Morning Links - Wednesday February 26, 2025

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Asylum Seekers

Facing budget shortfall, Maine lawmakers weigh SNAP cuts for certain immigrants 🏛 Maine Public

Business

Bankrupt Joann Fabric to Close All Maine Locations 🏛 WCYY

Buy Local

Sweet Road Trip: Discover the Best Chocolate in Maine 🏛 Only in Your State

End of an era: Southern Maine Indoor Flea Market to close - YouTube - WMTW-TV

City

PPL Joins Dirigo Libraries, Temporarily Takes Catalog Offline for Upgrades 🏛 The West End News

Community

'Battle of the Neighborhoods' benefits South Portland Food Cupboard - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Constitutional Crisis

reuters.com 🏛 Reuters

Despite Trump’s threats, withholding federal funds from schools easier said than done 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Maine’s federal workforce roiled by Trump administration policies 🏛 Portland Press Herald

VA fires several employees at its Maine headquarters 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Letter: Why does Sen. Collins support Musk? 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: Americans deserve better than Trump’s cruelty 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Federal grant applications for Maine domestic violence resource centers on hold 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Sen. Angus King questions Deputy Secretary of Defense nominee Stephen Feinberg over looming firings - YouTube - Bangor Daily News

Letter to the Editor: President Trump has gone too far 🏛 Daily Bulldog

Anyone organizing a counter-protest for this Saturday? 🏛 Reddit

Is anyone going to counter protest? I like Mills and what she’s doing. Mills is standing up to tyranny, while some people take the anti-trans bait and look the other way. 🏛 Reddit

Education

Maine K-12 students spend almost 1.5 years less in class than in other states 🏛 Maine Public

South Portland will give voters a choice: Natural grass, synthetic turf or neither 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Environment

PFAS: Public hearings planned for bills on use of toxic firefighting foam - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Food and Drink

Where to Celebrate National Clam Chowder Day 🏛 Portland Old Port

Maine maple syrup: Tree tappin' season has arrived 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Health Care

Setting stage for delayed MaineCare payments, House strips emergency status from supplemental 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Child advocates fight cuts to childcare, Head Start in state budget 🏛 Maine Beacon

Medicare should cover anti-obesity medication 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Justice

Maine’s top judge questions why Janet Mills hasn’t filled open judicial seat 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine’s chief justice says courts are overwhelmed and underfunded 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine owes it to citizens to properly resource judicial branch, chief justice says 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Maine's chief justice says more must be done to address the state's backlog in the courts 🏛 Maine Public

Prosecutors say it’s not just public defense agencies that are struggling to hire over low pay 🏛 Portland Press Herald

High court upholds conviction of man who killed girlfriend at Acadia National Park 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Labor

Contract talks stall between Portland Water District and Teamsters union 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Lewiston Mass Shooting

Lewiston Commission weighed recommendations, but final report focused on facts ＆ findings - YouTube - CBS 13 News

LGBTQIA+

Support grows for Maine student-athlete at center of transgender debate 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine lawmaker censured for posting photos of student she identified as transgender 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine House censures Republican for posts on student that drew Donald Trump’s eye 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine House censures Republican lawmaker after post about transgender student - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Maine House censures lawmaker after post about transgender student athlete - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Maine House censures lawmaker for post about transgender student 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Former lawmakers: 'Inappropriate' for Maine state rep to share photos of transgender student-athlete - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Speaker calls out post against transgender athletes 🏛 Spectrum News

Protesters rally after Gov. Mills clashes with Trump over transgender athletes - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Organizations Unite to Condemn Harassment of Maine Youth 🏛 Equality Maine

Opinion: My thank-you note to Gov. Mills was not enough. More than 600 Mainers agreed. 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Pennsylvania changes policy to follow Trump order on transgender athletes in high school sports 🏛 Bangor Daily News

I’m sad and scared about attacks on LGBTQ+ rights under Trump 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Drag queens help break barriers at state ice fishing event 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Outdoors

Proposed fishing license bill is not the one we signed onto 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Politics

Maine Democrats begin pushing short-term budget through along party lines 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Legislature remains deadlocked on $121 million supplemental budget 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Lawmakers remain deadlocked over bill to close state budget gap 🏛 Maine Public

Budget battle could have devastating implications for thousands of Maine families - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Democrat Sean Faircloth wins special election for Maine House District 24 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Sean Faircloth wins Maine House District 24 in special election 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Democrat Sean Faircloth easily wins Bangor-area legislative seat in special election 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Free Speech for People Files Amicus Brief in Defense of Maine's Ballot Initiative to End Super PACs | Common Dreams 🏛 Common Dreams

Zoom In/Zoom Out: GOP's plan to cut health care to fund tax cuts for the rich, trans athletes and Title IX 🏛 Dear Mainer

First Democratic challenger to Sen. Susan Collins emerges 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: A question for Maine’s congressional delegation 🏛 Portland Press Herald

State

Maine Public launches project in collaboration with USM to track statewide grocery prices 🏛 Maine Public

Things to Do

The Live Music Guide: February 26th – March 4th, 2024 🏛 Portland Old Port

Weekend Guide: February 28th – March 2nd, 2025 🏛 Portland Old Port

Maine Things To Do: Dodge ＆ Donate Dodgeball Tournament, Moosehead Lake Ice Fishing Derby, Belt Sander Racing 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Dalton ＆ the Sheriffs LIVE STREAM 🏛 One Longfellow Square

Pine State Pitches 🏛 One Longfellow Square

15+ Kid-Friendly Places and Activities in Portland, Maine 🏛 Portland Old Port

Portland Events That Need a Little Extra Love This Week 🏛 Reddit

Transportation

Portland Jetport’s parking expansion plan lands in court 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Tribal Sovereignty

Senators call for ICE to respect tribal sovereignty amid immigration enforcement 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Utilities

Maine water utility leaders anticipate challenges in infrastructure - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine