QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I had a choice, but my thought was, you don’t say no to the pope.”
— The Most Rev. James Ruggieri, Maine’s new Catholic bishop, on why he left his home city of Providence, Rhode Island, to lead the Catholic Church in Maine.
TODAY’S TOP MAINE STORIES
A midcoast school district has eliminated its policy protecting transgender students. That’s despite opposition from many community members within RSU 40.
Maine cities are looking upstairs for answers to downtown housing shortages. These spaces, however, are likely to be market rate to justify the developers’ expenses, and out of reach for middle-income families.
A dead whale wrapped with fishing gear was hauled out of Portland Harbor. The animal, measuring some 40 feet long, is believed to have been a humpback whale.
A report found fewer people are homeless in Maine, but the numbers are deceptive. The annual Point in Time Count is compiled by volunteers who seek out homeless people to gather information about them on a single night.
We sat down with Maine’s new Catholic bishop for his first public interview in the role. The Most Rev. James Ruggieri is the top spiritual leader for roughly 300,000 Mainers who identify as Catholic.
MAINE IN PICTURES
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
- Maine isn’t buying this sales pitch for a new offshore wind port site
- Maine woman files class-action lawsuit against Cigna over obesity drug coverage
- Federal judge denies Bangor religious school’s request to suspend anti-discrimination laws
- Man accused of hammer attack in Brewer
- 3 arrested on drug charges after search of Bangor apartment
- Ground mural debuts in downtown Bangor
- Downtown Bangor gift shop likely to close in July
- Lightning strike burns Newburgh garage
- State police seize nearly 4 pounds of meth during Aroostook traffic stop
- New Madawaska international bridge opens to traffic
- Tractor trailer fatally strikes Fort Fairfield man on utility vehicle
- Maine graduate credits outdoor program with keeping him in school
- A new Maine facility will mass produce energy-efficient homes
- 6 arrested in midcoast drug sting
- Officials warn of quicksand conditions on Maine beach
- 2 more marijuana growing operations busted in central Maine
- California woman fell asleep before crashing into Maine state trooper
- 1 killed in dump truck collision in Waterville
- Man dies after crashing Jeep near Maine church
- Historic potentially explosive grenade recovered from West Paris home
- Maine’s biggest water district sues over ‘forever chemicals’
- Hampden Academy names new girls soccer coach
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND
If the weather holds, there will be a bounty of outdoor events in the Bangor area on Saturday for nature-lovers of all stripes. They include a birding walk at Essex Woods in Bangor from 8 to 10 a.m. led by Penobscot Valley Audubon; a nature walk at 8 a.m. to look for bobolinks at Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden, followed by brunch at Hart Farm, also in Holden; and the Peony Society of Maine’s annual garden tour, kicking off at 10 a.m. at 1348 Ohio St. in Bangor and continuing on in Winterport, St. Albans and Ripley. If you’ve still got stamina left, there’s an alewife paddle at 5:30 p.m. at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge in Old Town, where you can watch alewives make their way up the refuge’s fish ladder.
FROM THE OPINION PAGES
“As we head toward peak tourism season, it’s high time that Congress stands up for small businesses and consumers by supporting the Credit Card Competition Act.”
Opinion: Maine’s tourism industry needs protection from credit card swipe fees
LIFE IN MAINE
There’s a new hog on Maine homesteads. KuneKune pigs are a heritage breed, and were traditionally raised for their fat-marbled meat.
Bob Duchesne has a recurring problem in spring — bears eyeing his bird feeders. Luckily, over the years he’s learned how to prevent unwanted dinner guests.
Sometimes you can’t wait for the perfect weather to go hiking. Fortunately, a gloomy day is a great time to take a hike.
