Monday, April 29, 2024

Quote of the Day

“A maple syrup producer is a hardy type of person, and they’re going to figure it out.”

— Lyle Merrifield, president of the Maine Maple Syrup Producer’s Association, on this year’s unpredictable season.

Today’s Top Maine Stories

Young Mainers are saving money by living at home, but that’s not an option for everyone. One of the biggest drivers is the skyrocketing home prices and rents, fueled by historic underproduction of housing.

Bangor is struggling to close its largest homeless encampment. A lack of housing vouchers has stymied efforts to find permanent homes for the estimated 45 people living in Camp Hope.

Maine approves ban on groups that charge veterans to access VA benefits. It faced opposition from well-known Maine veteran Travis Mills and a national trade group led by one of former President Donald Trump’s acting Veterans Affairs secretaries

An $8 million project aims to boost computer science education in Maine’s rural schools. The goal is to better equip students for an increasing number of jobs that rely on technology.

What a Superfund designation for PFAS means for Mainers fighting polluters. The ruling is expected to help those harmed by the toxic substances get compensation for their losses.

Maine in Pictures

Inside the Newsroom

The spring lambs frolicked around photographer and sheep farmer Nina Fuller’s spread in Hollis this month when I visited to talk about her upcoming gallery show. Fuller is a talented shooter, and her sheep and lamb prints easily fetch thousands of dollars.

Watching the fuzzy little bundles romp around the barnyard, it wasn’t difficult to see why Fuller spends so much time photographing her flock. But running the farm by herself is hard work — so she asked if I’d help with something. Fuller had to check if two new moms with lambs born that morning were giving milk. My job was to hold the ornery, and very protective, ewes by the horns while she did that.

I learned sheep are not as weak or timid as you might think. I’m 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, and still had a tough time hanging on.

— Troy R. Bennett

More News from Around the State

• Maine GOP amends platform to limit overseas deployment of National Guard without war

• GOP’s 2nd District candidates debate at state convention

• Janet Mills vetoes a Republican’s proposal to raise income tax rates on wealthier Mainers

• Democratic leader: Maine would be ‘compelled’ to act if Nebraska changes to winner-take-all

• Janet Mills signs background check and ‘yellow flag’ changes into law after Lewiston shooting

• 2 rescued from Bangor home ‘didn’t even know the house was on fire’

• Police arrest 3 on drug trafficking charges in Greenbush

• Holden store customer stabbed with used needle after confronting shoplifter, police say

• British man whose unruly behavior diverted flight to Bangor will pay more than $20K to airline

• Mi’kmaqs hope expanded hatchery will help them tap into national fish market

• Aroostook County ‘Rosie the Riveter’ gets Congressional Gold Medal

• Maine fishing pier damaged in January storms put up for sale

• Older Maine couple turn to newspaper ad for a housing ‘miracle’

• 1 dead in multi-vehicle crash on Maine Turnpike

• UMaine baseball wins 2 of 3 games against Binghamton

• Here are this year’s inductees to the Maine Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame

• Bangor Municipal Golf Course celebrates 60 years of play

• Portland’s new professional soccer team unveils name and logo

From the Opinion Pages

Life in Maine

Julia Gagnon, a Cumberland resident and University of Southern Maine student, has advanced to the top eight on “American Idol.” Her performance of “Here I Am” by Bryan Adams won her praise, and we’ll learn tonight if she goes on to the next stage.

This video shows busy woodpeckers doing what comes naturally. Some actually look for specific insects, such as pileated woodpeckers, which eat carpenter ants.

For many fiber farmers, Maine's only large commercial mill isn't ideal for them. As a result, small processing mills are popping up around the state, and there’s still room for growth.

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