Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ♣
Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Washington County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Lubec Man Suspected in Fire, Stabbing
(Lubec) Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office say they’ve arrested a Lubec man who may have been involved in a structure fire and a possibly related stabbing on Sunday. They say 30 yo Kenneth Kudrick was staying in a home in Lubec that was totally destroyed in the blaze. Kudrick was considered armed and extremely dangerous. Sources say he had asked several people for a ride to Portland before he was found and taken into custody.
Turnpike Crash Leads to Arrest
(Falmouth) A Sunday morning crash on the turnpike in Falmouth left one man seriously injured and led to another man’s arrest. Authorities say troopers were dispatched to mile marker 55 Southbound shortly after 2:30 yesterday morning and found two damaged vehicles in the median. The driver of one, 61 yo Patrick Blair of Lewiston, was taken to Maine Medical Center in critical but stable condition. The driver of the second vehicle, 30 yo Joshua Uwimana, also of Lewiston, fled the scene on foot, but was quickly located by a K9 track. Officers say he showed signs of being intoxicated and was arrested. The crash led to a full shutdown of the southbound lanes for several hours yesterday.
MDI RSS Targeted in Cyber Crime
(MDI) Proving no one is immune from cybercrime, the Mount Desert Island Regional School System revealed last week more than a million dollars intended for a school construction project was stolen in an online heist. Superintendent Mike Zboray told the Bar Harbor community the District found out about the theft on Tuesday and immediately reported it to local law enforcement, who then contacted the FBI. The crime involved a fraudulent request in early January to change bank account information. The request was subsequently processed by school staff. When the legitimate construction company submitted a request for payment on February 10th, the funds were unknowingly transferred to the fraudulent account. Though there are reportedly no guarantees at this point, the funds in that fraudulent account have been frozen, and it’s hopeful all the stolen funds will be recovered.
(MDI) MDI school officials reported last week they were the victims of a cybercrime involving more than a million dollars intended for a school construction project. MDI Superintendent Mike Zboray told the Bar Harbor community the District found out about the theft on Tuesday and immediately reported it to local law enforcement, who then contacted the FBI. The crime involved a fraudulent request in early January to change bank account information. The request was subsequently processed by school staff. When the legitimate construction company submitted a request for payment on February 10th, the funds were unknowingly transferred to the fraudulent account. It’s unclear whether or not all the funds will be recovered, but authorities say the fraudulent account has been frozen and they’re hopeful there will be no losses.
Saturday Fire Shuts Down Bangor Sam’s Club
(Bangor) The Sam’s Club in Bangor had to be evacuated Saturday afternoon after a fire was discovered in both an indoor electrical panel and an outdoor transformer. Crews responded to the store about 1 pm., but said there was no damage to the building and no one was injured. Versant Power was called to shut off electricity. Faulty equipment is suspected as the cause.
(Bangor) Faulty equipment is suspected as the cause of a Saturday afternoon fire at the Sam’s Club in Bangor. Fire crews responded to the store about 1 p.m., and the facility was quickly evacuated. Authorities suspect the fire happened in both an indoor electrical panel and an outdoor transformer. Versant Power was called to the scene to cut the electricity as a precaution. The Bangor Fire Department reports there was no damage to the building, and no one was injured.
Maine State Police Asking for Help Identifying Deceased Woman
(Portland) Maine State Police are asking the public’s help in identifying a woman whose body washed up onshore near the Portland Head Light last Thursday. The woman is described as white, in her early 40s, 5’ 3” with brown hair and blue eyes. Authorities provided photos of her clothing and identifying marks, which we’ve shared on our Star 97.7 FB page. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South.
(Portland) Authorities are working to identify a woman whose body washed ashore at Fort Williams Park in Portland on Thursday. Maine State Police describe the woman as white, in her early 40s, 5’3” with brown hair and blue eyes. Investigators provided photos of the victim’s clothing and a tattoo, which we’ve shared on our Star 97.7 FB page. Anyone with information is asked to call the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit South.
Local Politics
Bill Supports Meal Delivery Programs for Maine Seniors
(Washington, DC) Volunteers who deliver healthy meals to elderly, disabled, frail or at risk individuals through programs such as Maine’s Meals on Wheels provide a crucial service that allows the most vulnerable to continue living independently in the comfort and safety of their homes. To support those volunteers, Senator Angus King and Republican John Cornyn of Texas are introducing bipartisan legislation to increase the charitable mileage tax deduction rate from its current 14 cents per mile to match the standard business rate of 70 cents per mile. The Delivering Elderly Lunches and Increasing Volunteer Engagement and Reimbursements or DELIVER Act, would help provide meals to more seniors across Maine and America by supporting the volunteers who contribute to their delivery.
Maine Schools to Buy Less from Local Farms
(Maine) The USDA last week ended a program that helped schools buy produce from local farmers. leaving those that till Maine’s soils uncertain about how much to plant this year. The Bangor Daily News reports because of the cuts, schools will have to choose between spending more of their own money on healthy, locally-grown food or smaller amounts on cheaper, processed alternatives. The cuts not only negatively impact schools and students – many of whom live in low-income areas and rely on such programs for nourishing meals – but experts say farms will likely lose an important income stream, as well.
Mills Nominates Phil Batlett to Lead MPUC
(Augusta) Governor Janet Mills has re-nominated Phil Bartlett to head the Maine Public Utilities Commission. The Governor first nominated Bartlett, former Chair of the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, in 2019. Bartlett’s renomination is subject to committee review and confirmation by the Maine Senate.
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree to Host Roundtable on Medicaid Cuts
(Portland) Congresswoman Chellie Pingree will host a roundtable event with Maine healthcare professionals and patients tomorrow at the Maine International Trade Center in Portland. Pingree says she will highlight the significant impact cuts to Medicaid will have on Maine. The roundtable comes after House Republicans passed a federal budget resolution that Pingree says sets up a “reckless reconciliation package that could mean close to $900B in cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Medicaid, or MaineCare, is a lifeline for more than 350,000 Mainers, including children, people with disabilities, working adults and others. Republicans say the Governor’s supplemental budget proposal did nothing to solve the issue that led to the shortfall in the first place.
Maine Conducts First-Ever Post Election Audit Pilot
(Augusta) Beginning this morning, the State of Maine is piloting “risk-limiting” post election audits for six legislative races that were within a 5% margin of victory in 2024. A new law passed by the Maine legislature created the non-partisan Division of Post-Election Audits and Training to create procedures and oversee post-election audits and training on an ongoing basis. The post election audit process is open to the public. The Secretary of State’s Office says the new process is a way the state can further prove the accuracy of Maine election results and the integrity of the State’s elections.
King Raises Concerns Over Calls to Terminate 83K Veterans Affairs Employees
(Washington, DC) Senator Angus King is raising concerns about a leaked report that highlights plans called for by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to cut an additional 83K Veterans Affair employees by the end of the fiscal year. King joined members of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees who sent a letter to DVA Secretary Doug Collins. The coalition reminded the administration it has promised on several occasions that any reductions in force would not impact delivery of care and benefits to veterans, saying it defies logic and reason the agency could cut that many thousands of employees without benefits being interrupted.
Economy
Visitors’ Center in Trenton Nears Completion
(Trenton) A new visitors’ center in Trenton is nearing completion. The Maine Tourism Association says it expects to open the center by the end of June. The Bangor Daily News reports the $27M Acadia Gateway Center is designed to help reduce seasonal traffic congestion on Mount Desert Island. The building, which will be run by the MTA, will serve as a resource for travelers unfamiliar with the area, as well as a transit center, where day visitors to the island can park their vehicles and ride Island Explorer buses to and from their destinations.
(Trenton) Visitors to MDI and Acadia National Park will have a new information resource this summer. The Bangor Daily News reports the $27M Acadia Gateway Center in Trenton is expected to open by the end of June. The Maine Tourism Association says it hopes the facility will help reduce seasonal traffic congestion on Mount Desert Island. Visitors can stop, pick up maps and suggestions about Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, use the restroom, and even catch a ride to the Park. The stop will serve as a transit center, where day visitors to the island can park their vehicles and ride Island Explorer buses to and from their destination
Human Interest/Entertainment
Belfast, Winthrop First Responders Raise Money for Special Olympics
(Belfast) A warm round of applause to the members of the Belfast Police Department, families and other athletes who took the plunge to raise money for Special Olympics Maine on Saturday – a polar plunge, that is. A brave crew that even included a canine or two took the chilling leap. Belfast Fire and EMS and the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department were on hand for support.
(Winthrop) More than a hundred brave souls chilled out in the icy waters of Maranacook Lake in Winthrop Saturday as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Ice Out Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Maine. More than five thousand athletes compete in Maine Special Olympics events each year. The torch run and various polar plunges and other fundraisers pair law enforcement officers and other first responders with the local and national cause.
International Ice Circle
(Van Buren) The unfortunately icy conditions created recently between the U.S, and our neighbors to the north thawed a bit this weekend as Northern Maine Ice Busters successfully created the first ice carousel spin on water on an international dividing line between the two countries. Snowmobile Northern Maine reports Gateway Snowmobile Club in Van Buren captured the disc rotating a few times on a two foot thick plate. Those on hand called it the International Friendship Carousel. Ice discs are a very rare natural phenomenon that occur in slow moving waters in cold climates and rotate slowly on the surface of those waters. I’ve shared photos on my FB page.
Sports
Duke held off North Carolina 74-71 Friday in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, despite being without former Nokomis standout Cooper Flagg, who was on the bench with an ankle injury. Flagg did not play Saturday night in the ACC championship game against Louisville, which Duke captured with a 73-62 win. Coach Scheyer said Flagg is improving, and the goal was to have him ready for the NCAA tournament.
Celtics off tonight. They’re home Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets.
Bruins on the home ice tonight to skate against the Buffalo Sabres.
Spring training continues down in Florida, as the Red Sox take on the Braves this afternoon. Game time 1:05.