joined Multistate Suit Against Department of Education
(Augusta) Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey says the state has joined a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s plans to gut the Department of Education. Frey issued a statement saying, “The Department of Education is responsible for important programming serving Maine citizens, ranging from physical therapy and speech services for students with special needs to implementation of college grant programs. The gutting of the DOE effectively dismantles that Department without congressional approval. Congress has committed these important services to Maine families and I join this litigation to ensure citizens will continue to benefit from these programs.” Maine is one of the more than 20 states that filed the lawsuit to block cuts after more than 1,300 employees were laid off on Tuesday.
Federal Funding Restored to University of Maine
(Orono) The USDA has lifted its pause on federal funding to the University of Maine. Senator Susan Collins’s office announced the restoration occurred after the Senator spoke with the White House. Funding was paused March 11th after President Trump threatened Maine over the state’s refusal of an executive order banning transgender athletes in women’s sports at public schools and universities. The University said it was in compliance with all state and federal funding laws and called the pause in funding “an unnecessary distraction for our essential education, research and extension activities that benefit Maine and well beyond.”
(Orono) Federal funds are once again flowing into critical education, research, and extension activities and programs at the University of Maine System. Funding was paused March 11th, after the President alleged the state was not in compliance with Title IX because of its alleged refusal of an executive order banning transgender athletes in women’s sports at public schools and universities. Chancellor Dannel Malloy and UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy issued a joint statement saying, “At no point since USDA announced its compliance review on February 22nd has that Department or any other party, alleged any violation by Maine’s public universities of Title IX or any other federal or state law,” adding the pause was an unnecessary distraction from the University’s critical research and other programs. The pause was lifted after Maine Senator Susan Collins expressed her concern in a meeting with the White House this week.
Economy
Heat Pump Savings
(Maine) A study finds Mainers who have installed heat pumps are seeing up to 60 percent savings on their average yearly energy bills, compared to fossil fuels. The report by a nonprofit energy efficiency group was released this week. The study found, no surprise, adding to home insulation can bring even more savings.
(Maine) A study released this week reports homeowners who have installed heat pumps are seeing up to 60 percent savings on their average yearly energy bills when compared to fossil fuels. The study by the nonprofit American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy found the state’s lower electric prices, compared to natural gas costs, mean heat pumps, which run on electricity, have led to savings for homeowners. The study found better insulating a home can bring even more savings.
Food Security Programs Express Concerns About USDA Cuts
(Auburn) Food assistance programs across the country are expressing concerns about the US Department of Agriculture’s plans to cancel critical food assistance funding. Altogether, the agency is cutting two federal programs that provided about $1B in funding to schools and food banks to buy food directly from local farms. Auburn-based Good Shepherd Food Bank said the cuts will pose real challenges for people in Maine who are food insecure. Maine was expecting to receive $2.7M this spring for school food programs, but schools can continue to support students and local farmers through the Maine Department of Education’s local food fund.
Health
Northern Light to Close Hospital Facility in Waterville
(Waterville) Higher operational costs, low reimbursement rates, and a tight labor market – all factors contributing to Northern Light’s decision, announced yesterday, to close its hospital in Waterville. The closure will include all hospital-affiliated services and clinics, although administrators report clinical services will continue through May 27th. In a letter to employees obtained by WABI, Northern Light said the Waterville area has a number of other healthcare options available, unlike other communities the system serves. The letter said officials expect many of the staff and providers will remain with the organization, filling other positions throughout the hospital system. Northern Light says the Waterville facility was losing between one and one point five million dollars a month. They anticipate a formal closing date of June 11th.
Infrastructure
Downeast Sunrise Trail Closed
(Maine) Here’s a sure sign that spring – and mud season – are on their way; or in some cases, already here. The Down East Sunrise Trail is closed until further notice, due to saturated soils. Users are asked not to ride on the trail – those rains and melting snows can make for some nasty ruts if people try to use their ATV’s and other vehicles on the trail at this point.
(Maine) With the nice weather forecast for Saturday, perhaps you were thinking of getting those ATV’s out on the Down East Sunrise Trail. Don’t go there – literally. Unfortunately, with the rain and melting snow, mud season has arrived and the trail is now closed to vehicle use. They ask that you respect the closure so as to avoid making those deep ruts that are impossible to navigate once the trail dries out and reopens.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Ides of March
(Undated) “Beware the Ides of March”. We’ve all heard the expression, best known as a soothsayer’s warning in the Shakespearean play, Julius Caesar. Although March 15th was the day the Roman dictator met his unfortunate demise, the Ides of March is actually just a date on the Roman calendar. The ancient Romans’ calendar kept track of time using three fixed dates, the Kalends at the month’s start, the Nones around the 7th, and the Ides, intended to occur the day of the full moon, in the middle of the month. Days 8 through 14 were simply referred to as the days before the Ides. So, while it was the actual date in 44 BC when the real Caesar was assassinated, here in Maine, Saturday promises to be a beautiful day to get outdoors and enjoy some spring-like weather. The only thing WE need to “beware” of is that it IS March; and as Steve McKay reminds us, March is a winter month here in Maine.
Pi Day
(Undated) Visit your child’s math classroom today and you’ll likely find his or her teacher wearing a pi day t-shirt. March 14th, or 3.14, is commonly referred to as Pi Day, a day that aims to celebrate the ratio of the circumference of a circle. The number actually doesn’t stop at 3.14, but can go on forever … according to Guinness World Records, more than 62 trillion digits. The final – maybe – figure was calculated by the University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland. Sources say it’s 62 trillion, 831 billion, 853 million , 71 thousand, 796 to be precise – but who’s counting … besides those researchers? By the way, don’t forget AIO Food and Energy Assistance in Rockland is celebrating with an entire pie-sampling weekend. The 35th Annual Pies on Parade helps raise funds for Knox County’s most vulnerable. Learn more and get tickets at a i o food pantry dot org.
BHB&T Donates to Community Organizations
(Maine) Maine Maritime Museum, the Shaw Institute, Farm Tomorrow – those are three of ten organizations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont that will share $22,000 collected by employees of Bar Harbor Bank and Trust. The monies come from the employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause. Participating employees dress casually on Fridays in exchange for a bi-weekly payroll deduction made to a pool of funds collected quarterly. The employees then vote on which community organizations will benefit from the donations. Since the program began in 2018, the bank has donated more than $372,000 to various causes.
(Maine) Hancock County Habitat for Humanity, the Pine Tree Society, a New Hampshire hospital, and three libraries in Vermont are among this month’s recipients to share $22,000 collected by employees of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. The monies come from the employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause. Participating employees dress casually on Fridays in exchange for a bi-weekly payroll deduction made to a pool of funds collected quarterly. The employees then vote on which community organizations will benefit from the donations. Since the program began in 2018, the bank has donated more than $372,000 to various causes.
Sports
The Red Sox beat the Mets yesterday 3-2. Spring Training continues this afternoon as the Red Sox take on the Marlins in Florida (game time 4:05)
The Celtics in Miami tonight to shoot hoops with the Heat.
The Senators beat the Bruins last night 6-3. Bruins home against the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday.
Duke University’s Cooper Flagg, a former Nokomis standout, left the ACC quarterfinal game against Georgia Tech with an ankle injury Thursday in Charlotte. The Blue Devils’s head coach said Flagg is a longshot to play because of the ankle injury.