Morning Links - Friday January 3, 2025

Friday, January 3, 2025

Arts

This father and daughter from Maine just published their first children's book together 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Asylum Seekers

Letter: Make America humane again 🏛 Portland Press Herald

City

Wes Pelletier: It’s important to have a council that can take action. 🏛 The West End News

West Bayside on the Threshold of Transformation 🏛 The West End News

Civil Rights

As ‘smart cities’ tools grow nationwide, so do privacy and ethical concerns 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Climate Emergency

Smiling Hill Farm closing its Westbrook ski trails because of snowless winters 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Smiling Hill Farm closes cross-country ski center due to increasing lack of snow - YouTube - WMTW-TV

CMP Corridor

Central Maine Power aims to finish controversial western Maine power corridor in 2025 🏛 Maine Public

Environment

PWD completes lead inventory and certifies no lead service lines in system 🏛 The Windham Eagle

Maine wildlife officials are seeking reports of endangered New England Cottontail rabbit sightings 🏛 Maine Public

Food and Drink

Yuri’s Desserts Now Open 🏛 Portland Food Map

If you needed another reason to dine on Middle Street, Mr. Tuna is it 🏛 Portland Press Herald

To my fellow Mainers who love Kimchi. 🏛 Reddit

History

Throwback Thursday Photo: Portland Jetport 1967 ＆ 2024 🏛 Portland Old Port

Health Care

American health care faces a crisis of greed, inequity and lost humanity 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Housing

New Maine law requires ‘total price disclosure’ of rental housing 🏛 Bangor Daily News

New Maine law promotes full disclosure for rent prices - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Bangor mobile home residents secure funding to buy park 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Lawmaker proposing amendment aiming to ease Maine's rising property taxes - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Justice

Judge declines to dismiss false labeling, deceptive marketing claims against Poland Spring 🏛 Maine Public

Labor

Minimum wage increases in Maine; Portland and Rockland also boost wages 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Maine’s public employees applaud removal of Social Security benefit restrictions 🏛 Maine Morning Star

New analysis paints rosier outlook for Maine's labor force in 8 years 🏛 Maine Public

Letter: Raise the federal minimum wage 🏛 Bangor Daily News

What does the new paid family and medical leave program mean for Mainers? 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

New Paid Family and Medical Leave Employer Portal to launch Jan. 6 🏛 The Windham Eagle

Minimum wage increases in Maine; Portland and Rockland also boost wages - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Maine minimum wage increases by 50 cents - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Maine workers face paycheck changes as paid leave contributions begin - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Paid family and medical leave: What does it mean for Mainers? - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Tax to fund Maine's new paid family and medical leave goes into effect - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

LGBTQIA+

LGBTQ legal advocates brace for policy attacks under Trump administration 🏛 Maine Public

Maine civil rights trailblazer receives highest civilian honor 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Maine attorney receives top honor from President Biden 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: A victory for academic freedom 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Media

Maine Trust for Local News' leadership on the future of its newspapers 🏛 Maine Public

Outdoors

Nobody knows why Maine’s latest cosmic light show is late 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Tricks and activities to help your dog enjoy winter 🏛 Bangor Daily News

These are the owls that come to Maine and their hangouts 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Photography

Holiday Reflections on Wharf Street, Portland, Maine 🏛 Reddit

Winter in Rockland Maine 🏛 Reddit

Rough waters on the rocks at pemaquid point today. 🏛 Reddit

Took the wife to the troll light show the other day 🏛 Reddit

Police

New video released of deadly police shooting in Westbrook - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Maine's high court to decide if city park rangers must be law enforcement officers 🏛 Maine Public

Juveniles entangled in rise of Maine crime as adult influence surfaces 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

South Portland police investigate late night shooting at Redbank Village - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Politics

Increasing tobacco tax, AI protections among 2025 Maine health priorities 🏛 The Maine Monitor

Opinion: Americans must hang tough in battle of fairness versus greed 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Jared Golden received bomb threat at his home on Thanksgiving 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Rep. Jared Golden received a holiday bomb threat at his home, newspaper reports 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Sen. Collins starts new position as GOP takes over Congress and the White House 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

PART 1: Don Carrigan sits down with Sen. Susan Collins - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

PART 2: Don Carrigan sits down with Sen. Susan Collins - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Public Safety

Game wardens urge precautions before walking out on ice after recent rescue 🏛 Maine Public

Maine officials warn of thin ice after Franklin County rescue 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Strong winds cause power outages, displace Scarborough family 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Hiker rescued from Gorham Mountain on New Year's Eve 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

MaineHealth officials urge caution as norovirus cases loom this winter 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

State

Maine officials remind residents to gather documents for Real I.D. as enforcement nears - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Some Mainers facing REAL ID roadblocks - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Things to Do

Foodies Rejoice! Dig Into These Five Seafood Festivals This Summer 🏛 Maine Lobster Festival

Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble 🏛 SPACE

For musical theater fans who just gotta dance, 567Broadway gets them moving 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Bringing pro wrestling to Yarmouth: ‘Limitless Rumble’ to be held on Jan. 18 - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Utilities

Portland Water District Board of Trustees Approves 2025 ... 🏛 Portland Water District

Vacationland

Cruise ships plan to bring 55K visitors to Eastport this year 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Biddeford seeks bids for RiverWalk construction 🏛 Saco Bay News

Voter Suppression

Voter ID backers want their referendum on Maine’s 2025 ballot 🏛 Bangor Daily News