Morning Links - Thursday March 20, 2025

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Arts

This Maine orchestra has 20 members. All except one play the same instrument 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Historic Portland fire inspires new musical work 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Asylum Seekers

Lewiston teen faces deportation after Border Patrol in Maine detains him 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Business

Patagonia sues Marden’s, alleging that Maine retailer knowingly sold counterfeit gear 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Patagonia files lawsuit against Marden's, claims it sold counterfeit clothing 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

City

Portland reconsidering minimum wage increase to $20 an hour over next 3 years 🏛 Maine Public

As Portland considers raising its minimum wage, residents are split on the proposal - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Portland considers raising minimum wage to $20 per hour - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Climate Emergency

Letter: Cancelling net energy billing would be irresponsible 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Cape Elizabeth

Cape Elizabeth’s proposed municipal budget packs 4.9% tax increase 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Constitutional Crisis

Trump gives Maine ultimatum: Keep trans athletes out of girls’ sports or lose federal funds 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Feds order Maine to ban trans athletes from women's sports or risk funds, prosecution 🏛 Boston.com

Maine universities can’t access USDA funding for women in STEM and maple industry 🏛 Bangor Daily News

UMaine can once again access USDA funding - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Portland teachers, parents join national protests against Trump’s cuts to education 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Walk-ins at Deering High and Rowe Elementary - YouTube - Portland Press Herald

Teachers union hosts Portland 'walk-in' to protest DOE layoffs - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Proposed Trump Social Security cuts likely to result in delays, errors and hardship 🏛 Maine Beacon

Social Security employees warn staffing cuts could lead to delays in benefit payments to Mainers - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Mainers Speak Out Against Chaotic Federal Funding and Firing Decisions 🏛 Natural Resources Council of Maine

Mainers push for in-person town halls with congressmembers - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Mainers organize town hall in Gorham, hope their concerns reach lawmakers - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

All Maine members of Congress catch heat from constituents as groups organize town halls - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Fishermen aim for sustainability but face setbacks from DOGE cuts 🏛 Boston.com

Fishermen want to go green but say DOGE cuts are preventing that 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Maine's largest nonprofit provider of HIV services shares concern over possible federal funding cuts 🏛 Maine Public

Potential cuts in HIV prevention funding; Maine provider says it could reverse decades of progress - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Proposed cuts would impact Maine center helping people with HIV, AIDS 🏛 WMTW

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard exempted from civilian hiring freeze 🏛 Maine Public

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard now exempt from hiring freeze 🏛 WGME

Maine federal workers laid off by Trump administration would go back to jobs ‘in a heartbeat’ 🏛 Bangor Daily News

CORRECTION: Eight Acadia National Park Probationary Employees Reinstated 🏛 Bar Harbor Story

DOGE cuts stall Maine seafood business trying to go green 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Opinion: Institutionalized cruelty has become America’s reality 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: Trump, Musk gutting government for tax cuts 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Education

South Portland school staff critique proposed cuts 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Scarborough committee to name two final options for school project next week 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Bar Harbor school recovers $1 million stolen in cybercrime attack 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

A plea for community support for stricter school cell phone policies 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Douglas Rooks: Maine Department of Education must lead, not make excuses 🏛 Portland Press Herald

$1500 DiPietro Scholarship Now Open 🏛 Portland Water District

Teacher Accused: A day in court. Almost. - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Food and Drink

Breakfast and lunch cafe set to open in Morrill’s Corner in Portland 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Peruvian food, nuanced drinks and stellar staff all shine at Magnus on Water 🏛 Portland Press Herald

8 Best Bakeries in Portland, Maine (Plus 4 Worth the Drive) 🏛 The Portland Logbook

Rosemont’s Know Your Farmer 🏛 Portland Food Map

Health Care

Maine bill would allow doctors to keep their names off prescription labels for abortion pill 🏛 Portland Press Herald

How MaineCare, the state's Medicaid program, ended up millions of dollars short 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Child welfare director addresses late payments to child care providers 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Housing

Lawmakers hope to support affordable housing construction without adding to budget 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Bipartisan efforts to expand property tax exemptions face pushback from Mills administration 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Maine lawmakers eye property tax relief amid tight budget outlook 🏛 Maine Public

Maine lawmakers weigh property tax relief, even as Mills signals she won’t support most efforts 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Lawmakers seek to expand Maine's homestead exemption - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Justice

Emergency bill to shore up public defender system lacks support from Maine civil rights advocates 🏛 Maine Public

'This is an emergency': Maine bill would allow public courts to hire private attorneys - YouTube - CBS 13 News

A $3M boost to Maine’s public defense spurs objections on all sides 🏛 Portland Press Herald

LGBTQIA+

Maine must continue to reject Trump demands over transgender athletes 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Maine Principals' Association says it doesn't have to comply with federal agency over Title IX - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Feds find Maine Department of Education is violating Title IX with transgender athlete rules 🏛 Bangor Daily News

U.S. Department of Education determines Maine guilty of violating Title IX 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Trump administration finds Maine Department of Education in violation of Title IX 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

In second investigation, Trump again finds Maine in violation of Title IX over transgender policy 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Federal education investigation also reprimands Maine over policy on transgender athletes 🏛 Maine Public

USDA deems University of Maine System to be in compliance with Title IX 🏛 Maine Morning Star

UMaine System found to be in compliance with Title IX by USDA - YouTube - WMTW-TV

The latest on the battle over Title IX - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Outdoors

Here’s the proposed number of Maine moose permits for each hunting zone 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Federal Updates from Maine Audubon 🏛 Maine Audubon

2025 Annual Member Summit 🏛 Portland Trails

Piping plovers arrive early in Scarborough 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Photography

Kezar Falls, Scarborough, Portland, ＆ OOB 🏛 Reddit

Police

3 in custody after threats, guns drawn outside Portland mosque 🏛 WGME

Police: 3 people showed guns, made threats outside Portland mosque 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Threats made outside Maine mosque, suspects pull guns - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Investigation Ongoing Into Handgun Display ＆ Threats in Portland by Three 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Police identify woman whose body washed ashore in Maine 🏛 Boston.com

Police identify Maine woman found dead near Portland Head Light 🏛 WMTW

Body found at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth identified 🏛 WGME

Maine man sent threatening, racist messages to contractor, AG says - YouTube - WMTW-TV

Politics

Opinion: Maine Democrats must now build a state budget without Republicans 🏛 Maine Beacon

Committee votes in favor of confirming Justice Julia Lipez to state Supreme Court 🏛 Maine Public

Maine lawmakers endorse nominees to state’s high, superior courts 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: Golden wrong on continuing resolution 🏛 Bangor Daily News

Letter: We need the old Susan Collins back 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Tomorrow in Portland!! Join National Nurses United outside Susan Collins' o… 🏛 Bluesky - Maine People's Alliance

Pingree Stressed Urgent Need to Protect Medicaid From Republican Cuts At Roundtable 🏛 Munjoy Hill News

Federal government delays $1.6 million for Waterville, delaying downtown improvement projects 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Public Safety

Casco fire officials respond to fire at Hancock Lumber 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

In-law apartment attached to garages in Sebago destroyed by fire 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Burning in parking lot 🏛 Reddit

Portland Police Department provides update on efforts to improve pedestrian safety - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Maine CDC reminds families to stay current on measles vaccines - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

Sears Island / Mack Point Wind Port

Committee rejects efforts to stymie development of Sears Island wind port 🏛 Maine Morning Star

Sports

Sea Dogs to become Maine Candlepins for one game 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Portland Sea Dogs to transform into Maine Candlepins for themed game night - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Maine Mariners seek playoff spot - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Hearts of Pine playing at Lewiston High School - YouTube - NEWS CENTER Maine

State

Maine to issue new pine tree license plate starting May 1 🏛 WCSH News Center Maine

Things to Do

Bayside Bowl Rolls Into 15th Anniversary with a Striking Celebration 🏛 Portland Old Port

WMPG/Studio 51 Battle of the Bands – April 22nd Gorham Campus 🏛 WMPG

Jazz at the Movies – Billie 🏛 WMPG

A guide to Maine’s movie theaters: What to expect at each one 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Dance Party this Saturday (March 22) 9pm - 2am 🏛 Reddit

Celebrate Bach's legacy at the Bach Birthday Bash concert in Portland - YouTube - CBS 13 News

Utilities

Maine’s public advocate seeks access to billing data from electricity suppliers 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Letter: You’re welcome, Avangrid 🏛 Portland Press Herald

Vacationland

If tourists boycott Maine, let’s Make Summer Great Again — for us 🏛 Portland Press Herald