Landfill sludge / Tribes sports betting / Cruise ship season

Today is Friday. Temperatures will be in the mid-20s to low 50s from north to south, with a chance for a wintry mix throughout the state. Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.

The latest on the coronavirus in Maine

Twenty-five more Mainers have died and another 3,784 coronavirus cases reported across the state, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. That brings the statewide death toll to 1,883. Check out our tracker for more information.

Catholic elementary and high schools across the state are planning to lift mask requirements for students on March 7.

UMaine hockey winger Emil Westerlund said Thursday he left the team because the school is requiring its student-athletes to get the COVID-19 booster, in addition to the mandated two vaccination shots, to travel out of state.

Maine GOP lawmaker calls Justin Trudeau a ‘dictator’ for trucker blockade response

Rep. Sherman Hutchins, R-Penobscot, said that Justin Trudeau’s response to the trucker protest have “destroyed” protesters’ rights.

3 big obstacles lie ahead for Janet Mills’ plan to hand sports betting to tribes

Established gaming interests have historically worked against tribes on the issue. They could prove to be the largest obstacle here as well.

Old Town landfill wants more oversized trash for PFAS-laced sludge

Casella Waste Systems combines the large waste items with the sludge to give it structure and ultimately preserve the landfill’s infrastructure.

Bar Harbor won’t try to stop cruise ships from coming this year

There are more than 150 visits scheduled for 2022, and the Town Council has decided it lacks the legal authority to force cruise companies to cancel reservations.

Rockland is cracking down on code violations in rentals

Rockland fire and code officials said their good will hasn’t been enough to get property owners to correct the health and life safety issues.

From high-end drinks to Sonoran hot dogs, here’s 5 new eateries coming to Greater Portland

Portland’s restaurateurs are a hearty lot and hope seems to spring eternal in their kitchens.

Supply chain issues and staffing woes aren’t stopping Mainers from buying their boats

At the onset of the pandemic, Randy Young thought demand for new boats would trail off. He was wrong.

Maine expected to mirror US spending bump during January omicron ease

The economy has grown more resilient to the rapid changes of COVID-19 even as shoppers in Maine anticipate price rises linked to inflation.

Here’s our exhaustive list of predictions for Maine’s North regional basketball finals

Here are our BDN sports reporters’ full predictions for this year’s North regional tournaments.

PLUS: As the 2022 Maine high school basketball tournament kicks into high gear Friday, face masks will be required of those attending the games in Bangor, Augusta and Portland.

ALSO: Here’s how to watch every Maine high school basketball tournament game

Head coach Richard Barron leaves UMaine men’s basketball team

The University of Maine and men’s basketball head coach Richard Barron have mutually agreed to part ways.

In other Maine news …

UMaine and UNH renew their hockey rivalry this weekend

Trash group tries to wrest control of shuttered Hampden plant from out-of-state financiers

Houlton man arrested following alleged stabbing

4 outrageous things an anonymous Portland real estate agent told a NY magazine

Millinocket’s Dollar Tree store is closing this spring

Maine regulators lift historic poor-performance penalty on CMP

90,000 CMP, Versant customers will get $90 electricity credit

Standish man dies in rollover crash

Island Falls man to serve 9 years for burning down ex-girlfriend’s home in 2019