Morning Links - Wednesday January 29, 2025

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Arts

Penobscot basket maker Theresa Secord wins national award 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Asylum Seekers

Maine resettlement agencies told they can no longer support refugees already here 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Refugee Resettlement Update 🏛 Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine

Letter: Immigration in Maine is hardly a catastrophe 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Business

Fidium promotes digital education as tool for equity, data privacy amid fiber access growth 🏛 Piscataquis Observer

Buy Local

If you ever need to move a 9-foot gorilla statue, this gift shop has tips - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Climate Emergency

Utility concerns delay Passamaquoddy solar project 🏛 Maine Public

With Erosion Comes Need for Sustainable Trail Use and Design 🏛 Maine Audubon

Community

Upcoming ‘Fuel Rally’ in Scarborough aims to help heat homes of neighbors in need 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Earthquake

Another, weaker, earthquake shakes same area off coast of York 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine's earthquake: Unpacking the science and the risks 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Earthquake rattles parts of Maine 🏛 WGME

Second earthquake reported in same area off Maine coast within 2 days - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Education

More than 33,000 Mainers affected by PowerSchool data breach 🏛 Maine Public

More than 33,000 Mainers affected by school cyber breach 🏛 Portland Press Herald

More than 33,000 Maine residents affected by PowerSchool data breach - YouTube - WMTW-TV

More than 33,000 Mainers affected by PowerSchool data breach, new filing shows - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Environment

Brunswick residents concerned about plan to expand sludge digester - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Food and Drink

Mimi Weissenborn on Top Chef 🏛 Portland Food Map

Southern Maine chef to compete on new season of ‘Top Chef’ 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Pomelia Opens in Brunswick 🏛 Portland Food Map

Carter’s Greenmarket Closing; Other Changes for Businesses At 18 Elm Street 🏛 The Gorham Times

Guns

Janet Mills defends her controversial budget and criticizes ‘red flag’ referendum 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Gov. Mills' addresses the red flag proposal during State of the Budget address - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Health Care

Trump’s funding pause strikes Medicaid websites across the US 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Planned Parenthood calls Trump's global gag rule ‘dangerous’ - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Robert Kennedy is the wrong person for the job when people’s health is on the line 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Opinion: RFK Jr.’s confirmation will threaten Mainers’ lives 🏛 Portland Press Herald

History

USM Civil War Project Looking for Help 🏛 The Gorham Times

Housing

Maine housing authorities can’t access funds after Donald Trump freezes grants 🏛 Bangor Daily News

New report outlines how Maine can increase housing production 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Read the report recommending how Maine can build more housing 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine lawmakers get sobering recommendations to create new housing before 2030 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

We’re working with Rep. Cheryl Golek on a bill to protect people who live i… 🏛 Bluesky - Maine People's Alliance

Justice

Maine supreme court strikes down law that allowed civil lawsuits for decades-old sexual abuse claims 🏛 Maine Public

Maine supreme court rules 2021 child sex abuse law is unconstitutional 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine's highest court strikes down removal of time limits on child sex abuse lawsuits - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Man to serve 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to 2008 Portland homicide - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Labor

Can businesses with existing paid family leave programs avoid Maine's new payroll tax? - YouTube - CBS 13 News

LGBTQIA+

Letter: Executive order on genders is an abuse of power 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Outdoors

Walk off cabin fever with these winter treks 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Take a crack at ice climbing in the Camden Hills 🏛 Bangor Daily News

“Duck”-ing Maine’s Winter 🏛 Natural Resources Council of Maine

Snowy Owls in Winter 2024/25 🏛 Maine Audubon

A Moment of Awe 🏛 Portland Trails

Photography

Midnight 1/20/2025 🏛 Reddit

I see your adorable Puppy, and raise you two adorable Puppies ♠️ 🏛 Reddit

Kennebunkport 🏛 Reddit

Wood Island Lighthouse in Saco 🏛 Reddit

Politics

Letter: Ethics questions should not be political 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Legislative Republicans oppose new taxes, increased fees in state budget 🏛 Bangor Daily News

2025 State of the Budget Address - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Gov. Mills delivers State of the Budget address - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Gov. Mills delivers State of the Budget address - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Watch: Gov. Mills calls on lawmakers to compromise in annual address 🏛 Portland Press Herald

WATCH: In budget speech, Gov. Mills urges lawmakers to work together on spending plan 🏛 Maine Public

Acknowledging ‘pain and frustration,’ Mills defends proposed cuts and tax hikes in budget 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Governor Mills: Coming Together to Pass a Balanced Budget Will Be Hard Work -- But We've Done It Before 🏛 State of Maine

Day care providers raise alarm about Gov. Mills' budget proposal - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Trump's attempt to freeze federal aid causes confusion and concern in Maine 🏛 Maine Public

Gov. Mills said she’s ‘deeply concerned’ about Trump administration spending freeze 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Uncertainty rattles Maine after Donald Trump orders freeze on government funding 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Hiring freeze, executive orders create uncertainty for federal workers in Maine 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Governor Mills' Statement on Trump Administration's Pause on Federal Funding 🏛 State of Maine

Watch: Angus King calls Trump’s federal loan freeze ‘unconstitutional’ 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Susan Collins calls Trump’s federal aid freeze ‘far too sweeping’ 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Pingree: Federal Funding Freeze an Unprecedented and Unlawful Assault on Congressional Power 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Maine leaders voice concern over Trump's attempt to freeze federal funding 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Maine leaders and groups concerned about potential funding freeze - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Maine joins multistate lawsuit against federal funding freeze 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Judge suspends Trump funding freeze as Maine, other states challenge order’s legality 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: Seeking Sen. Collins’ position on tax cuts 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Sears Island / Mack Point Wind Port

Group of Maine lawmakers trying to block Sears Island wind port 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Social Safety Net

Mainers’ heating assistance in limbo amid freeze on federal funds 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Things to Do

Weekend Guide: January 31st – February 2nd, 2025 🏛 Portland Old Port

The Live Music Guide: January 29th – February 4th, 2024 🏛 Portland Old Port

Drew and Ellie Holcomb - Portland 🏛 State Theatre

Cold Cave with Buzzkull 🏛 SPACE

La Luz 🏛 SPACE

little house creates 🏛 SPACE

Kathleen Edwards 🏛 One Longfellow Square

Utilities

Maine Senate confirms former state lawmaker, brewery owner as new public advocate 🏛 Maine Morning Star