Crime/Public Safety
Mills Warns of ICE Activity in Maine
(Augusta) There is widespread speculation across Maine that the Federal government plans to conduct federal operations in Maine soon, likely sending ICE agents to cities like Portland and Lewiston. While not confirmed, Governor Mills said in a statement, she is taking proactive steps to prepare, including directing the Maine State Police to work closely with local law enforcement as necessary, providing whatever support is needed to protect lawful citizens. The Governor emphasized Maine knows what GOOD law enforcement looks like, as our professionals are held to and act with the highest standards. Anyone who sees ICE activity in Maine is urged to report it immediately to 207-544-9989.
Senator King Reacts to Potential ICE Activity in Maine
(Washington, DC) Governor Mills wasn’t the lone political voice responding to this week’s rumors of ICE agents headed to Maine. Senator Angus King issued a press release saying Maine believes in law and order and enjoys such because our local and state law enforcement authorities place a priority on lawful and timely responses to clear criminal threats. King decried operations being conducted in other states, saying many of them are reckless, heartless, and irreversibly destructive. He urged anyone who witnesses any lawlessness “cloaked in the cause of federal law enforcement” to alert local leaders, state officials, and their federal delegation.
NTSB Investigating Crash That Killed Two MDOT Workers
(Maine) The National Transportation Safety Board is sending investigators to Maine to help determine the specifics of a crash that left two Maine Department of Transportation workers dead. The two Waterville men died when a minivan attempting to change lanes in a work zone was struck by a tractor-trailer. The impact threw the men over a barrier to the road below – both were pronounced dead at the scene. Maine State Police are leading the investigation and will coordinate with members of the NTSB. The full investigation is expected to take weeks.
FMO Investigating Water Street Fire They Say Was Intentionally Set
(Ellsworth) The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a Wednesday night fire in Ellsworth they say appears to have been intentionally set. The Department of Public Safety tells Downeast Digest, The Ellsworth Fire Department was called to 384 Water Street, a vacant, single-family residence, around 5:50 p.m. The home sustained minor damage. Investigators are asking anyone in the area who may have security or surveillance cameras to review their footage for any possible activity that may be relevant to the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 207-624-7076 or the Ellsworth Police Department at 207-677-2168. They say additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Ellsworth School Bus Incident
(Ellsworth) The Bangor Road was closed for a time Thursday evening after a school bus carrying four students was involved in a crash. The driver of the bus and the driver of the other vehicle involved were both taken to a hospital, according to School District Superintendent Amy Boles. Boles told the Ellsworth American the bus was for the district’s after school program. There were also reports of a school bus accident near George Stevens Academy about 8 p.m. last night. We’ll keep you updated as details become available.
Rockland School Bus Driver Charged in Death of 12-Year-Old
(Rockland) Authorities have arrested and charged Rockland school bus driver Jeffrey Colburn with manslaughter in the November 2025 death of 12-year-old Brayden Callahan. Brayden was on his way home from Oceanside Middle School on November 21st. He had just exited Colburn’s bus and was crossing the street when he was hit. A police report stated the driver’s eyes were not on the road at the time of the incident. The 65-year-old Colburn was charged Wednesday, following an indictment by a Grand Jury. Colburn reportedly had a prior OUI conviction (2015) and was involved in other recent minor crashes. He’s being held on $50,000 bail. Callahan’s family is filing a $10 million dollar lawsuit against RSU 13 and Colburn, who is no longer employed by the district.
Local Politics
Pingree Warns of Facist Slogan
(Washington, DC) U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree this week shared a photo of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaking behind a podium boasting a sign that read “One of ours, All of yours” Pingree said the phrase has been linked to facism and the murder of residents of a Czech village by Nazis during World War II. Noem called such accusations “tiresome”, but critics question the source of such a phrase and say even if the secretary had no idea what it means, it’s alarming anyone in the Administration would put a Nazi slogan on public display. The Portland Press Herald reports historical evidence linking the phrase to something Nazis uttered is suspect, but the post renewed scrutiny on words and symbols used by the Trump administration and conjured memories of the President defending White-Nationalist protestors in 2017, saying there were “some very fine people on both sides.”
Castine Voters Reject Lease Renewal of Round School
(Castine) Voters in Castine this week rejected renewal of a 10 year lease for the Round School, home to the Community Childhood Learning Place. Voters had reportedly expressed concerns the building would be used for other purposes, but Town Manager Derik Goodine told the River Observer as far as he knew, the select board was only interested in the early childhood entity operating in the building. Because the current lessee is not in default, attorneys say the vote could be seen in bad faith in reneging on the original bargain that was struck. The Round School was founded in 2016. The lease expires in June. The CCLP is reportedly the only childcare provider in Castine.
Education
WinterKids Kicks Off Winter Games
(Maine) More than 10K kids across Maine zipped their coats, laced their boots and headed outside this week for the official kickoff of the 2026 WinterKids Winter Games. The Pen Bay Pilot reports the four-week outdoor learning and wellness challenge transforms winter into a season of joy, learning, and connecting to the environment. Now in its ninth year, the Winter Games invites elementary school students to compete or play along in a series of weekly outdoor activities tied to physical education, nutrition, winter safety, and family engagement, with the potential of earning their schools a total of $18K distributed statewide.
Environment
Frenchman Bay Conservancy Acquires Headwater Bluffs
(Amherst) Headwater Bluffs, a nearly 6K acre property near the Amherst community mountain forest, will now be permanently protected, thanks to a ten-year effort by Frenchman Bay Conservancy. Members of the Hancock-based conservation organization say it’s the largest single conservation effort in their history. The newest acquisition is part of a more than 40K acre parcel of forest and wetlands that includes natural habitat for wildlife, areas for rock climbing, and access to hunting and fishing. FBC has been working to preserve area lands for nearly four decades.
Health
Maine Dentists Helping Domestic Abuse Survivors Recover Their Smiles
(Maine) Domestic Abuse is nothing to smile about. Getting out is – but what if that abuse left you scarred with missing, stained or chipped teeth? Across Maine, dentists are helping survivors recover their smiles. The Portland Press Herald reports over the past two years, 37 dentists have donated $325K worth of services. The idea was the brainchild of yesterday’s Downeast Digest news sponsor, Finding our Voices. Founder Patricia McLean had the idea after meeting a woman whose abusive husband never let her brush her teeth. McLean was reportedly in a 29 year abusive marriage to ex-husband Don McLean, and has dedicated her career to helping women in similar crises. Learn more at finding our voices dot net.
Human Interest
City, Heart of Ellsworth Partner to Launch Community Events Calendar
(Ellsworth) Trying to plan an event, but not sure what else is going on that day? Visitors coming this summer and wondering how to keep them entertained? Looking for educational programs for the kids or for yourself? Heart of Ellsworth has partnered with the City to provide a centralized Community Events Calendar. From family activities and nonprofit fundraisers to downtown events and local happenings, Yodel, the search engine behind the calendar, automatically pulls public events from FB Events and online event calendars hosted on organization websites. And it’s already packed for January! Check it out on the link you’ll find on the City’s FB page and posted with this story on OUR website, downeast digest.news
Grand Happenings
(Ellsworth) Ben Chandler will be directing the timeless classic, Charlotte’s Web, at the Grand this April. The Grand will hold auditions for the beloved book by E.B. White on Thursday, February 5th at 6 p.m. and again on Saturday, February 7th at 1. Actors ages 16 and up are encouraged to attend. The production will be performed for local and regional school and homeschool groups, with daytime performances on April 29th and 30th. Contact the Grand for more information.
Trenton Grange Craft & Vendor Market
(Trenton) Plenty of spaces available to sign up and pay for a space at the Trenton Grange Craft & Vendor Market, coming up February 7th from 10 until 4, right at the Grange on Route 3. Everyone is welcome, and there will be no entry fee. Turn your stash into cash – all types of vendors and sellers are invited to participate, with booth fees going to help maintain and restore the Grange Hall.
Technology
Verizon Offers Credit to Those Affected by Outage
(ABC) A major service outage Wednesday left thousands of Verizon customers unable to call or text for several hours. ABC News reports the nation’s largest wireless carrier will give affected customers a $20 credit in order to “provide some relief”. The company said those customers who were most affected can accept the credit by logging into the myVerizon app. Business customers will be contacted directly by the company.
Obituaries
(Maine) Two heartbreaking losses locally to tell you about. Sources say Rich Malaby, a former state lawmaker and longtime proprietor of the Crocker House in Hancock, died last week. Malaby was active in the legislature, on the local school board, and had a special passion for mental health care. The Malabys sold the Crocker House in 2021 and were living in Wiscasset. Also this week, Susan Carter lost her 15 year battle with cancer. Bark Harbor in Bar Harbor posted she was the heart of the pet-focused store for nearly 17 years and was a fighter to the end. Customers remembered her as helpful, compassionate, and one who loved to engage with customers and their furry family members.
National News
Trump Threatens to Send Troops to Minneapolis
(Washington, DC) President Trump yesterday threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and send US military forces to Minneapolis if state officials fail to stop protests against increasingly violent operations by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Axios reports every modern use of the Insurrection Act has come at either a Governor’s request or in order to expand civil rights protections over state objections. In contrast, Trump is threatening to “flip that script” and send troops to crush peaceful protests protected under the First Amendment. If enacted, the Insurrection Act would allow the President to effectively bypass court rulings and tap authority scholars warn is over broad and ripe for misuse.
Go Fund Me Accounts Raise Thousands for Fired Ford Worker
(Michigan) Fired Ford Motor Company employee TJ Sabula has asked people to stop sending money. The UAW member was suspended after he shouted “pedophile protector” at President Trump while the President was touring the plant in Dearborn, Michigan. Trump responded with expletives and a crude gesture. Sabula, who said he would do nothing differently, was subsequently fired; but fundraising efforts garnered more than $800K in just two days. Some 34,000 people contributed to the two Go Fund Me pages.
Washington Post Journalist’s Home Raided
(AP) The Virginia home of a Washington Post journalist was raided this week, her two laptops, phone, and other electronic devices seized. A warrant for the raid was said to be connected to an investigation of a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified materials. The Associated Press reports the Trump Administration could not have picked a more compelling target. Hannah Natanson is known at the Post for her reporting of the President’s changes to the federal workforce. It’s believed the raid was another attempt to deter probing reporting of government action. Natanson said she would not be intimidated. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said yesterday it has asked the U.S. District Court in Virginia to unseal the affidavit justifying the search of Natanson’s home.
Greenland Talks/Senate Votes Not to Limit War Powers
(WaPo) Danish and U.S officials met yesterday to discuss tensions surrounding President Trump’s ongoing insistence on taking Greenland. Danes failed to dissuade the President from his threats and rhetoric. Denmark’s leader again warned that any use of force by Washington to seize Greenland would render the postwar NATO alliance defunct. Remarks by Trump and his top aides have set off alarm bells across European capitals, prompting some of their most forceful responses to date. Also yesterday, the Senate blocked a bill aiming to limit Trump’s war powers and the taking of further military action in Venezuela. Two Republicans withdrew their support for the bill under intense pressure from the President, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
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