Morning Links - Friday March 29, 2024

Friday, March 29, 2024

Asylum Seekers

People seeking asylum and refuge benefit Maine’s economy — lawmakers need to support them 🏛 Maine Center for Economic Policy

After a long wait, Portland man welcomes his family following their escape from Sudan 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Cockroach, rodent infestation could force asylum seekers to move out of Portland motel 🏛 WGME

Buy Local

The Lamp Repair Shop Shines a Light on the Artistry of Old Fixtures 🏛 Down East

City

Letter: City dropped the ball on Congress Square 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Climate Emergency

How Maine’s saltwater wetlands are under pressure 🏛 The Maine Monitor

Natural climate solutions offer hope in addressing climate change 🏛 Maine Audubon

Among other impacts, climate change will affect our collective psyche, scientists say 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Education

Portland City Councilors weigh in on proposed $161 million school budget 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Proposed $161 million Portland Public Schools budget could raise taxes, cut jobs 🏛 WGME

Portland city councilors weigh in on proposed school budget 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Environment

Maine Legislature moves forward with bill to help communities deal with zoning violations 🏛 WGME

Guns

Slate of gun safety bills introduced after Lewiston shooting advance to full Legislature 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Letter: Inflammatory language obscures gun safety debate 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: Dealing with the facts and faces of gun violence 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: End inconsistent and discriminatory treatment of brain disorders 🏛 Bangor Daily News

New 'red flag' bill moves forward in Maine Legislature despite Republican opposition 🏛 WGME

Maine 'red flag' law proposed again in wake of Lewiston shooting 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Health Care

Opinion: Greater access to reproductive health care is a rising tide 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Sen. Collins emphasizes 'enormous need' for mental health services for Maine children 🏛 WGME

History

Throwback Thursday Photo: Commercial Street 1962 & 2024 🏛 Portland Old Port

Housing

Real Estate Insider: Portland condo prices continue surge 🏛 Mainebiz

A town 1 hour from Portlandis leading its region on housing 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Historic railroad building is Portland's latest bid to fix housing woes 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Inspectors find cockroach infestation at Maine motel housing asylum seekers 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine bill could turn 3 vacant courthouses into housing 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Justice

Lawmakers agree records related to marijuana crimes should be sealed, though not automatically 🏛 Maine Morning Star

House narrowly approves bill to send fewer youths to troubled prison 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Workers at Long Creek say inadequate staffing is creating unsafe conditions 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Labor

Committee advances proposal to raise minimum wage for Maine farmworkers 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Outdoors

In Maine's North Woods, some bird species are increasingly abundant. Scientists aren't sure why 🏛 Maine Public

Maine Supreme Judicial court says state Sunday hunting ban is constitutional 🏛 Maine Public

Maine’s highest court upholds Sunday hunting ban 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Read the Maine Supreme Judicial Court's Sunday hunting decision 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine’s high court rules Sunday hunting ban is constitutional 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Seed Libraries Are Sprouting Up Around the Pine Tree State 🏛 Down East

Police

Portland Police in Maine fired gas into family home, Army vet says 🏛 WMTW

Rising Juvenile Drug Trafficking Alarms Portland Police With Three Recent Arrests 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Politics

Cianchette announces candidacy for Maine State Senate 🏛 The Windham Eagle

Maine recovery advocates dismayed after drug decriminalization bill turned into study 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Lawmakers balk at decriminalizing drug possession in Maine; opt for a study instead 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine lawmakers advance what could be one of nation’s toughest data privacy laws 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Trump quietly continues court fight against Maine secretary of state 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Susan Collins won’t vote for Trump, but is sticking with the Republican Party 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Sports

Sea Dogs to Red Sox: Former players make opening day roster 🏛 WMTW

Maine set world record for longest line of whoopie pies 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Portland Sea Dogs interpreter services for the blind 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

State

Opinion: Maine’s foster care children deserve their benefits 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Transportation

Passenger train service through central Maine halted by representatives in Augusta 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Jetport officials work to compromise with neighbors on parking expansion 🏛 WMTW

New proposal would add hundreds of parking spots to Portland Jetport 🏛 WGME

Things to Do

‘Nite Show’ taping, disc golf and 5 other things to do this weekend 🏛 Portland Press Herald

The Price Is Right Live! 🏛 Cross Insurance Arena (Cumberland County Civic Center)

Homeboy Sandman with E-Turn and Stay on Mars 🏛 SPACE

Friday 3/29 open mic at Factory3 🏛 Reddit

Many Maine sugar shacks opening this weekend after last weekend's winter storm 🏛 WGME

Upcoming concerts in Maine: March-April 2024 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Tribal Sovereignty

Amended LD 2007 would bolster Wabanaki Nations’ power to protect our citizens 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Tribes feud with Janet Mills on group overseeing historic settlement 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Utilities

Maine House throws cold water on proposal to coax better performance from CMP, Versant 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Maine House rebuffs plan to use performance as guide for utility rates 🏛 Portland Press Herald

GoNetspeed announces network completions in two Maine communities 🏛 Broadband Communities

Vacationland

Solar eclipse 2024 totality will be viewable from Sugarloaf 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine