Morning Links - Thursday March 13, 2025

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Arts

Envision Resilience 🏛 SPACE

Asylum Seekers

Border Patrol arrests two immigrants who were in the US illegally in Falmouth - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Inside look at Border Patrol agents' work in northern Maine - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Border Patrol offers $20,000 bonus to new Maine hires 🏛 The County

City

Pachios on the News - Mark Dion - March 12 2025 - YouTube - Portland Media Center

Portland reports significant success in needle buyback program 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Portland Planning Board tables controversial North Deering condo development 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Climate Emergency

Greater Freeport community gathers for climate change forum - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Constitutional Crisis

USDA ending local purchasing programs for Maine food banks and schools 🏛 Maine Public

USDA cuts programs that supply local food to schools, food banks 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine education advocates are concerned about Federal Department of Education layoffs 🏛 Maine Public

Maine organizations brace for impact of US Department of Education cuts - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Here's how US Department of Education cuts could impact the state of Maine - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

As federal cuts loom, Maine women veterans seek more state support 🏛 Maine Beacon

How Maine DOL is helping laid off federal workers navigate unemployment 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Key position at Maine VA hospital is spared, but agency still plans massive cuts 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Sen. King fears more cuts could include vital employees at Department of Veterans Affairs - YouTube - CBS 13 News

I saw how USAID protects American lives 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Opinion: Consumer protections should take priority over billionaires’ profits. Duh. 🏛 Maine Beacon

Douglas Rooks: Firings and contract-shredding will never produce efficiency 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: Trump, Musk should propose spending cuts to Congress 🏛 Bangor Daily News

New Brunswick premier says cutting off energy to Maine would be ‘absolute last resort’ 🏛 Bangor Daily News

COVID-19

5 years ago, COVID-19 caught up to Maine 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Education

Revving Up Parking Enforcement at USM 🏛 University of Southern Maine

Environment

‘Not good public policy’: Bill would roll back some provisions of 2021 transmission line referendum 🏛 Maine Morning Star

State lawmakers again consider authorizing northern Maine transmission line 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Steuben voters approve ordinance prohibiting commercial rocket launches, space manufacturing 🏛 Maine Public

Food and Drink

Vena’s Going Out of Business 🏛 Portland Food Map

After 12 years, Vena’s Fizz House to close 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Maine Syrup Producers Are Branching Out 🏛 Down East

Guns

Judge denies AG’s request to reinstate Maine’s 72-hour law on gun purchases pending appeal 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Judge denies AG's request to resume Maine's 72-hour gun purchase waiting period - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Health Care

Maine health care providers warn of service cuts due to budget stalemate 🏛 Bangor Daily News

The human and environmental costs at stake in Maine’s Medicaid funding battle 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Senate Republicans call for MaineCare reforms after blocking budget deal 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Long-term care insurance premiums could see sharp increases in Maine 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Housing

How remote work trends have impacted Portland's office spaces - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Lawmakers re-up push for short-term rental taxes to fund housing, education 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Navigating Maine’s housing market - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Justice

8 Investigates: What will happen when Maine starts releasing defendants waiting for lawyers? Ask ... - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Court finds Maine has violated 6th Amendment - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Labor

Muslim holy days should be state holidays, Lewiston lawmaker says 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Think Maine therapists and Realtors are all raking it in? Not exactly 🏛 Portland Press Herald

LGBTQIA+

Susan Collins announces reinstatement of University of Maine System's paused USDA funding 🏛 Maine Public

Donald Trump’s USDA reverses freeze on fundingto Maine’s public universities 🏛 Bangor Daily News

USDA reverses decision to pause funding to UMaine System 🏛 Portland Press Herald

USDA funding restored to the University of Maine after freeze - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

After pause, USDA funding to University of Maine restored 🏛 WMTW

Maine agriculture at risk with USDA grant pause, say farmers 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

How farmers could be affected by UMaine’s frozen USDA funding 🏛 The County

USDA suspends Maine university funding after Trump row over transgender athletes 🏛 NBC News

Letter: Trans athletes are being used as a distraction from larger issues 🏛 Bangor Daily News

All of Maine’s federal judges recuse themselves from Laurel Libby’s lawsuit 🏛 Bangor Daily News

All 6 of Maine’s federal judges recuse themselves from Rep. Laurel Libby’s lawsuit against House speaker 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Why Maine’s federal judges recused themselves from a Republican’s lawsuit 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby on lawsuit filed against Maine House Speaker - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Nazis

Lawmakers consider repealing Maine’s new ban on paramilitary training 🏛 Piscataquis Observer

Outdoors

What time is tonight's lunar eclipse? 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Maine Legislature weighs constitutional right to hunt and fish 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Police

Jennifer Mooney: A smarter approach to crisis response: Why Maine needs LD 298 🏛 Sun Journal

Cumberland police arrest man in connection with fraud scheme 🏛 Maine Public

Mainer scammed out of $100K in scheme involving gold bars 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Politics

Maine Senate Republicans backtrack on budget deal, jeopardizing health care and forestry 🏛 Maine Center for Economic Policy

Maine lawmakers need to enact supplemental budget without delay 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Negotiations sputter ahead of final Senate vote on supplemental budget 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Governor Mills Statement on Supplemental Budget 🏛 State of Maine

Maine U.S. Reps. Pingree, Golden divided over stopgap funding bill 🏛 Maine Public

Millions in Local Earmarks at Risk 🏛 Bar Harbor Story

Letter: Where am I supposed to get my eggs? 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Susan Collins town hall upcoming 🏛 Reddit

We cannot let Ukraine fend for itself 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Public Safety

Fire marshal investigating fatal fires in Old Orchard Beach, Harpswell 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Body found in burned Harpswell home; investigation continues 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

State investigating fatal fire on Bailey Island 🏛 Harpswell Anchor

Old Orchard Beach man found dead in his home after reported cardiac event, fire 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Old Orchard Beach Fire Under Investigation 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Vehicle crashes into building on Forest Ave. in Portland 🏛 WGME

Fuel truck rolls over on I-295 in Brunswick, spilling diesel 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Fuel truck rolls over on I-295 in Maine, leaking 2,400 gallons of diesel fuel 🏛 Boston.com

Opinion: Maine’s proposed cigarette tax hike has hidden costs 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Sears Island / Mack Point Wind Port

Bills revive debate over Sears Island port plan 🏛 Maine Public

New legislation would stop all development on Sears Island 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Social Safety Net

Maine has already used about 70 percent of its home energy assistance funds - YouTube - CBS 13 News

State

DATA: Prices in Maine increasing faster than the national average 🏛 Maine Public

Things to Do

🍀 St. Patrick’s Day in Portland, ME – What’s Happening? 🍀 🏛 Reddit

Paint Me a Road Out of Here 🏛 SPACE

Sabbath Queen 🏛 SPACE

Champions of Magic to dazzle Portland with thrilling illusions at Merrill Auditorium 🏛 WGME

Champions of Magic to dazzle Portland with thrilling illusions at Merrill Auditorium - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Unhoused

Bangor sweeps houseless encampment “Camp Hope” 🏛 Reddit