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QUOTE OF THE DAY
— Eric Dumais, production manager at Bissell Brothers, on the likely effect of the Trump administration’s aluminum tariffs on small Maine beer brewers.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES
Donald Trump is bringing a Paul LePage-era fight back to Maine. The president could seek national Medicaid work requirements, like those his administration allowed the former governor to pursue in 2018.
You can expect to pay more for Maine beer under Trump’s aluminum tariffs, brewers warned. The new 25 percent tariffs are scheduled to take effect March 12 and will be enforced “without exceptions or exemptions.”
A new bill would protect Maine’s limits on PFAS in water as Trump scraps rules. His administration already has rolled back some limits on the toxic “forever chemicals,” also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
There’s been a mysterious uptick in Romanians illegally crossing the border through Maine. Or at least getting caught trying. Last year, the only foreign nationals border patrol officers saw more frequently than Romanians were Mexicans, and not by much.
The Bangor YMCA gave a first look at its new $57.8 million campus. You can take a virtual tour here.
Maine’s annual high school basketball tournament starts today. Get up to speed with these previews of the boys and girls North classes.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
- Former Elon Musk employee enters 2026 race against Susan Collins
- Susan Collins and Angus King split over RFK Jr. confirmation
- Angus King blasts RFK Jr. as a ‘danger’ in floor speech
- Federal judge pauses Maine’s 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases
- How much snow fell throughout Maine on Thursday
- This small Bangor suburb is getting 16 new apartments
- Halsey added to Bangor summer waterfront concert lineup
- Man dies during confrontation with police in Lincoln
- 85-year-old found in upside down car in the Maine woods
- Developers give up permits for controversial Deer Isle glampground
- Northern Light to consolidate health care services in Waterville
- Bankrupt Joann Fabrics will close 3 Maine stores
- Propane-powered saw may have sickened 7 with carbon monoxide at Maine day care
- 2 die after tractor-trailer crashes through median on Maine Turnpike
- Cooper Flagg on track to be named best college basketball player
MAINE IN PICTURES
FROM THE OPINION PAGES
“Partisan division over a short-term state budget sets a terrible precedent for the much larger and difficult negotiations over a two-year budget that Maine lawmakers must pass this spring.”
Editorial: Passing a bipartisan supplemental budget can build foundation for larger spending debate
LIFE IN MAINE
You won’t want to miss these birding festivals in Maine. “Bring out your calendar,” Bob Duchesne writes. “There are four major ones. Feel free to attend more than one.”
Watch this 5-year-old’s reaction when she catches a pike. Maddy Ross chose to go fishing that day, much to her mother’s surprise. It was her first time trying the sport.
