Crime, Public Safety, Drugs
Practice Mass Casualty Event at MDI
(MDI) Fire and EMS Departments from across the island were at MDI High School Saturday, testing their skills and making sure they were at the ready in case of a mass casualty event. The drill included extracting multiple individuals from vehicle entrapment, triage, critical thinking skills and more. FoxBangor reports volunteers participated as victims. Crews said the drill not only sharpened the skills of seasoned veterans, but also exposed newer crew members to situations they’ll likely encounter and for which they’ll need to be well prepared.
Powerful Winds Keep Power Crews Busy
(Maine) Power crews could barely keep up with the power outages from Easter Sunday’s powerful winds. From Ellsworth to SW Harbor to Deer Isle, 132 outages affecting nearly 9,000 customers were reported before 3 p.m. yesterday. As of 4 this morning, about 2,000 remained without power. Versant says they plan to have all power restored by Noon today. NW winds gusting up to 55 mph caused headaches in Hancock, Washington, Penobscot and other counties, with the strongest winds expected across the higher terrain of the Moosehead Region to Aroostook County, including Baxter State Park.
Dirt Bike Crash Injures Two
(Franklin) Two teenagers were seriously injured in a dirt bike collision in Franklin on Saturday. Fire Chief Robert Grindle reports the crash happened around 4 p.m. on the Eastbrook Road. Fox Bangor reports the two were riding their dirt bikes along a gravel pit when they collided head on. Both teens were taken to a hospital in Boston.
Local Politics
Ellsworth Rallies on Day of Action
(Ellsworth) Thousands turned out again Saturday for a “Day of Action” against what protestors called the unconstitutional policies of the Trump Administration. Ellsworth had the second highest number of protesters in the state show up at City Hall, with 850 rallying. Some 4,000 lined the streets in Portland. Protests were held in at least 25 cities in Maine, with rally goers joining millions who turned out across the U.S.
(Ellsworth) From Caribou to York, from Rangeley to Boothbay, thousands once again turned out in protest against the Trump Administration on Saturday. Rallies dubbed a “Day of Action” drew millions across the U.S. Protests were held in more than 25 cities in Maine, with 4,000 turning out in Portland. Ellsworth had the second largest number of activists show up, with more than 850 rallying at City Hall.
Judge Denies Libby’s Request to Remove Censure
(Augusta) A federal judge on Friday denied a request by state representative Laurel Libby and a handful of her constituents to end her censure in the House. The Republican lawmaker was censured in February after she posted a clear picture and the name of a transgender teen athlete at Greeley High School on social media. The censure prevents Libby from voting or speaking on the House floor.
U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Deportation
(CBS) The U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday temporarily blocked the deportations of any Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, an 18th Century wartime law. The high court acted overnight, according to CBS News, following an emergency appeal by the ACLU. The Supreme Court earlier had disallowed deportations without due process.
Senator Visits Garcia in El Salvador Prison
(Washington, DC) Senator Chris Van Hollen Sunday defended his visit to an El Salvador prison, where he met with deported immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia. The Trump Administration admitted the deportation was a mistake, but blamed it on an “administrative error”. The US Supreme Court voted 9-0 that Garcia must be returned to the U.S., but no efforts have been made to free him. The President of El Salvador continues to refuse to comply, with President Trump saying it’s out of his hands.
Overseas Travel to US Declines Sharply
(WaPo) Overseas travel to the United States has declined sharply since January. Industry experts tell the Washington Post, reports of detentions, deportations, and the weeks-long lockup of European tourists have resulted in growing fears. Tariffs, too, have threatened tourism dollars. It’s the first such decline since the pandemic. Travel experts say if sustained, the downturn could translate into billions in lost tourism revenue. Maine is particularly concerned about a loss of tourism from neighboring Canada.
Health
Number of Measles Cases Grows
(Undated) At least 27 states are now reporting cases of measles, with Louisiana, Virginia, and Missouri reporting their first cases this weekend. More than 800 cases had been reported as of Friday.
Maine Senate Gives Bipartisan Approval to Women’s Health Bill
(Augusta) The Maine Senate on Friday gave bipartisan approval to a bill that would protect access to fundamental healthcare services offered through Maine’s network of family planning services. Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Teresa Pierce, LD143 would allocate a little over $6M in grant funding over the next biennium to support the Maine Family Planning Network. The Network serves more than 31,000 patients annually, 70% of whom qualified for free or reduced cost care in 2023. It also provides care to anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay.
Education
Cell Phone Restrictions
(Augusta) Maine lawmakers are considering proposing statewide restrictions on smartphones in the classroom. Backers say students are learning less, being less social, and face growing mental health issues from the constant use of smartphones. The move is not without pushback, with detractors saying it would be an unfunded mandate. The Maine School Boards Association said a statewide mandate is unnecessary, as many schools have enacted their own restrictions.
Environment
Lyrid Meteor Showers
(Undated) Find some darkened skies tonight and tomorrow, away from artificial light, for a show that could take your breath away. The Lyrids Meteor Shower will be putting on a dazzling display over which skywatchers have marveled for close to 3K years. The best time to watch is after midnite, into the hours before dawn. The Lyrids generally produce 15-20 meteors per hour; although every few decades they surprise with an outburst of up to 100 of the brilliant, fast moving bursts per hour.
Infrastructure
Trenton Utility Work
(Trenton) Commuters who travel Route 3 in Trenton should plan for delays beginning today through May 26th. Versant Power will be installing utility poles from the Beckwith Hill intersection to about 500 Bar Harbor Road. Traffic in areas will be restricted to one lane between 6 a.m and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday during the next six weeks.
(Trenton) Plan a little extra drive time if you travel Route 3 in Trenton in the coming weeks. Versant Power linemen will be installing utility poles from the Beckwith Hill intersection to about 500 Bar Harbor Road, beginning today through May 26th, with work likely being completed before the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Traffic will be restricted to one lane between 6 a.m and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday while the work is in progress..
Ellsworth Road Work
(Ellsworth) Spring means bulbs blooming, mud season, and orange cones. A reminder the Hancock section of Washington Junction Road in Ellsworth will be closed tomorrow through Friday to all but local traffic for an MDOT project involving culvert repair. City crews have night work scheduled tonight and tomorrow on Foster Street in Ellsworth, in preparation for paving later in the week. Also, city crews will be working on Rt 172, the Surry Road, beginning today, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, resulting in single lane closures, beginning at the Bridge Hill intersection. That project will run through August and possibly into September.
Human Interest
Helen’s Owner, Patrons Mourn Passing
(Ellsworth) Our deepest condolences go out to Melanie Fox, owner of Helen’s Restaurant here in Ellsworth. Melanie’s husband, Scott Fox, passed away recently. A celebration of life was held Saturday, with many sharing heartfelt sympathies on social media as well.
Patriot’s Day
(Undated) State offices are closed today for Patriot’s Day. The holiday is celebrated as a state holiday only in Maine and Massachusetts. It commemorates the start of the American Revolutionary War in 1775, while also honoring battles fought in Lexington and Concord on April 19th that year. It’s also traditionally the date of the running of the Boston Marathon. This year’s 129th running will have a field of some 30,000 athletes, who for the most part must post official qualifying times in order to enter.
Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride
(Undated) Bells rang out across New England Friday, celebrating Paul Revere’s famous 1775 ride, warning Patriots the British were coming. The April 18-19 ride is considered the start of the American Revolution and was immortalized in the famous poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and first published in the January 1861 issue of The Atlantic Monthly. Wadsworth was well-connected here in Maine, being born in Portland, then a district of Massachusetts, in 1807. He graduated from Bowdoin College, where he later taught before then teaching at Harvard. The Old North Church in Boston was lit up again Friday night – once again warning of government tyranny and oppression.
Pope Francis Dies
(AP) Pope Francis has died. The first Latin American Pope, Francis tried to reset decades of conservative leadership by the Roman Catholic Church, emphasizing inclusion and care for the marginalized over doctrinal purity, according to the Associated Press.