Storm devastation / Maine’s child welfare system / Bangor’s traffic lights

Storm devastation / Maine’s child welfare system / Bangor’s traffic lights

Today is Monday. Temperatures will be in the low 20s to low 30s from north to south, with mostly sunny skies across the state and a chance for isolated snow showers up north. See what the weather for the rest of the day will be here.

Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.

Twin flooding storms bring ‘absolute carnage’ to coastal Maine

A day after Saturday’s storm, coastal communities were beginning to assess the damage, but the toll looked high along the southern coast.

PLUS: These photos show the extent of the devastation from last week’s coastal storms.

What Maine can learn from this state about protecting kids

The changes in Washington have not solved all problems, but some metrics suggest they’ve helped.

Susan Collins questions why Army did not trigger yellow-flag law for Robert Card

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is planning to propose legislation directing the military trigger yellow- or red-flag laws.

‘Workforce housing’ is a new buzzword in Maine. But the definition can differ.

Some say “workforce housing” clouds an overall need for more affordable housing in Maine.

Bangor drivers spend a lot of time at red lights. The city’s trying to fix that.

Bangor is installing the advanced traffic signal technology, called Centracs, in some of the city’s busiest intersections.

Bangor’s finding a way to fight the deadly opioid epidemic

The dip in drug overdoses is an encouraging trend.

UMaine’s new 95-room hotel already has hundreds of reservations

Hotel Ursa includes two historic buildings on campus that sat mostly unoccupied for more than a decade.

Animal seizures stretch Presque Isle shelter beyond limits

The humane society’s Presque Isle shelter usually holds 10 dogs and 25 cats, but the week’s influx has workers using every corner of the building.

Bill to switch ownership of historic Loring hangar puts museum at odds with economic group

The battle for who gets the hangar will play out in Augusta beginning Tuesday.

This is the most competitive division in Maine high school basketball

No other division among the 10 boys’ and 10 girls’ classes across the state has five teams with one or fewer losses.

Maine’s snowmobile trails are better, although clubs still making repairs

Now that some areas have snow and trails are beginning to open, snowmobilers are being cautioned that there could be downed trees across trails or stumps and rocks just under the snow’s surface.

In other Maine news …

Angus King calls for climate action after Wednesday storm

Maine gets $15 million federal grant to install more than 500 EV chargers

Feds cracking down on funny highway sign messages

Maine’s logging industry lost $2.5M because of December wind storm

Employees plan to keep 2 Aroostook restaurants open in honor of late owner

Aroostook County basket maker is keeping Mi’kmaq art alive

Donations flood in for storm-ravaged Castine boatyard

Deaths of 2 women found in Farmington kennel ruled homicides

Storm breaks Portland high tide record set in 1978

Fishing vessel runs aground in Cape Elizabeth, crew rescued amid storm

Firefighters navigate almost waist-deep storm surge to battle Scarborough fire

Higgins Beach residents reel from historic storm damage in Scarborough

Sanford man gets 2 years probation for his role in Capitol riot

Morin’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer rallies Lewiston girls past Bangor

Bangor Christian boys’ basketball improves to 9-2

UConn hockey snaps UMaine’s 9-game unbeaten streak