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QUOTE OF THE DAY
— U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in response to reports that Elon Musk’s team at the newly created Department of Government Efficiency accessed payment systems at the U.S.Treasury Department and locked some federal employees out of their computer systems.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES
Donald Trump’s fast-moving tariff plans are putting Maine Republicans in tricky positions. While U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said the tariffs would create “a significant burden,” state-level Republicans applauded the president’s negotiating tactics, as did U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat.
Susan Collins said she is “very concerned” about Elon Musk’s moves in Washington. The world’s richest man is quickly tightening his grip on the federal government as Democrats raise alarms.
Maine vaccine skeptics are cautiously optimistic about RFK Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Senate committees on Tuesday approved the nominations of RFK Jr. and director of national intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard. Now they must be confirmed by the full Senate, as Pam Bondi was on Tuesday for U.S. attorney general.
A Bangor-based health provider might have to furlough a quarter of its employees after learning that its federal funding is “pending review.” Penobscot Community Health Care relies on $5.6 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
This 300-acre saltwater farm in Lubec is selling for $2.7 million. The property, called Beach Rose Preserve, boasts 710 feet of ocean frontage along a secluded cove known as “Bailey’s Mistake.”
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
- Up to 6 inches of snow are forecast for Maine on Thursday
- Maine saw a 19 percent drop in overdose deaths last year
- Maine officials wary of how trade war would affect lobster industry
- Fisheries regulators repeal lobster size limits after pushback from Maine
- Northern Light’s credit rating plummets
- Man accused of assaulting woman with gun and holding her against her will in Brewer
- Bangor airport announces runway closures for reconstruction
- 2 pedestrians seriously injured in Brewer have been identified
- Bangor woman sentenced for her role in Maine drug ring
- Aroostook man killed by police posted video during standoff blaming abortion laws
- Body recovered from sunken boat identified as missing Maine fisherman
- Bar Harbor hotel sues town over order to get cruise ship permit
- Piscataquis County officials want to secure more ambulance coverage for unorganized territories
- Hampden Academy girls basketball holds off late Bangor rally to earn 39-37 win
- 3 Maine cheerleading powerhouses look to defend state titles this weekend
MAINE IN PICTURES
MAINE TOWN OF THE WEEK
ROBBINSTON: Among the many interesting historical facts about the Washington County town of Robbinston is the fact that it was one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad for people escaping the clutches of enslavers in Southern states. The John N. Brewer Sr. Mansion was a safehouse for those people before they finally made it to full freedom across the river in Canada. That house, along with one in Eastport, were the easternmost stops on the Underground Railroad.
FROM THE OPINION PAGES
“Policies and policymakers often seem to ignore the fact that Maine’s child care sector is the workforce behind every other workforce in Maine. If parents don’t have child care, they cannot work. That hurts their families, our businesses and Maine’s economy.”
Opinion: Maine’s budget should not be balanced on the backs of child care educators
LIFE IN MAINE
Stephen King was unmasked as Richard Bachman 40 years ago this week. Biographical details about the author were sparse. Eagle-eyed readers began to notice that some details weren’t adding up.
Seasoned hunters might like one of these challenges. “The very unique cherry on my goose shooting sundae was tumbling a pair of honkers with one shot from my Ruger Red Label 20-gauge,” BDN Outdoors contributor Bill Graves writes.
Husson University’s women’s basketball coach made history with her 600th win. Mary “Kissy” Walker became the first female college coach in Maine to reach that milestone.
