Crime/Public Safety/Drugs
I-95 Fatal Crash
(Plymouth) A vehicle crash early Tuesday morning on I-95 in Plymouth claimed the life of a 40 year old man from Skagway, Alaska. Maine State Police responded to the single vehicle crash shortly before 1:30 a.m. They say a 2008 Hyundai was on its roof in the median. First responders were able to extricate the driver, Tyler Cochran, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A preliminary investigation indicates speed and suspected impairment contributed to the tragedy, although that investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call Maine State Police.
Poachers Caught, Summonsed
(Palmyra) Five poachers accused of illegally killing deer have received a total of 31 summonses; the result of an investigation by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. WABI reports the Maine Warden Service received information last November that someone had shot a deer at night over bait in the Palmyra area. Game wardens began investigating and learned more than one deer was poached and the suspect was supposedly stealing and selling hunting equipment. That person was arrested and faces 23 charges. During the investigation, wardens seized four deer and multiple firearms and crossbows, and returned stolen hunting equipment to several hunters. Four other suspects were interviewed and issued a total of eight summonses.
Local Politics
Clinics Denied Medicaid Funds
(AP) Thousands of low-income patients in Maine could be turned away from treatment during a lawsuit over the Trump Administration’s cuts to abortion providers. Maine Family Planning says Medicaid dollars are not used for its abortion services, which are a relatively small percentage of the clinics’ overall healthcare. But in a ruling this week, the Associated Press reports Judge Lance Walker, a 2018 Trump appointee, said the payments will not resume during the ongoing lawsuit by the provider seeking to restore funds. An attorney for Maine Family Planning said it was unfair to cut off funding for the clinics “solely because Congress wanted to defund Planned Parenthood.”
Decision in Maine State Chamber of Commerce vs. Department of Labor
(Augusta) The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has unanimously affirmed the legality and constitutionality of rules adopted by the Maine Department of Labor in administering the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce had brought a court case against the Department of Labor, arguing its rules conflicted with the Act and constituted a taking of private property for public use. The case involved the requirement for all Maine employers to pay quarterly contributions to the PFML Program for the first quarter of 2025, which was upheld by the court.
Economy
Scallop Farms Could Be Next Wave for Working Waterfronts
(Orono) Scallop farms could be the wave of the future for Maine’s working waterfronts. UMaine researchers are adapting Japanese techniques to the Gulf of Maine, comparing lantern net and ear-hanging methods to see which would be the most feasible and profitable. A team of researchers from the University analyzed growth, labor and lease costs over four years. Their findings are now available in a user-friendly app that helps new farmers compare the different costs and possibilities associated with building their own scallop farms. We’ve posted a link with this story below.
UMaine research compares most cost-effective methods for Atlantic sea scallop aquaculture
Island Housing Trust Launches Phase 3 of Ripples Hill Neighborhood
(MDI) Island Housing Trust has officially launched the final phase of the Ripples Hill neighborhood in Mount Desert. The third and final phase will add nine homes to the nine already built, doubling the size of the neighborhood and furthering IHT’s mission to promote island communities with year-round housing that is affordable to median-income families on MDI. Since 2004, IHT has collaborated with donors, community partners,and towns to ensure that year-round families and essential workers can continue to call the island home.
Maine Losing Out on Wood Building Boom
(Bar Harbor) When it comes to using wood as building material, one would think Maine would be a natural resource – literally. Surprisingly, when it comes to cross-laminated timber, an environmentally friendly competitor to steel and concrete, builders have had to import the material, long used in Europe, from as far away as Austria. The Bangor Daily News reports Millard Dority came out of retirement to change that while working on expansion of the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor. Dority says while it’s easy to source wood from Maine, there are no factories to process it into CLT, so the wood for the project had to be transported to the nearest producer in Illinois, then trucked back to Maine. Dority says when you look at the abandoned paper mills across the State, it would make economic sense to turn one into a CLT manufacturer.
Ellsworth Welcomes Director of Urban Planning and Development
(Ellsworth) Two new tractor supply retail establishments, a new courthouse complex, a retail and residential plaza – Ellsworth is definitely a growing community, with a growing tax base. With that growth comes the need for urban planning. Deputy City Manager Sara Devlin tells Star 97.7 Danielle M. Gift has been appointed new Director of Urban Planning and Development, a role that will lead the City’s efforts to shape inclusive, sustainable, and strategic growth. Gift brings more than 15 years of municipal and federal leadership experience, having led large-scale, multi-stakeholder initiatives and earned national recognition, including the 2025 USDA Secretary Honor Award and the US Forest Service Regional Forester’s Honor Award. Danielle will officially step into the role on September 15th.
Robyn Goff Joins Heart of Ellsworth as Community Consultant
(Ellsworth) Heart of Ellsworth has welcomed Robyn Goff as their new Community Consultant. Goff brings years of experience in nonprofit development, and has secured millions in grants for other organizations. She’s already jumped in to help Heart of Ellsworth with the Franklin Street Parklet project; gathering input, and collaborating with the community to shape a shared vision. With big things ahead for Downtown Ellsworth, Robyn’s energy and expertise, along with her passion for connection, creativity, and innovation are a winning combination. Welcome!
Maine Farmers Band Together in New Local Initiative
(Maine) Like many others, Maine farmers were caught off guard this spring when the Trump Administration abruptly ended a program that helped food pantries and other relief organizations buy food from them. The Bangor Daily News reports, five months later, the majority have banded together in a new local initiative – Farm to Neighbor. The initiative’s goal is to help make up the difference lost by the funding cuts at a time when food banks are seeing growing demand amid other reductions in food benefits. Farm to Neighbor represents 75 farms and 125 farmers. They say while they’re on their way to reaching a $750K fundraising goal by next April, they intend to become a permanent organization, as state and federal funding will still be necessary if the work is to continue.
(Maine) Farmers, food banks, and those who depend on them found themselves in even more dire straits after the Trump Administration in March ended a program that helped food pantries and other relief organizations form mutually beneficial partnerships to help stem the ever-growing issue of food insecurity. The program focused on farmers who are considered “historically underserved” – either because they were new, had limited resources, or were part of a socially disadvantaged group. In Maine, the Bangor Daily News reports 75 farms and 125 farmers have formed Farm to Neighbor, an initiative whose goal is to help make up the difference lost by the funding cuts. The group says it’s on the way to reaching a $750K fundraising goal by next April. Farm to Neighbor plans to become a permanent organization, as they say state and federal funding will still be necessary if the work is to continue.
Veterans’ Resource
(Maine) Maine veterans, service members, and their families can stay up to date on valuable information that ensures they receive the support and recognition they deserve by subscribing to The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services monthly newsletter. Republican Representative Russell White tells Star 97.7, the newsletter is a comprehensive resource designed to keep Maine veterans informed about the latest news, events, and benefits available to them. It also highlights important updates on state and federal veteran programs, upcoming events, legislative changes, and available resources.
Technology
How to Reduce Screen Time
(NYTimes) Eighty-four percent of Americans say they’re online either several times a day or “almost constantly”. And about 99% of us know that’s just too much. How to break what’s become an obsession?! The New York Times offers these tips, which experts say aren’t widely known but really work. Number one, they say choose a goal and set a deadline, such as inviting friends to dinner before you know how to cook or plan to run a 10K or marathon. With a deadline looming, your spare time will fill with practice rather than scrolling. Two, always be charging. Set up a charging altar and leave your phone there when you get home. Having a dedicated space helps allay the temptation to have that phone glued to your side. And three, swap out your smartphone for a Wisephone – it has no internet, email, social media, or addictive games or apps, though it does have an app store with a limited menu. Stay tuned, we’ll share more tips in our next newscast.
(NYTimes) We all know we’re glued to our phones way too much. But how to break the obsession? In our earlier newscast, we shared some tips offered through the New York Times that experts say aren’t widely known, but that really work. Here are a few more. First, they say, replace scrolling with “me” time. When you’re about to reach for TikTok, give that time to yourself instead – read a poem or a chapter of a novel. Listen to new music. Stretch. Take a walk. Call a friend just because and let them know you care. Next, try “batching” – rather than checking email, social media, and messages all day long, set aside three 15-40 minute times a day, such as first thing in the morning, right before lunch, and in the afternoon, say around 4 p.m. Go phone free on Saturday or Sunday. Set aside family time to physically separate from your phones. We’ll have more tips in our next newscast.
(NYTimes) This morning, we’ve been sharing with you tips from experts on how to limit our screen time – we all know we need to, but is it ever a challenge! The New York Times gives these helpful suggestions they say really work. Use an App like Forest, Streaks, or Offscreen that gamify how long you DON’T use your phone and reward you with a good deed – the app Forest plants trees based on your time offline. Next, try something new-ish; something you know you should try but probably haven’t, like charging your phone OUT of your bedroom at night. Create a physical barrier, like swimming workouts, as they’re generally phone-free zones. Delete those slot-machine-like sites like video game apps that hook you even further. If you do use them, do it only on the computer, not your phone. If you missed any of these stories and tips, you’ll find them on our Star 97.7 News website.
Human Interest/Entertainment
Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift Engaged
(AP) Maybe the biggest story of the day is – Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are engaged. Before you groan, bear in mind the state of our world today. Isn’t it nice to celebrate a couple in love? In a five-photo joint post on Instagram, the pair posted, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” accompanied by a dynamite emoji. The two began dating during Swift’s Eras Tour and have been an item for two years. It’s a first engagement for both – and a fairy tale we all needed.