Morning Links - Thursday February 6, 2025

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Asylum Seekers

Amid federal immigration turmoil, Maine's Office of New Americans will focus on workforce integration 🏛 Maine Public

Business

Aldi supermarket chain signs lease in Portland at former Big Lots site 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine might get its 1st Aldi supermarket 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Businesses on Maine-Canada border voice concerns over tariff pause uncertainty - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Federal commission repeals lobster size limit rule - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Buy Local

Smiling Hill Farm experiencing bottle shortage, delivery delay - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Climate Emergency

Maine GOP forwards two proposals to end "job-killing solar tax" - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

South Portland moves forward with ban on gas-powered leaf blowers - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Community

Winter Classic raises funds for Maine veterans - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Education

Public Forum on FY26' School Budget February 4, 2025 - YouTube - Portland Public Schools, Maine

Maine law makers are frustrated with the Mills administration over low student test scores 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Environment

Maine Monitor hosts dam discussion in Bucksport 🏛 The Maine Monitor

Pingree: Imminent Purge of EPA Employees Will Undermine Protections of Human Health ＆ the Environment 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Food and Drink

New pizzeria ZA to open in former Slab space on Preble Street 🏛 Portland Press Herald

1155: Paige Gould, Co-Owner of Central Provisions, Tipo, and Finestkind - YouTube - Restaurant Unstoppable

Gambling

Owner of Oddfellahs to appeal after sports betting license revoked - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Health Care

Bill would allow Maine pharmacies to set up drug dispensing sites in rural areas 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: Lawmakers must protect health care funding 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine healthcare workers at risk as federal funds stall 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Federal funding pause disrupts Bangor health care center - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Housing

New analysis offers mixed outlook for Maine's housing market 🏛 Maine Public

Affordable housing stock expected to increase in Maine, but high costs are still straining owners, renters 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Affordability a growing concern for anyone looking to buy a home in Maine 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Examining MaineHousing's first 'Housing Outlook' report - YouTube - WMTW-TV

MaineHousing says home prices continue to rise in Maine - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Justice

Man who killed beloved Maine burrito maker found not criminally responsible 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Portland man accused of killing roommate asks for prosecutors to turn over evidence 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine struggles with public defender crisis as costs soar and backlog increases - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Labor

Unemployment rate slips in Maine metro areas 🏛 Maine Public

Updated Portland Unemployment Figures | released February 05, 2025 🏛 Reddit

LGBTQIA+

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey says he will protect access to gender-affirming care 🏛 Maine Public

Maine joins 14 other states in rejecting Trump’s attack on gender-affirming care 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Maine attorney general vows to protect access to gender-affirming care 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine attorney general dismisses Trump effort to restrict gender-affirming care 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Attorney General Aaron M. Frey and 14 Attorneys General Issue Joint Statement on Protecting Access to Gender-Affirming Care 🏛 State of Maine

Maine attorney general joins coalition to protect gender-affirming care - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Maine AG reaffirms commitment to protecting gender-affirming care access - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Photography

Snow Sculptures of Deering Street Park 🏛 Reddit

A photo distraction (given the state of the world) 🏛 Reddit

Gorham Mountain Six Months Apart 🏛 Reddit

Missing Summer 🏛 Reddit

Ya know what I mean, Vern?! 🏛 Reddit

Police

Maine Mall evacuated after 'isolated' shooting, police searching for suspect 🏛 Maine Public

Suspect in ‘isolated’ shooting at Maine Mall remains at large 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine Mall shooting: Police search for suspect, mall fully evacuated 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine mall closed amid active shooter incident, officials say 🏛 Boston Globe

Police release photos of a suspect in Maine Mall shooting 🏛 WABI

Maine Mall evacuated in South Portland 🏛 WMTW

Maine Mall evacuated as police search for shooting suspect inside - YouTube - WMTW-TV

'People were running': Witnesses describe aftermath of Maine Mall ... 🏛 WMTW

Video shows police inside Maine Mall after shooting - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Inside look at Maine Mall after shooting - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Shopper says she and others sheltered in place at Maine Mall after shooting - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Ulta employee describes what he saw after shooting at Maine Mall - YouTube - WMTW-TV

One person hospitalized in Maine Mall shooting, police search for ... 🏛 WGME

Shooting incident inside Maine Mall - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Police respond to 'active incident' at Maine Mall in South Portland ... 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

'Do not approach': Maine Mall shooting suspect search continues 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

BREAKING NEWS: Police respond to 'active situation' at Maine Mall - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Maine Mall evacuated as police respond to 'active situation'; people asked to avoid area - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Police searching for shooting suspect in Maine Mall incident - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

'Really scared': Witnesses describe hearing gunshots during incident at Maine Mall - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Heavy law enforcement presence at Maine Mall as police investigate shooting incident - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Police: 1 person brought to hospital in Maine Mall shooting incident - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Police continue search for suspect in Maine Mall shooting incident - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Police believe shooting at Maine Mall is an 'isolated incident' - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

People begin to exit Maine Mall after building closes during shooting investigation - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Exchange student describes moments inside Maine Mall during shooting incident - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Search for Maine Mall shooting suspect continues - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

'Do not approach': Shooting suspect believed to have left Maine Mall - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Person shot at Maine Mall, suspected shooter sought, South Portland police say 🏛 New England Cable News

PHOTOS: Police identify suspect in Maine Mall shooting - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Politics

Maine lawmaker proposes adding political affiliation as a protected class 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Maine lawmaker wants to open intraparty meetings to public 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Budget committee strips down governor’s change package in late-night votes 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Maine supplemental budget gets committee approval 🏛 WGME

Supplemental budget gets committee approval, heads for full Maine Legislature vote 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

‘Do we hit pause? Do we pull the plug?’: In Maine, questions follow federal funding freeze 🏛 Maine Beacon

Letter: Maine is doing property tax assessment all wrong 🏛 Portland Press Herald

U.S. Senate Democrats to remain on floor overnight denouncing Trump budget nominee 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Letter: Not too late to oppose Tulsi Gabbard 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Golden slams Musk: America didn't elect 'weirdo billionaire' 🏛 Maine Public

Jared Golden vowed to ‘hold Trump accountable.’ Now would be a good time to do that. 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Sen. Collins meets with other lawmakers critical of Elon Musk’s moves to cut agencies, workforce 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Senate’s top appropriator says Elon Musk has gone too far 🏛 Politico

Sen. King presses White House for answers about Elon Musk's DOGE 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Waterville protesters target Elon Musk at Tesla charging station 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Here are the Trump nominees Angus King voted for 🏛 Reddit

Douglas Rooks: The Trump-Musk axis had parallels in Maine 🏛 Portland Press Herald

‘Dump Trump’: More than 100 demonstrators gather in Augusta in national wave of protest 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Hundreds protest President Trump's agenda in Augusta during national day of action 🏛 Maine Public

Anti-Trump protesters gather near Maine State House in Augusta 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Protesters in Maine join nationwide demonstrations against Trump 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

50501 Protest In Augusta Maine Clip's of Resistance ＆ Speakers 🏛 Reddit

Crowd gathers at Maine State House to protest Trump, Musk 🏛 Spectrum News

Mainers protest Pres. Trump's first weeks in office at State House 🏛 FOX 23

Trump notion U.S. should control Gaza met with little enthusiasm in Congress 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Maine delegation rejects Trump’s plan to take over Gaza as dangerous, unserious 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Anti-Trump Rally 🏛 Reddit

Public Safety

Woman dies in Portland crash; police seek witnesses for ... 🏛 WGME

Flu cases are on the rise in Maine - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Sports

Gov. Janet Mills welcomes Portland Hearts of Pine to Maine State ... 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Maine Mariners gear up for '207 Day' with special jerseys and deals 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

State

8 Investigates: Maine DHHS says it would cost more than $250,000 to fulfill public records request - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Things to Do

Osher Youth Ensembles Spring 2025 🏛 Merrill Auditorium

Portland Shen Yun Show April 1st 7pm 🏛 Patch

Rabbit Rabbit Tickets, Sat, Mar 1, 2025 at 8:00 PM 🏛 Eventbrite

Transportation

Breeze Airways adds nonstop flights from Maine to Ohio 🏛 Portland Press Herald