Morning Links - Wednesday February 5, 2025

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Arts

Theme of growth takes many forms at new art exhibition 🏛 University of Southern Maine

Maine podcaster finds international audience with ‘Murder She Told’ podcast - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Asylum Seekers

The Golden Door: January 2025 🏛 Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project

How to stay safe against Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities 🏛 Maine Beacon

Refugees ＆ Asylum Seekers - YouTube - Maine Public

Business

Maine’s maple syrup industry could get boost from federal legislation 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Fisheries regulators repeal lobster size limits after pushback from Maine 🏛 Maine Public

Lobster regulators repeal minimum size increase after years of backlash in Maine 🏛 Portland Press Herald

UScellular invested $25.2M in Maine in 2024 🏛 Piscataquis Observer

Initiative aims to support international food markets in Westbrook - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Buy Local

Record Store Day creator Chris Brown leaving Bull Moose music chain 🏛 Portland Press Herald

City

PPL Joins Dirigo Libraries Consortium and Prepares for Systemwide Upgrade 🏛 Portland Public Library

Climate Emergency

Republican legislators announce bills to repeal solar energy subsidy programs 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Maine received $2.2 billion from Biden clean energy programs 🏛 Maine Public

Opinion: Maine is prepared for the evolving fight against wildfire 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine snowmobiling season off to a slow start - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Community

Maine nonprofit’s humanitarian work in Africa jeopardized by Trump’s dismantling of USAID 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Education

Personnel costs, inflation, special ed are top budget challenges facing Portland schools 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine’s budget should not be balanced on the backs of childcare educators 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Environment

Maine members of Congress pushing to eliminate trade penalty on PFAS-free outdoor clothing 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Congresswoman Pingree Co-introduces Bill to Help Outdoor Retailers Phase Out Chemicals 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Mainers maddened by the potential for Gorham quarry expansion - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Gorham town council votes down quarry expansion - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Court restores protections for endangered whales to prevent fishing gear entanglement 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Brunswick officials voice support for better fish passage on the Androscoggin River 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter to the Editor: Build resistance to Trump’s “cut baby cut” forest policy 🏛 Daily Bulldog

Harpswell has 44 of Maine’s 600 remaining overboard discharge systems 🏛 Harpswell Anchor

Gambling

Oddfellahs challenges state's denial of sports betting license 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Health Care

Several new bills in Maine legislature focus on abortion rights, health care - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Unable to access federal funds, Penobscot Community Health Care may have to furlough staff 🏛 Maine Public

Former Maine lawmaker’s leukemia fight highlights national need for bone marrow donors 🏛 Portland Press Herald

History

Funtown U.S.A. | 1988 Commercial 🏛 Reddit

Housing

Some housing dollars still inaccessible after temporary Trump funding freeze 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Why the dream of a starter home in Maine is slipping out of reach 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Justice

Lawmaker hopes to alleviate attorney backlog by changing how Maine punishes bail violations 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Some of Maine’s bail violation charges could be eliminated by proposed bill 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Portland man found not criminally responsible for death of Granny’s Burritos founder 🏛 Portland Press Herald

LGBTQIA+

This month's School Support Circle will feature a guest speaker from GLBTQ… 🏛 Bluesky - OUT Maine

Outdoors

You can find these entertaining birds in the North Maine Woods 🏛 Piscataquis Observer

Photography

Snowglobe 🏛 Reddit

State Street Church 🏛 Reddit

Art and Life in Maine 🏛 Reddit

Chainsaw Art 🏛 Reddit

Police

Maine lacks a comprehensive missing persons list, so we made one 🏛 Maine Morning Star

8 Investigates: Should Maine have a comprehensive database for missing people? - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Politics

Coalition: increase tax on wealthy to fund essential services 🏛 Amjambo Africa

Anti-Trump protest in Augusta still on despite confusion 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Pingree’s office flooded with calls from voters worried about chaos, threats of Trump administration 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Pingree focused on keeping government running amid Trump administration confusion 🏛 Maine Public

Rep. Pingree slams 'chaos' of the Trump administration's first weeks 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

'Chaos and illegal activity:' Chellie Pingree blasts President Trump's first two weeks in office - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Letter: We must come together to protect democracy 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Senate panel approves RFK Jr. nomination 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Watch: Senate committee advances Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nomination to be health secretary 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Gabbard nomination for intel chief headed to Senate floor after panel approval 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Tulsi Gabbard clears Senate committee after getting key support from Susan Collins 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Susan Collins to back OMB nominee Russell Vought, paving way for confirmation 🏛 The Hill

Pingree Blasts Unelected Billionaire Musk ＆ Illegal Actions by Trump Administration Today 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Susan Collins ‘very concerned’ about Elon Musk’s moves in Washington 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Amid a deluge of constituent calls, Maine’s delegation challenges Elon Musk’s authority 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Congress must investigate Elon Musk’s hacking of government agencies 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine officials wary of how trade war would affect lobster industry 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine braces for increased energy prices from Trump tariffs, despite 30-day postponement 🏛 Maine Public

Donald Trump’s fast-moving tariff plans put Maine Republicans in tricky positions 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Jared Golden says Donald Trump gained leverage on Canada with tariff threats 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Public Safety

Letter: Maine cigarette tax more than just a budget tool 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine sees spike in flu cases - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Sports

Rep. Kuhn, Sen. Pierce welcome Portland Hearts of Pine to the State ... 🏛 State of Maine

Gov. Janet Mills welcomes Portland Hearts of Pine to Maine State House - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

South Portland

South Portland residents caught off guard by tree clearing ... 🏛 WMTW

Things to Do

Film Screening: A Peace of Forest 🏛 Portland Trails

Weekend Guide: February 7th – 9th, 2025 🏛 Portland Old Port

The Live Music Guide: February 5th – 11th, 2024 🏛 Portland Old Port

Special Galentines Tasting Experience 2/13/25 - Portland 🏛 Patch

Maine Things To Do | Polar Blast Weekend, Central Maine Chocolate Festival, Medway’s 150th Birthday Celebration 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Calling all horror fans! Horror authors Eric LaRocca (AT DARK I BECOME LOAT… 🏛 Bluesky - Print: A Bookstore

Utilities

Maine approves rules to restrict utilities’ lobbying, prevent costs from being passed to customers 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Vacationland

Travel Guide to Portland, Maine: Where to Stay, Eat, and Play 🏛 Vogue

Voter Suppression

GOP lawmakers target noncitizen voting, seek to eliminate ranked-choice ballots 🏛 Maine Morning Star