Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Quote of the Day

“If they ultimately refuse to fine the landlord for what they have already found to be violation, the beat will go on for landlords to continue violating the law until caught.”

— Ethan Strimling, former mayor of Portland, advocating for a tenant at a meeting of the Portland rent board. The board was considering whether to penalize a landlord who did not register a rental property and raised the rent by more than three times the amount allowed under the city’s rent control rules.

Today’s Top Maine Stories

Maine could join three states that let residents waive their right to buy guns. Supporters see such laws as a key suicide prevention tool, and more so in a rural state with fairly high gun ownership rates.

A Unity man allegedly shot at a Maine forest ranger on Monday afternoon. The ranger was investigating a report of illegally cut trees near Jacy Place when he was met with gunfire.

A former Bar Harbor cop has been charged in court with sexually exploiting a minor and possessing child pornography. According to court records, the victim was under 12 years old.

Portland probably won’t penalize a landlord who flouted the city’s rent control rules. Since rent control was instituted three years ago, Maine’s largest city has declined to fine a single landlord, despite nearly 200 complaints.

Old Town will once again have a fire chief. The city opted to promote its deputy chief instead of filling a public safety director position that has been vacant since mid-December.

Bangor wants to be Maine’s first “Bee City.” The recommendation came not from environmentalists but from the city’s Business and Economic Development Subcommittee.

Maine in Pictures

More News from Around the State

• Mackerel stock in Gulf of Maine removed from overfishing list

• Maine’s aging wastewater facilities adjust to meet new challenges

• Mainers call for transparency in child welfare system

• Overwhelmed educators have ‘nothing left’ for kids in Maine’s understaffed schools

• Bangor man sentenced to 3 years in prison for firing gun in the air

• There’s a big illuminated X at Bangor International Airport

• A calf went missing in Bangor

• Houlton school district proposes cutting 9 positions and French program

• Bucksport landfill owner won’t get reprieve from closure deadline

• New 60-unit apartment building opens at site of former Bath cinema

• Linda Bean’s estate wants records sealed

• Boat repairs, crew shortages disrupt ferry service to Maine islands

• Teen dies after 3-vehicle crash in Liberty

• Judge dismisses mom’s lawsuit against Maine school over her child’s gender transition

• 2nd person charged in Maine raid that turned up 7 pounds of fentanyl

Video of the Week

Corey Cain, a wildlife photographer who travels throughout New England, captured this stunning footage of a bald eagle who he refers to as "Sammy" performing some aerial maneuvers over the York River in York. Cain captured this footage on Dec. 3, 2023.

From the Opinion Pages

Life in Maine

Sarah Whitty of Veazie has been growing giant pumpkins for more than a decade. If you aspire to grow supersized veggies, there are few things you should know.

"If you enjoy the outdoors and wild things, you must get yourself in the turkey woods early in the morning during spring mating season," V. Paul Reynolds writes.

A Presque Isle restaurant owner has been named Maine’s Mother of the Year. Sherry Sullivan is one of 50 U.S. moms recognized by national nonprofit American Mothers Inc.

Thanks for reading! Did someone forward you this email? To subscribe to the Morning Update and all other BDN newsletters, click here.