Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
Border Patrol Agents Working Far From Country’s Borders
(AP) Border Patrol agents are increasingly documented making immigration arrests far from the United State’s borders with Mexico and Canada. The Associated Press reports one reason is Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are struggling to meet a daily arrest target of at least 3,000 set by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. With only about 6,000 deportation officers, ICE has reportedly found a ready partner in Border Patrol agents. Past a 100-mile enforcement zone, Border Patrol agents are still allowed to operate in the interior, but have less authority to stop and question people. Agents say individual cases vary, depending on circumstances.
Maine State Police to Honor Sworn Members, Civilian Staff, and Citizens
(Vassalboro) Civilian Staff, Citizens, and officers will be honored Friday at the Maine State Police Annual Awards Ceremony. The event takes place at 10 a.m. at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro and recognizes persons, past and present, who have gone above and beyond what’s expected. Awards will include Trooper of the Year, Legendary Trooper, a Leadership Award and several others, along with the stories behind the awards. Organizers say actions of those honored reflect the courage, dedication, and professionalism of Maine’s Troopers, staff and citizens. Two citizens who courageously confronted the active shooter in the Lewiston tragedy of October 25, 2023 – Jason Walker and Michael Deslauriers (Dee-LAW-ree-yay), will be among those honored posthumously.
Franklin Mobile Home Fire
(Franklin) Reports this morning of a fire that destroyed a mobile home on Georges Pond Road in Franklin Wednesday. Multiple departments responded to the blaze late yesterday afternoon. No other details were available – we’ll keep you updated as we get the official word from first responders.
Local Politics
Mills Endorses Republican-Backed Red Flag Referendum
(Augusta) Governor Janet Mills has endorsed a Republican lawmaker’s proposal that competes with a red flag referendum set to go to voters in November. The Bangor Daily News reports the proposal is backed by a gun rights group and would direct more funding to mental health treatment and law enforcement to help utilize the existing yellow flag law that the Governor worked with the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and gun control advocates to craft in 2019. But Democrats reportedly refused to consider the bill; instead, moving to carry over all bills not acted on to the 2026 session and preventing the measure from being advanced to the November ballot alongside the red flag proposal.
Attorneys General Sue Trump Administration for Grants Cuts
(Boston) Attorneys General from more than 20 states and Washington, DC, including Maine, have filed a lawsuit in Boston asking a judge to limit the Trump administration from relying on an obscure clause in order to cut grants that don’t align with its priorities. Cuts include those which funded critical research, food security, and crime prevention measures, among others. The lawsuit argues the administration used the clause to target and cancel thousands of grants previously awarded to states and grantees, pulling the rug out from under programs at libraries, schools, research and cultural institutions.
Mills Canada Visit
(Nova Scotia) Governor Janet Mills was in Nova Scotia yesterday, continuing her visit to Canada aimed at mending a longtime relationship with the U.S. soured by Trump administration policies. The ties are especially important to Maine and other states that border Canada, particularly as the two normally exchange tourism dollars in addition to other goods and services. Mills spent the first part of the week in New Brunswick. The Governor met with the provinces’ Premiers, spent time fishing on the St. John River, and toured a research lab. She is expected to return home to Maine today.
King Blasts GOP Reconciliation Bill
(Washington, DC) Senator Angus King yesterday held a press conference warning of dire impacts to Maine people should the GOP Reconciliation Bill pass. King said the bill includes cuts totaling more than a trillion dollars over a ten-year period, including $800B in cuts to Medicaid, and almost $300B to the ACA – resulting in 16 million Americans losing their healthcare coverage. King was joined by celebrity and Maine native Patrick Dempsey, who encouraged people to use their voices and call their Senators. The pair invited Mainers to share real life impacts of such cuts at health underscore stories at king dot senate dot gov.
(Washington, DC) Celebrity Patrick Dempsey joined Senator Angus King Wednesday to warn of dire impacts to Mainers should the GOP Reconciliation Bill pass. Dempsey, a Maine native, said if the bill goes through … the country, and Mainers in particular, were in danger of losing Medicare and Medicaid. The pair encouraged Mainers to share real life impacts of such cuts at health underscore stories at king dot senate dot gov. Maine DHHS estimates if passed as is, 31K Mainers would be dis-enrolled from MaineCare in the first year and that it could lead to the closure of up to four hospitals. Additionally, King warned Maine would stand to lose 2100 jobs across the state by 2030 and that energy bills would increase by over $300 per year by 2035.
Pingree Amendment to Protect Seasonal Work Visas Gets Unanimous Approval
(Washington, DC) A bipartisan effort to safeguard H-2B visas, critical to Maine’s ability to staff restaurants, retail, and other resources seasonally, received unanimous approval this week in the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for FY 2026. Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree advocated for the bill, explaining how seasonal work visas are vital to Maine’s businesses and tourism industry. Under the amendment, employers that have demonstrated a history of compliance with the H2-B program would have access to the highest number of visas issued them over the past five years.
Economy
Maine One of Most Productive States
(Bangor) Chopping wood, hauling traps, digging potatoes, picking blueberries, creating crafts, and running businesses – Maine is one productive state. The Bangor Daily News reports new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Maine had the fifth highest growth of productivity in the US last year. Only five states showed growth of more than four percent – Indiana, Rhode Island, Washington, New Hampshire, and Maine. Labor productivity describes the amount of goods and services produced per hour worked. Factors that influence the numbers include changes in technology, capital investment, organization, the characteristics and effort of the workforce, and managerial skill.
Summit Learning Center Expanding to Ellsworth
(Ellsworth) Summit Learning Center in Bangor is expanding to Ellsworth. Summit, owned and operated by long-time educators Megan Snow and Coley Stetler, first opened on State Street in Bagor in October 2021. Continued growth led the pair to seek out an Ellsworth location, expected to open in early September, pending licensing. The new location at 27 Puddleglum Way, off Christian Ridge Road, is currently enrolling for ages 18 months to 5 years. Email c burton at summit l c m dot com.
Environment
Towns Hope to Take Over Area Dams
(Hancock County) A group of towns in Hancock County is making plans to take ownership of a pair of dams a scrap metal company wants to unload. Three bills approved by the Legislature could enable that to happen. The Bangor Daily News reports Orland, Blue Hill, Surry, and Penobscot have been concerned abandonment of the dams on Alamoosook Lake and Toddy Pond could mean severely reduced water levels, dam failure, and/or downstream flooding if the dams are left to fall into disrepair. The towns have hired an engineering firm to assess the dams, estimate their conditions, and provide figures on how much maintaining them would cost.
Education
2025 Community College Grads Last to Benefit from Free Tuition
(Maine) Maine Community College graduates this year will be the last to benefit from the state’s free tuition program. Launched in 2022, the Free College Scholarship covered all tuition and mandatory fees for full-time students who graduated from high school in 2020-2023. MaineBiz reports since the program’s inception, nearly 18K eligible students have enrolled at Maine’s community colleges. The state budget signed this week includes only a one time funding of $20M to cover the benefit for the year 2025 students.
DCP Relinquishes Head Start Program
(Ellsworth) Downeast Community Partners will no longer head UP Head Start, relinquishing control to Aroostook County Action Program. The head of DCP said the change should mean NO change to the families and children served. The decision came about after DCP found they are not currently in a financial position to keep the program running, partly because they are behind in having their programs audited. Downeast Community Partners is responsible for a wide array of programs that serve as resources for older citizens, provide heat and other necessities to those in need, along with transportation, housing, and more.
Health
Cole Named “Caregiver of the Year”
(Camden) In life’s most vulnerable moments, we want our healthcare providers to exhibit compassion, concern, and good “bedside manners”. The Maine Hospital Association says when it comes to those qualities, Dr. Karin Cole is the best – and they’ve named her “Caregiver of the Year”. A surgeon at Northern Lights Mercy Hospital in Portland, Dr. Cole is a 1996 graduate of Camden Rockport High School. She holds degrees from Tulane in New Orleans and Tufts Medical School in Boston. MHA reps say the award is their highest honor and that Dr. Cole embodies everything it stands for – empathy, professionalism, and commitment to care that goes far beyond the operating room. The award was presented last week at the Summer Forum in Rockport.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Tim Sample Hanging up Humor on Stage
(Maine) After decades of making us laugh, Maine humorist Tim Sample will step onto the stage one last time this evening at the Boothbay Opera House. NewsCenter Maine reports Sample was inspired by “Bert and I”; and Sample says Maine humor will survive – much like Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” – because storytelling will always be a part of Maine. He says one thing the profession has taught him is, don’t take yourself too seriously, a message he’s attempted to get across to his audience. As for those who say the Maine dialect is dying out, Tim says they’re just going to the wrong places and need to make a trip to Tall Barney’s Restaurant in Jonesport (which has since closed) or the co-op in Boothbay Harbor at 6 in the morning. Ayuh!
Sports
Mavericks Choose Flagg as No. 1 NBA Draft Pick
(Undated) And a lot of new Mavericks fans here in Maine this morning, as Newport native Cooper Flagg was chosen as their No. 1 draft pick last night. The 18 yo former Nokomis High School student played one year for Duke before deciding to head to the NBA.