Monday, May 13, 2024

Quote of the Day

“If the world were becoming safer, then perhaps such a reduction could be absorbed with little risk to national security. But unfortunately that is not the world in which we live.”

— U.S. Sen. Susan Collins on efforts to increase defense spending.

Today’s Top Maine Stories

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is among a group of lawmakers who want to increase defense spending beyond last year’s debt ceiling deal. They’ve proposed a $22.5 billion boost.

Building affordable condos is challenging in Maine. Developers say it is near-impossible to make a profit developing condos so long as they’re offered at sub-market prices.

Countless books are missing from Maine libraries. And most of the libraries in Greater Bangor no longer charge late fees.

Aroostook fire chiefs worry new regulations would strain departments. The new measures would require firefighters to undergo extensive medical exams and take part in a physical fitness program.

Maine in Pictures

More News from Around the State

• Maine lawmakers fail to overturn any of Janet Mills’ vetoes

• Senate reverses itself and pushes Maine state flag referendum to 2026

• Maine lawmakers fail to override Janet Mills’ bump stock ban veto

• With recent storms, loggers say working conditions have never been harder

• Judge approves extradition to UK for Bangor native who claimed to be an Irish heiress

• EMCC graduates 332 students in Bangor commencement

• Old Town students traveled to Europe to meet a Penobscot war hero

• Old Town man pleads guilty to downloading child porn

• Land sailers race the runways at former Aroostook air base

• Breast cancer detection innovator vies for Maine Top Gun Pitch award next week

• Crashed trailer carrying 15 million bees won’t endanger Maine’s blueberry crop, expert says

• Man arrested at Leonard Leo protest gets $62.5K settlement

• Crews battle fire on Acadia mountaintop

• Linda Bean’s will has been filed in court

• Court deals another setback to contentious midcoast park

• Daylong effort raises sinking barge in New Harbor

• Woman dies after colliding with flatbed truck in Unity Plantation

• Boston man accused of trafficking fentanyl in Maine

• Maine’s only high school blacksmithing program is keeping the trade alive

• Mainer gets 27 years in prison for attacking police with machete near Times Square

• Grand slam headlines Bangor-Old Town slugfest

• Hermon High School names new girls basketball coach

• Former Brewer High and UMaine pitcher off to strong start in minors

• UMaine baseball keeps America East playoff hopes alive with Sunday win

• Former UMaine player leads Latvia into world hockey championships

Inside the Newsroom

Getting to the story can always be a bit of a challenge. But sometimes, leaving the story location that’s actually the hard part. Case in point: the recent University of Maine commencement in Orono. I arrived in plenty of time. Parked in one of the five designated areas scattered around campus. Caught a shuttle-bus to the Alfond Arena. Everything went off without a hitch.

I was walking back to my car afterward when Shelby Hartin, UMaine’s director of communications, drove by and offered me a ride. I happily accepted, and then realized I could not remember which of those five parking lots I’d left my car in. Thankfully, Hartin saw the humor in the situation and I got a lovely driving tour of the campus parking areas. In retrospect, it could have been much worse. It could have been a walking tour.

— Julia Bayly

From the Opinion Pages

Life in Maine

Maine’s brook trout face serious threats, including climate change and invasive species. A first-of-its-kind study will teach biologists what they need to know to help the game fish survive.

You can pan for gold and find rare rocks in Maine. You just need to know where to look.

Small Maine farms are turning to the woods to feed their animals. So far, agroforestry is largely an intuitive practice for those in the most forested state in the country.

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