Crime/Public Safety

Fatal Crash Involves Maine DOT Workers

(Waterville)  Two workers with the Maine Department of Transportation were killed, a third person injured Tuesday morning in a work zone on I-95 Southbound in Waterville.  Public Safety Information Officer Shannon Moss tells Downeast Digest the crash happened shortly after 9:30 a.m. MDOT had closed the travel lane at the end of the SB on-ramp from Kennedy Memorial Drive for bridge work, using cones and a posted stop sign. Initial reports indicate 34 yo Samantha Tupper, who was traveling with two children in her minivan, failed to stop at the posted sign, then attempted to enter the passing lane when her vehicle was struck by a tractor trailer. The impact propelled two workers over the bridge onto Kennedy Memorial Drive.  Sixty yo James Brown and 51 yo Dwayne Campbell, both of Waterville, were pronounced dead at the scene.  Tupper was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  Investigators closed all lanes of I-95 SB and Kennedy Memorial Drive westbound for a time while investigating the tragedy.  

Cutler Turns Himself In on Parole Violation Charges

(Ellsworth)  Former gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler turned himself into the Hancock County Jail on Tuesday.  Cutler is alleged to have violated his probation related to charges of possessing sexually explicit materials.  A complaint accuses Cutler of violating the terms of his release on two separate occasions in Brooklin, where he lives.  An arrest warrant was issued on Monday requesting jail time for the violations.  It’s not yet clear when Cutler will be in court to face the latest charges. 

Ballot Investigation

(Augusta)  Last fall, a Newburgh woman claims 250 absentee ballots were delivered to her home in a damaged Amazon package.  It appears the ballots were to have been sent to the City of Ellsworth.  The investigation into that incident has now gone to the Maine Attorney General’s Office.  Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said they isolated the incident to UPS and then switched to a new delivery service.  An anonymous UPS employee told officials the ballots were put in the wrong box by mistake.  

Local Politics

Senate District Six Race

(Maine)  A high-profile Republican primary is heating up in the race for Senate District 6.  Former House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham of Winter Harbor is facing off against former State Representative Kenneth “Bucket” Davis of East Machias.  Both men are reportedly campaigning for the seat currently held by Marianne Moore of Calais, who is term-limited and cannot run for re-election in the upcoming cycle.  Both Faulkingham and Davis are running on who better understands Downeast culture.  The winner will represent the Republican party in the general election for the State Senate seat.

Nurses Ratify Contract

(Portland)  Nurses at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland recently ratified a new contract that includes a 21% pay increase over three years and includes measures to protect against workplace violence.  MaineBiz reports the contract runs through the end of 2028.  It’s the second contract for nurses at Maine’s second largest hospital since they voted in 2021 to join the Maine State Nurses Association.  A spokesperson said the agreement gives union nurses a voice to further improve patient care for the foreseeable future.

Legislator Proposes Bankruptcy Bill for Counties

(Augusta)  In light of the financial troubles of Washington County, Republican Senator Marianne Moore has proposed a bill that would allow Maine counties and municipalities to declare bankruptcy if they default on their debts.  Washington County officials are optimistic at this point they’ll be able to pay back roughly $8M in short term loans, a deficit discovered after years of budget mismanagement, poor accounting, and limited auditing under the previous commissioners and staff.  Credit for much of that optimism goes to current County Manager Renee Gray, who suggested asking towns to pay current year taxes early – a potential cost SAVINGS for municipalities, and one to which most towns have agreed.  But bankruptcy, if needed, has not been an option. And it has come to light that Washington is not the only County in crisis.  Moore’s bill is waiting for a hearing from the legislative committee that oversees local government.  According to The Maine Monitor, the bill currently has only Republican sponsors, though it has received support from the Democrat-run Legislative Council.  

Economy

Non-profit Seeks Truck

(Rockport))  Midcoast Habitat for Humanity and their ReStore are in need of a truck.  They say the bulk of inventory in the store comes from their twice-weekly free pickup service.  In order to offer that, they must rent a Uhaul each time – a big expense for the nonprofit.  Midcoast Habitat for Humanity is fundraising for a ReStore box truck to better support more pickups and deliveries.  They say every contribution gets them closer to their goal and helps turn funding into their affordable housing work, which numbers 65 homes constructed and over 70 families impacted to date.  You can support them at midcoast habitat dot org.

Tax Help at Ellsworth Public Library

(Ellsworth)  Tax season is upon us.  The Ellsworth Public Library will once again offer free tax support from February 3rd through April 14th.  AARP Tax Aide will be offered in the Riverview Room every Tuesday from 9 to 5.  Registration is required and is now open.  You do not need an EPL library card to use the service.  Register at the link you’ll find at ellsworth library dot net, and also with this story on our website, downeast digest dot news.  https://ellsworth.libcal.com/appointments/tax

Education

Maine Universities Balk at Failing Grade for Reading Prep

(Maine)  Preparing future educators to teach reading skills is probably one of the most critical tasks for college professors teaching ed prep courses.  So when three Maine Universities received a failing grade in that subject in 2023, they were quick to refute the findings from the National Council on Teacher Quality.  The three Universities, UMaine Orono, USM, and UMaine Farmington were three of 580 different institutions reviewed – only 25% of which were found to suitably address all five pillars of reading.  While national and state level test scores show reading comprehension has been declining in Maine, educators say multiple factors influence such skills, including early intervention, socio-economic status, and parent involvement in children’s education outside of school.  

Health

UMaine Senior Works to Ensure Empowerment for Older Adults

(Orono)  University of Maine Senior Hannah Maker is working to ensure older adults in Washington County feel cared for, connected and empowered.  Maker, who is also an EMT in Machiasport. says she’s witnessed first-hand how chronic stress and isolation affect the well being of the older population. As part of the Downeast Public Health Initiative, Maker works to link older adults, including Passamaquoddy Tribal elders, with resources to improve their physical and mental health.  The initiative from UMaine and the Community Caring Collaboration addresses challenges such as poverty, anxiety, and food insecurity.  Maker says, “It feels great to be able to do something for my community and make a difference to people I personally know.”

Infrastructure

(Ellsworth)  There’s little question, Ellsworth’s aging infrastructure needs an upgrade, especially when it comes to water-related issues.  Boil water orders and broken pipes are not uncommon.  City Manager Charlie Pearce and Water Superintendent Mike Harris told the Ellsworth American with the right upgrades, the city is looking to reduce the frequent water-related disturbances. Ideally, those upgrades  include a new water plant, a modernized digital system, and a qualified team.  The city’s current water treatment plant was built in 1990 and came online the following year. But with the city’s growth, it’s  nearing full operational capacities and is in need of significant improvements and repairs, one reason Ellsworth is investing in a new water plant.  Since 2000, the City’s population has grown by 36%.  According to Pearce,  that’s 26% higher than the Maine average.

National News

Justice Department Investigation to Focus on ICE Agent as Victim

(CBS)  Mass resignations have begun as CBS reports the Justice Department now says it will treat the investigation into the murder of 37 yo Renee Good as an assault on a federal officer, in which Ross, as opposed to Good, is seen as the victim of a crime.  Career prosecutors in the Civil Rights Division’s criminal section had offered to drop all their work to help investigate the shooting, but were told there would be no criminal civil rights investigation.  At least six career prosecutors, most of whom are supervisors, say they will be leaving their jobs, at least in part as a result of that decision. Video footage from last Wednesday shows Ross fired three rounds at the car as Good began to drive away and also appears to show the officers did not take immediate emergency steps to see Good receive emergency medical care.  A separate video from the scene shows officers preventing a man who claimed to be a doctor from moving toward the critically injured woman.  

Congress  Agrees to Fund Voice of America

(Washington, DC)  Bucking the wishes of President Donald Trump, lawmakers from both parties and houses of Congress have agreed to provide more than $650M in funding for Voice of America’s parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, an international broadcaster.  The funding is part of a bipartisan spending bill negotiated by House and Senate appropriators.  The Washington Post reports the package must still get House and Senate approval before heading to Trump’s desk.  VOA was set up in 1942 in order to combat Nazi propaganda.  Last March, the President signed an Executive Order calling for dismantlement of the government agency which also funds nonprofit groups including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia.

Clinton Fails to Show for Epstein Deposition

(Washington, DC)  Former President Bill Clinton was threatened with contempt on Tuesday after he declined to appear before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-door deposition related to its investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  In a letter, Clinton said a subpoena issued by the committee was “invalid and legally unenforceable”.  According to the Washington Post, neither Clinton nor his wife, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who was also called but will not appear, has been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, although the former President acknowledged he took four trips on Epstein’s airplane and has appeared in Epstein-related photographs released by Congress and the Justice Department.  

Powell Investigation Sparks Backlash

(Washington, DC)  An update on some federal investigations.  The Trump Administration’s investigation against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has sparked backlash, with at least three key Senate Republicans warning the probe threatens the rule of law.  This week, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging he is being unlawfully punished by being demoted for a video in which Kelly reminded troops they can refuse illegal orders. And Minnesota is suing federal immigration authorities.  The state alleges the decision to surge agents into the area is politically motivated and violates the U.S. Constitution.

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