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QUOTE OF THE DAY
— Bangor Fire Chief Geoffrey Low on non-emergency lift assist calls from nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The number of such calls, for which the city has historically charged very little, has skyrocketed recently, leading the City Council to approve significantly higher fees.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES
Cooper Flagg is officially an NBA player. The Dallas Mavericks selected the Newport native with the first pick in last night’s draft, the first time a Mainer has been chosen with the top pick. Supporters in his hometown turned out at Flagg’s former high school for a euphoric celebration of his achievement.
Calls to the Bangor Fire Department to lift people off the floor are skyrocketing. In response, the city will now charge significantly more for non-emergency calls, which take at least 30 minutes and occupy first responders.
Maine Democrats declined to hear a “red flag” law alternative backed by Gov. Janet Mills. The Republican bill would direct more funding to mental health treatment and law enforcement to expand use of Maine’s “yellow flag” law.
Susan Collins criticized cuts to protections for women in the Department of Defense budget proposal. On Wednesday, Maine’s Republican senator pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi on why the department would want to cut funding aimed at fighting domestic violence and sexual assault.
A judge drastically lowered the bail of a man accused of assisting in a Bangor homicide. Holden Melvin was granted lower bail because of serious medical concerns that might not be adequately addressed in the Penobscot County Jail.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
- Maine Democrats restore censured representative’s voting and speaking rights
- Judge continues blocking closure of Job Corps program with Maine locations
- NYC mayoral favorite Zohran Mamdani attended college in Maine
- Mexican restaurant opens at former Ground Round in Bangor after year-long delay
- An Amazon warehouse is coming to rural Maine
- Orono bridge opening to 2-way traffic on weekends
- New York man arrested in Maine on drug trafficking charges
- Mainer in single-vehicle crash accused of driving after smoking pot
- Augusta is getting a Renys
- Wine Spectator’s best restaurants list includes 10 in Maine
- Maine joins 20 states to challenge billions of dollars in Trump administration funding cuts
MAINE IN PICTURES
Cooper Flagg, right, poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks In the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, in New York. It was the first time a Mainer has been the top pick in the NBA draft. Credit: Adam Hunger / AP
FROM THE OPINION PAGES
“I’m asking Congress to make sure every family gets the chance I had — the chance to live, and to give their baby the life they deserve.”
Opinion: Medicaid helped me survive cancer and become a mother. Congress must protect it.
LIFE IN MAINE
Mainers travel hundreds of miles to dine at this quirky Katahdin-area restaurant
Since they were illegally introduced into the Belgrade Lakes in the 1970s, northern pike have dramatically changed the landscape of fishing in Maine.
Four Maine playwrights will be featured in the Belfast Maskers’ annual one-act festival.
