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QUOTE OF THE DAY
— Maine Republican Party Executive Director Jason Savage during a WGAN interview Thursday in which he criticized the Maine Principals’ Association’s position on transgender athletes but called for opponents to have “a dose of humanity.” The comment appeared to be in reference to a social media post by Republican Rep. Laurel Libby singling out one student at a Maine high school.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES
Republicans called for Maine schools to lose federal funds over their transgender athlete policies. The calls escalate an already heated debate that Donald Trump embraced on the campaign trail over the rights of transgender Americans. On Thursday evening, Trump singled out Maine and threatened to withhold federal funds over its continued inclusion of trans athletes.
A new Mexican restaurant is opening soon in downtown Bangor. Christopher Martin, who owns the Mainely Tacos food truck in Hampden, is originally from Arizona and wanted to bring authentic Mexican food to town.
A Hampden trash plant is six to eight weeks away from reopening. To revive the facility, the Municipal Review Committee, a group representing 115 cities and towns, partnered with a subsidiary of the multibillion-dollar investment first White Oak Global Advisors.
Maine is at an impasse with towns that pass aquaculture restrictions. Tough local ordinances have highlighted disagreements on whether the state or municipalities have the authority.
The brackets are narrowing quickly in Maine’s high school basketball tournament. Missed the action? Start with these two dunks.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
- Maine will see temperatures rise to 40s by next week
- Susan Collins votes against Kash Patel as Donald Trump’s FBI director
- Bill would give towns first dibs on UMaine properties after Belfast backlash
- Maine bill to address racist place names withdrawn because of Trump executive order
- Penobscot County now has 18 HIV cases
- Belfast man accused of killing his wife at his mother’s home in central Maine
- 2 Maine men led police on high-speed chase in stolen U-Haul van
- Ace Flagg could win high school championships in 3 different states
MAINE IN PICTURES
FROM THE OPINION PAGES
“When tackling this complex problem, we need surgical solutions that will ensure tax dollars are spent responsibly while keeping Americans safe.”
Opinion: The federal government has a problem with waste. But DOGE’s approach is misguided.
LIFE IN MAINE
Kids can invent their own animals in this fisheries and wildlife contest. Draw it, name it, decide where it lives and what it eats, plus any special skills it has. Winners get free day passes to the Maine Wildlife Park.
Bob Duchesne has the answers to your burning birding questions. Yes, robins can overwinter in Maine, and no, goshawks aren’t that rare.
If you love the taste of gin, go pick juniper berries right now. Juniper is plentiful in Maine and can be foraged year-round to add a little “something” to pickles, preserves and more.
