Morning Links - Thursday February 13, 2025

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Asylum Seekers

Governor Mills appoints PhD student first director of Maine Office of New Americans 🏛 University of Southern Maine

Business

Tesla files building permits for Portland dealership 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Buy Local

Record Stores in Portland? 🏛 Reddit

Constitutional Crisis

Zoom In/Zoom Out: Big Tech's MAGA Takeover, Taxes and Deficits 🏛 Dear Mainer

Letter: Golden seems too willing to work with Trump, Musk 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Susan Collins decries DOGE-imposed funding caps that could impact Maine biomedical research 🏛 Bangor Daily News

USM grad testifies at hyperpartisan congressional hearing on government efficiency 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Indian Health Service Programs Are Exempt from Trump's ... 🏛 Native News Online

World Affairs Council of Maine - Great Decisions 2025 - William Cohen - YouTube - Portland Media Center

Letter: Members of Congress failing their constitutional oath 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Letter: USAID overhaul paints a disturbing picture 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Education

Career and Technical Education enrollment in Maine increases more than 20% over 6 years 🏛 Maine Public

Proposed bill could help students with intellectual disabilities go to college 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Recent reports show a decline in literacy scores for Maine students 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Environment

Biosolids plant raises concerns in post-PFAS spill Brunswick 🏛 Maine Public

Penobscot Nation to alter 3 midcoast dams to make them fish-friendly 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine train derailment that spilled 500 gallons of fuel caused by beaver dam, officials say 🏛 Piscataquis Observer

Food and Drink

Portland market Fresh Approach at risk of closing after SNAP benefits sting 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Crafted Conversations Series 🏛 Portland Food Map

1157: Damian Sansonetti, Chef/Owner of Chaval and Ugly Duckling - YouTube - Restaurant Unstoppable

Sissle and Daughters Cafe Closing 🏛 Portland Food Map

10 Essential Bars in Portland, Maine 🏛 Wine Enthusiast

Best Sandwich in Portland? 🏛 Reddit

Portland's Another Round offers unique experience with over 150 board games - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Health Care

Stopgap bill to address Maine Medicaid shortfall stalls as Republicans withhold support 🏛 Maine Public

Congressional Republican plan threatens health insurance affordability for Mainers 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Hospitals warn of financial challenges without emergency MaineCare funding 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Insurance Superintendent Warns Mainers About "Self-Funded" Health Plans Offered to Individuals 🏛 State of Maine

Maine Bureau of Insurance Approves 2025 Health Insurance Rates for Individuals and Small Groups 🏛 State of Maine

Bureau of Insurance Recovers Over $5 Million on Behalf of Mainers in 2024 🏛 State of Maine

Housing

Yarmouth village condo project is moving forward 🏛 Mainebiz

Maine housing leaders and developers say modular units can help housing crisis 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Justice

Douglas Rooks: More money is not the answer for Maine’s indigent defense cases 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Labor

Maine labor unions oppose 'right to work' bill - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Photography

Big bird! 🏛 Reddit

Police

Portland apartment tied to several arrests over drug trafficking 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Alleged drug trafficking operation dismantled in Portland apartment raid, 7 arrests 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Police, agents bust suspected Portland drug operation - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Seven Arrested at 658 Congress Street, Portland and Jailed 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Maine State Police K9 killed in the line of duty honored in funeral service 🏛 Maine Public

Maine State Police lay to rest K9 Preacher, killed in line of duty 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Hundreds gather to honor Maine State Police dog killed in action 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Politics

Maine lawmakers clash over support for supplemental budget 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Maine GOP, Dems blame other side for failure to reach budget agreement - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Members of Maine legislative watchdog push for access to confidential information 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Recreational cannabis brought in millions last year. Maine towns could finally get a cut. 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Bipartisan lawmakers want to prohibit Maine troops from foreign deployment absent act of Congress 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Opinion: Rep. Golden’s tariff plan can rebuild America 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Susan Collins votes to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as intelligence director 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Letter: Susan Collins’ voting game has become clear 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Senator Collins Votes the Low Road to Defeat in 2026 Senate Race 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Angus King blasts RFK Jr. as a ‘danger’in floor speech 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Sen. Angus King among senators voicing opposition to RFK Jr.'s health secretary nomination - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Sen. Angus King urges colleagues to not confirm RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Collins and King split votes as Senate confirms Gabbard to be director of national intelligence 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Kennedy and Oz nominations undermine trust in our public health system 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Public Safety

Avian Flu in Maine 🏛 Maine Audubon

Increased tobacco tax will improve the health of Mainers 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Letter: Support Maine’s tobacco cessation efforts 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Sports

Hearts of Pine release Valentines Bandit inspired away kit 🏛 Reddit

Things to Do

Sweet! Maple Season, Annual Event On Tap 🏛 Real Maine

Valentine’s Day on Main Street Maine! 🏛 Main Street Maine

Share the Love at Maine Roller Derby’s February Bout 🏛 Maine Roller Derby

Ms. Ezra Furman - State Theatre, Portland Maine 🏛 State Theatre

PCM Spring Benefit 🏛 Merrill Auditorium

St. Patrick's Day Weekend with Bailey's Mistake 🏛 Mayo Street Arts

Michael Kebede ＆ Tom Kovacevic with the Stomp Street ... 🏛 Mayo Street Arts

Maine Mariners vs. Reading Royals 🏛 Cross Insurance Arena (Cumberland County Civic Center)

Hura Collective's ERBEN: HAIR – Mayo Street Arts 🏛 Mayo Street Arts

Haus of 1000 Sarahs – Mayo Street Arts 🏛 Mayo Street Arts

We are thrilled to welcome Christine Murphy here for the launch of NOTES ON… 🏛 Bluesky - Print: A Bookstore

March 3 - Portland Contra Dance 🏛 Reddit

Utilities

Peaks, other Casco Bay islands are without water after main break 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Boil water notice issued for Casco Bay islands 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Handful of Casco Bay islands under boil water order due to broken main - YouTube - WMTW-TV