Morning Links - Wednesday March 12, 2025

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Asylum Seekers

ILAP Community Update: March 7 🏛 Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project

Business

Maine bill would ban advertisements for cannabis - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Buy Local

Maine food co-ops wrestle with high prices, see increasing customer demand 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

City

City of Portland, Maine: Forest Avenue Redesign Project 🏛 City of Portland

Forest Avenue Redesign Executive Summary (February 2025) 🏛 City of Portland

Opinion: Portland must stop predictable, preventable pedestrian deaths 🏛 Bicycle Coalition of Maine

Constitutional Crisis

How Trump Is Pressuring Maine to Comply With Transgender Sports Order 🏛 ProPublica

Citing current political discourse, Maine Medical Association reaffirms support for science 🏛 Maine Public

USDA freezes federal funding to University of Maine System 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Amid federal probe, USDA halts millions in funding for Maine university system grants, research 🏛 Maine Morning Star

USDA pauses nearly $30 million in funding to University of Maine System amid Title IX review 🏛 Maine Public

How farmers could be affected by UMaine’s frozen USDA funding 🏛 Bangor Daily News

USDA halts millions in funding for University of Maine System 🏛 Portland Press Herald

USDA temporarily halts funding to the University of Maine System 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

UMaine's funding from USDA paused amid Title IX compliance review - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Governor's office responds to pause on UMaine's funding from USDA - YouTube - WMTW-TV

US agency that monitors weather will cut another 1,000 jobs, AP sources say 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Forecast for National Weather Service in Maine still cloudy 🏛 Portland Press Herald

A single day of Trump and Musk’s cost-cutting campaign remakes huge sections of government 🏛 Bangor Daily News

As Trump attacks campus free speech, ACLU of Maine steps up to back UMaine system 🏛 Maine Beacon

Opinion: Susan Collins should have protected the CFPB 🏛 Portland Press Herald

6 civilian employees laid off at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Trump’s trade war draws swift retaliation with new tariffs from Mexico, Canada and China 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Tariffs — An Explainer 🏛 Maine Center for Economic Policy

Letter: Trump must be stopped now 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Letter: Our single issue must be democracy 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: Travelers should keep an open mind 🏛 Portland Press Herald

COVID-19

Five years after Maine’s first case, where does COVID-19 now stand? 🏛 Portland Press Herald

It's been 5 years since WHO declared global COVID-19 pandemic: Mainers still experiencing impacts - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Education

Chancellor: Condition of University of Maine System campuses in crisis - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Opinion: It’s time to free Maine’s schoolkids from their screens 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine bill seeks to improve college access for students with disabilities 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Food and Drink

Maine Craft Distilling Closing on Washington Ave 🏛 Portland Food Map

Duarte at Speckled Ax 🏛 Portland Food Map

Barkada Food Truck and Restaurant 🏛 Portland Food Map

Portland Wine Week on hold for 2025, organizers say 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine chef competes on 'Top Chef' season 22 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Maine chef competes on hit series 'Top Chef' - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Health Care

Compromise spending bill to avoid curtailed MaineCare payments stalls again after Senate Republicans pull support 🏛 Maine Public

Bipartisan compromise over Medicaid funding shortfall falls apart 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Another Medicaid bailout fails on opposition from Maine Senate Republicans 🏛 Bangor Daily News

MaineCare holds and caps will have negative effects on providers and families, putting lives at risk 🏛 Daily Bulldog

Family physicians: Cutting Medicaid will harm health and economy of Maine 🏛 Bangor Daily News

MaineCare recipients fear for future as budget deal remains uncertain - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Maine AG announces settlement with insulin manufacturer 🏛 Maine Public

Attorney General Aaron M. Frey Announces Settlement Agreement Will Bring $35 Insulin to Mainers 🏛 State of Maine

Maine reaches settlement to lower insulin costs for some patients - YouTube - WMTW-TV

This Saturday! From gender affirming care to abortion access healthcare is under attack, even here in Maine. 🏛 Reddit

Labor

Letter: Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program benefits everyone 🏛 Portland Press Herald

LGBTQIA+

Letter: We need to support our transgender athletes 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine legislator sues for being censured over post about trans student athlete 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Maine Rep. Laurel Libby sues over censure by House Democrats 🏛 Maine Public

Censured Maine lawmaker sues House speaker to get her vote back 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Laurel Libby sues Maine House speaker after being censured over social media post 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine House Speaker sued by state representative over censure vote 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

State lawmaker sues Maine House speaker over censure - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Censured Maine lawmaker who posted photo of trans student sues House Speaker - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Maine Republican who posted photos of trans student sues state House speaker over censure 🏛 The Hill

Outodors

Total lunar eclipse will turn moon red later this week - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Photography

Portland Co. Complex, 3/10/25 🏛 Reddit

Cundy's Harbor, 3/5/25 - Mamiya C330/Kentmere 400 🏛 Reddit

Acadia National Park 🏛 Reddit

Recently in Bath… 🏛 Reddit

Bald Eagle circling Highland Lake 🏛 Reddit

Police

Portland Code Enforcement officer arrested, placed on leave - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Portland code enforcement officer put on leave amid criminal charges - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Border Patrol offers signing bonuses to new employees in Maine - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Politics

Republicans in Maine Senate balk at budget compromise 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine supplemental budget flounders in the Senate after House passes plan 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Letter: Maine congressional delegation must hear our concerns 🏛 Bangor Daily News

House Republicans unveil bill to avoid shutdown and they’re daring Democrats to oppose it 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Jared Golden is lone Democrat to support Republican bill to avert shutdown 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Rep. Golden is only Democrat to vote with Republicans as House passes temporary funding bill 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Congress may cut hundreds of millionsin earmarks for Maine in averting shutdown 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Congresswoman Pingree: Republicans Full Year Continuing Resolution Not a Responsible Way to Govern 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Sen. Collins defends cabinet votes as Mainers seek transparency 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Why Susan Collins should become an independent 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Public Safety

Portland’s Syringe Redemption Pilot Program Shows Progress 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Car crashed into building on Forest Ave 🏛 Reddit

Sears Island / Mack Point Wind Port

Maine lawmakers will once again consider whether to develop wind port on Sears Island 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Things to Do

The Live Music Guide: March 12th – 18th, 2025 🏛 Portland Old Port

St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Guide: March 14th- March 16th, 2025 🏛 Portland Old Port

Maine Things To Do: International Ice Carousel Attempt, Mess-Free Painting, Corned Beef Supper 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Cool Things Happening in Portland This Week (March 11-17) 🏛 Reddit

Unhoused

Compassion Starts Here: An Event to Inspire Action 🏛 Preble Street

Utilities

Regulators approve 23 percent distribution rate hike for Versant Power customers 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Regulators approve Versant rate hike 🏛 Maine Public