Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Seventy-Five Cadets to Graduate from BLETP Friday
(Vassalboro) Tomorrow the Maine Criminal Justice Academy will graduate 75 cadets from the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program. The class, one of the most diverse yet, includes several multilingual learners, 23 military veterans, 33 individuals with advanced education, including two with Master’s Degrees, and 14 women entering the profession. Local graduates include Gavin Hall and Shane West from the Ellsworth Police Department, Lukas Keene from the Bar Harbor Police Department, the SW Harbor PD’s Bradley Russell, and from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office Wyatt Lord and Austin McDonald. Congratulations to all the graduates.
(Vassalboro) Lots of graduations going on this month and next, and that includes 75 cadets who will graduate from the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program Friday in Vassalboro. This year’s cadets represent 49 municipal, county, and state law enforcement agencies – nearly a third of all agencies across the state. The public is invited to the 10 a.m. ceremony at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. This year’s class includes a number of local law enforcement personnel, including Wyatt Lord and Austin McDonald from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, the Ellsworth PD’s Gavin Hall and Shane West; from the SW Harbor Police Department, Bradley Russell, and Lukas Keene from the Bar Harbor Police Department. Congratulations to all the graduates who’ve been working toward this day since January.
Maine Sees Surge in Illegal Border Crossings
(Express US) Maine has become a major crossing point for illegal immigration under the Trump Administration. Express US reports last month, the state recorded the highest number of migrant crossings in 24 years, with the US Border Patrol Houlton Sector documenting 113 arrests in April – that compares to between 25 and 50 arrests in previous months. Federal records show the migrants who entered through Maine were from 16 different countries, the top three being Ecuador with 42, 12 from Mexico, and 15 from Guatemala.
Local Politics
House Approves Removing State from Move Toward Popular Vote
(Augusta) The Maine House this week approved a bill to remove the state from an interstate compact that seeks to elect Presidents by a national popular vote instead of through the Electoral College. The bill, while proposed by Republicans, garnered enough Democratic support to advance to the Senate before it comes back to the lower chamber, according to the Bangor Daily News. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact currently includes 18 states, accounting for 209 of the minimum 270 needed to win the Presidency. The League of Women Voters of Maine supports a national popular vote system, saying it’s nonpartisan and favors voters, not parties, land, geography, factions or states. A poll last August showed Mainers were fairly evenly divided on the issue.
Bernie Sanders Endorses Troy Jackson for Governor of Maine
(Augusta) Just hours after declaring his run for Governor of Maine in 2026, Democrat and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson picked up a key endorsement. Writing on the social media platform X, former Vermont Governor Bernie Sanders said, “I strongly support [Jackson] for Maine because he knows what it’s like to feel powerless – and how to turn that into action.” The 56 yo Jackson, a logger from Allagash, welcomed the endorsement, saying, “Sanders has spent his whole life standing up to corporate greed and fighting for working people, and I’m proud to have his support in this campaign”.
Economy
Tiny Bookshop
(Rockport) Book lovers have no shortage of options these days – libraries, online resources, big box bookstores, and stores that offer books, along with a variety of other products. For the true bibliophile who misses the days of the small, intimate bookstore, there’s The Tiny Bookshop, 163 Union Street in Rockport. The Pen Bay Pilot reports when Kelly Hokkanen decided to step away from the tech industry, she decided opening the 120-square-foot shop in a building on her property was a story that … well, practically wrote itself. Four days a week, you’ll find Kelly at a little desk in the back, ready to greet you and invite you to page through her collection of gently used classic and contemporary fiction, books by Maine authors and about Maine topics. For information on hours, days … and what she’s “plotting” next, check out The Tiny Bookshop on FB.
Governor Mills Unveils Signage to Welcome Visitors from Canada
(Kennebunk) Maine is rolling out the welcome signs to our neighbors in Canada – literally. On Wednesday, Governor Janet Mills met with state economic and tourism officials about the effects of tariffs and remarks by the Trump Administration that have soured Canadiens on visiting the United States. Attendees brainstormed ways to restore tourism from our neighbors to the north ahead of a summit meeting with Canadian premiers next month in Boston. In addition, the Governor revealed a plan to install new signage to be placed across the state, welcoming Canadian visitors to Maine. The signs will be installed near Maine’s border crossings with Canada and other destinations, with versions of the signs available free to Maine businesses through the Maine Office of Tourism.
(Kennebunk) In 2024, nearly 800K Canadian visitors added close to $500M tourism dollars to the Pine Tree State. The Trump Administration’s tariffs and threats of annexing Canada have already had a chilling effect on those numbers for the 2025 season. In response, Governor Mills and a group of bipartisan Governors from other New England states and New York requested a meeting with Canadian premiers – that meeting planned for Boston in June. In addition, the Governor yesterday met with state economic and tourism officials about the issue that could prove to be a costly one this summer. Among other actions designed to show Maine’s open arms, signs are already being installed near border crossings and across the state, welcoming our northern neighbors. Similar signs are available for free to Maine businesses through the Maine Office of Tourism.
Non-Profits Collaborate to Cope with Funding Cuts
(Ellsworth) Heart of Ellsworth, Hammond Hall and Schoodic Arts for All, the Maine State Library. Nonprofits across the state and country are reeling from unprecedented grant funding cuts and terminations happening mid-budget cycle and mid-fiscal year. MaineBiz reports a panel convened this week by the National Council of Nonprofits aimed to address critical steps organizations could take in response to the cancellation of federal grants. Maine has been especially hard hit, having a higher per capita of those employed in the nonprofit sector – 1 in 6, compared to 1 in 10 nationally. Cuts have affected domestic violence services, elder meal delivery services, arts and humanities initiatives and ongoing research involving cancer, ocean health (affecting Maine’s fishing industry) and more. Participants were encouraged to consider exploring legal options and urged to contact their local Congresspersons.
Environment
Billboards Encourage “Keep Maine Bug Free”
(Augusta) Just in time for the summer camping season, travelers from Massachusetts and New Hampshire heading to Maine will begin seeing bold, eye-catching billboards with simple messages, including Keep Campfires Wicked Good – Use Local Firewood and Hey, Bub, Bugs are Lurking. Leave Firewood at Home. Maine State Forester Patty Cormier, says the billboards are a reminder that even well-intentioned campers can unknowingly carry tree-killing insects and diseases into the state. The campaign begins this week and runs through September.
Health
More Potential Health Effects of Highly Processed Foods
(KFF) A growing body of research suggests ingredients in highly processed foods could be hitting us where it hurts – right in the gut. KFF news reports studies have found emulsifiers such as Polysorbate 80 that may prolong a food’s shelf life can alter the mix of bacteria in the gut, known as microbiome, damage the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, and trigger inflammation, potentially contributing to problems elsewhere in the body. Other widely used emulsifiers or stabilizers include carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, and maltodextrin. While scientists say larger studies are needed, clinically, many patients report improvement in symptoms with the switch to a more natural diet.
Trauma Cases Lead to Increased Need for Blood Donations
(Undated) Trauma cases can rise around summer holidays, beginning with Memorial Day … but you can help save lives by donating blood. Type O Blood donors and those giving platelets are especially essential right now in meeting the needs of hospitals. If you donate anytime this month, you’ll receive an exclusive Red Cross solar lantern, while supplies last, and be entered for a chance to win a US trip for two of your choice. Learn more and schedule your donation appointment now at red cross blood dot org.
Human Interest
WHO Adopts Treaty without US Support, Participation
(AP) The World Health Organization this week adopted a treaty aimed at preparing for and responding to future pandemics. Stripped of U.S. funding, the World Health Organization on Monday appealed to member countries to support its “extremely modest” request for a $2.1 billion annual budget by putting that sum into perspective next to outlays for ad campaigns for tobacco or the cost of war. After nearly 80 years of striving to improve human lives and health –- which critics say it has done poorly — the U.N. health agency is fighting for its own. President Trump in January halted funding from the United States, which has traditionally been WHO’s largest donor.
Schoodic Arts for All Loses Historic Preservation Grant
(Winter Harbor) Schoodic Arts for All recently learned the $24,000 grant awarded by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission for pre-development work at Hammond Hall has been withdrawn. The funding cuts impact several historic projects across the state, including rehabilitation of Hammond Hall, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and is an integral part of Winter Harbor’s history. The facility continues to host town meetings, performances and many other community events. The nonprofit says it remains committed to the project and invites anyone interested to contribute at schoodic arts for all dot org.
MaineCF Launches Press Initiative
(Ellsworth) The Maine Community Foundation has announced the launch of a new initiative they say will ensure strong, local news coverage in all parts of the state. Maine CF was selected by Press Forward, a bipartisan initiative, to become one of 36 independent chapters nationwide. Press Forward Maine will be housed within Maine CF, whose Bree Arsenault said, “There seems to be an understanding among those looking to build a better Maine that local news and information are essential to inform and involve people in working together to find solutions.” Mainers reportedly rank 10th in the nation on keeping up with the news, with 74% engaging in reading, watching, or listening to news about political, societal, or local issues. That’s compared with a national average of just 68%.
Pentagon Accepts Luxury Jet from Qatar for Use as Air Force One
(Washington, DC) The Department of Defense on Wednesday confirmed to ABC News the United States has officially accepted a $200M luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One. An Air Force spokesperson said it will award a contract to modify the Qatari jet, noting details of the contract would be classified. Maine’s Congressional delegation joined bipartisan backlash, saying acceptance of the gift raises ethical questions, with Senator Susan Collins writing it strikes her as “rife with political espionage … and constitutional problems”.