Afternoon Links - Thursday February 20, 2025

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Arts

Setting the scene onstage when the scene involves food 🏛 Portland Press Herald

New music from Yard Sauce in the 207 studio 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Bears, Sharks, and Zombies

There's a moose on the 'loose' in Rumford 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Business

Government Oversight Committee orders conflict of interest investigation involving John Hudak 🏛 Maine Public

Lobstermen see controversial fishing gear in action for the first time 🏛 Portland Press Herald

City

Portland hires consulting firm for long-delayed Franklin Street redesign 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Firm Hired to “Reimagine Franklin Street”; Vision Launched in 2009 by Marley ＆ Miller 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Engineering company to help finalize plans for Portland street overhaul project - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

When Portland removes snow, where does it go? 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Portland firefighters ask for help keeping hydrants, streets accessible 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Climate Emergency

Design students float climate resiliency ideas for Casco Bay 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: Continued support for renewable energy is essential 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Portland Climate Action Team monthly meeting 02/25/25, 6pm @ Reiche School! 🏛 Reddit

Community

2024 Impact Report 🏛 Friends of Congress Square Park

Constitutional Crisis

Trump's Executive Orders Rolling Back DEI and ... 🏛 ACLU of Maine

What is an Executive Order and How Does it Work? 🏛 ACLU of Maine

Majority of Mainers disapprove of Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’ role 🏛 Bangor Daily News

For Democracy, Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast 🏛 Dear Mainer

‘You would see lawsuits: Susan Collins fires new warning shot at Trump on spending - Live Updates 🏛 Politico

Opinion: How long does it take for Susan Collins to take action? 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Urges USDA to Expedite Release of Critical Farm Funding 🏛 State of Maine

Nobody knows how many of Maine’s federal workers were fired by Donald Trump 🏛 Bangor Daily News

8 staff laid off from Acadia National Park 🏛 Maine Public

Hiring freeze for seasonal employees at Acadia National Park is on hold - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Acadia National Park, SAMHSA employees fired as Trump administration slashes federal workforce 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Pingree asks Trump administration to further protect National Park workers amid hiring freeze 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Opinion: NIH cuts will paralyze Maine’s biomedical research 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Douglas Rooks: Trump puts rule of law to the test 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine bill to address racist place names withdrawn because of Trump executive order 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Coastal Maine farm feels impact of Trump’s federal funding freeze 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

What a Department of Education shutdown could mean for local programs and funding 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Letter: Behold Trump’s definition of greatness 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: Only we can save America 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Letter: Musk’s group is not acronym-worthy 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Education

Data Breach: Your Trust Might Be the Biggest Loss 🏛 The SMCC Beacon

A Maine university launches environmental engineering ... 🏛 Mainebiz

Letter: Sounding the alarm on early childhood teachers 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Environment

South Portland city officials investigate tree cutting near Portland Jetport 🏛 Maine Public

Another Maine town may block a rocket company from coming in 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Food and Drink

The Dish on Maine Restaurant Week 2025: Participating Restaurants and Events 🏛 Portland Old Port

Maine Restaurant Week: Organizers prepare for start of annual event - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Coming Soon: Taj Indian Cuisine Set to Open Location in Portland 🏛 Portland Old Port

Low Stakes Lodge delivers high flavor 🏛 Portland Press Herald

History

Black History in Maine - YouTube - Maine Public

Maine's vegetarian history goes back nearly 200 years - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

A reminder of what they took from us... 🏛 Reddit

Insurrection

I defended the US Capitol on Jan. 6. Patel’s whitewashing of that day disqualifies him from heading the FBI. 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Labor

MaineDOT workers say they are being reassigned after standing up to workplace harassment - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Lewiston Mass Shooting

The other Cards: the guilt and grief of loving a mass shooter 🏛 Maine Public

LGBTQIA+

Maine lawmaker takes heat for posting photos of student athlete she identifies as transgender 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Unfortunately, trans kids in Maine are under attack by some of our state's… 🏛 Bluesky - Maine People's Alliance

Outdoors

Scarborough is considering raising non-resident beach fees as demand grows 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

State plan could mean better trails, boat ramps and help for outdoors businesses 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Photography

Photo Essay/Profile of Willard Beach 🏛 The SMCC Beacon

Gotta love UPP 🙄 🏛 Reddit

Portland Harbor with some nice sea smoke from last week’s surprise! 🏛 Reddit

This Morning over in Brunswick. 🏛 Reddit

A taste of sea smoke at sunrise in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. 🏛 Reddit

Politics

Trump gets near-universal approval from Maine Republicans, poll finds 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Opinion: Everything is about income inequality 🏛 Maine Beacon

Letter: Bowdoin student protest was an act of courage 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Public Safety

Weekly influenza cases nearly double in Maine over last 3 weeks 🏛 Portland Press Herald

What you should know now that avian influenza has been found in Maine 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Things to Do

Sessa 🏛 SPACE

Crystal Canyon, Midwestern Medicine, Teenage Tom Petties, Ladybrain 🏛 SPACE

Murder By Death - Portland 🏛 State Theatre

Come As You Are: A Community Resistance Event 🏛 SPACE

We have partnered with Portland Ovations to bring families a Drag Story Hou… 🏛 Bluesky - Print: A Bookstore

Warm up on the dance floor at the second annual 21+ Rainbow Gala ＆ Danc… 🏛 Bluesky - OUT Maine

Thursday, February 20th *underlining represents Maine based musicians 🏛 Bluesky - Portland Noise

Live Music in Portland This Week: Who’s Playing ＆ Where to Go! 🏛 Reddit

Sat 3/22 at Blue: punk ＆ metal 🏛 Reddit

Disney Lorcana at Weekend Anime 🏛 Reddit

Back Cove Music ＆ Arts Festival 🏛 Reddit

Unhoused

Portland family shelter slated to close due to FEMA funding issue 🏛 WMTW

Voter Suppression

Voter ID initiative headed to Legislature for consideration 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Voter ID referendum qualifies for Maine ballot 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Voter ID campaign qualifies for Maine's fall ballot 🏛 Maine Public

Referendum to require voter ID and tighten absentee voting rules qualifies for November ballot 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine residents to vote on proposal to require voter identification at polls 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine