Crime/Public Safety

Authorities Investigating Assault at School Board Meeting

(Newport)  Newport authorities are investigating an assault that allegedly occurred during Tuesday night’s school board meeting at Nokomis Regional High School.  RSU 19 Superintendent Mike Hammer told NewsCenter Maine the incident happened during a heated discussion on free speech that stemmed from a student being suspended over comments made toward a transgender student.  Hammer said the suspended student targeted his comments at a transgender female student who previously participated on a co-ed cheerleading team.  

Local Politics

Maine House Passes AI Disclosure Bill

(Augusta)  Deepfake political ads are becoming increasingly common, especially during election cycles, leaving voters at a loss as to what’s real and what’s a product of technology.  On Tuesday, the Maine House gave initial approval to a bill that would require campaigns to disclose whether or not a political ad contained images or audio altered with Artificial Intelligence, or A I.  LD 517 would require producers of AI-generated or altered political content to include the disclaimer, “This communication contains audio, video, and/or images that have been manipulated or altered”.  Sources say the vote was largely along party lines.

LWVD to Present Lesson on County Government in Maine

(Ellsworth)  How much do you know about county government?  The League of Women Voters Downeast is hosting a panel discussion on the topic this Saturday, March 14th, from 12 to 2 at the Moore Community Center in Ellsworth.  Panelists include Maine Monitor Editor Kate Cough, Hancock County Commissioner John Wombacher, and Representative Nina Milliken, who represents District 16 – Blue Hill, Brooksville, Castine, Sedgwick, Surry and Trenton.  Lunch will be offered to those in attendance at the free event, and you can also attend via Zoom.  Contact LWVD for a Zoom link.

Maine Near Top of Most Federally Dependent States

(Maine)  States receive federal aid for a variety of purposes, from disaster relief, to infrastructure and healthcare.  Some states receive far more aid than others.  A recent WalletHub survey ranked the Pine Tree State 13th most dependent overall in a survey of the “Most and Least Federally Dependent States”.  Rankings were based on three metrics – return on federal taxes paid, share of federal jobs, and federal funding as a percentage of state revenue.  Maine also ranked 13th in resident dependency and 18th in government dependency.  The most dependent states are Alaska, Kentucky, and West Virginia; the least dependent New Jersey, followed by Delaware and Massachusetts.

Economy

Hancock County Food Drive Gears Up

(Ellsworth)  Volunteers are gearing up for the 15th Annual Hancock County Food Drive, this year running April 4th through the 11th.  The event is spearheaded by Healthy Acadia and Heart of Maine United Way, whose members say 20% or ⅕ of the children living in Hancock County are food insecure.  The week annually brings in donations for food pantries, school backpack programs, and others in need.  Look for folks in colorful veggie costumes at various grocery stores and other locations at the April 4th kickoff and throughout the week.  If you’d like to get involved or volunteer, visit h c food drive dot org.  

Education

UMaine Student Portfolio a Lesson in Investments

(Orono)  A group of University of Maine students could be giving lessons in investing.  The university’s Student Portfolio Investment Fund – or SPIFFY – has surpassed six million dollars in assets under management, marking a major milestone for one of the Maine Business School’s most hands-on learning opportunities.  The organization, founded in 1993 with $650K from the University of Maine Foundation, is led by student directors and sector heads who oversee teams of analysts studying various industries.  The school says their investment decisions are guided by research, presentation, and disciplined portfolio management.

Investing in Libraries

(Jonesport)  Investing in our public libraries is investing in our communities, our lives, and our future.  One example is the Peabody Memorial Library in Jonesport which this week thanked the community for voting for their requested appropriation at the Annual Town Meeting.  Librarian Heidi Hinckley posted on social media that such support is what makes it possible for them to continue to provide free programs for all ages in all seasons.  The library reported that with help from a $50K grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, they were able to replace the heating system and install new windows in the 110 year old building; and they paved the back parking lot with designated Endowment funds, “paving the way” for continued service to the Jonesport community.

Anti-Trust Settlement Could Force Sale of Bangor Amphitheater

(Bangor)  A proposed federal antitrust settlement with Ticketmaster and its parent company could force the sale of the Maine Savings Amphitheater in Bangor.  NewsCenter Maine reports the tentative deal between the US Department of Justice and Live Nation Entertainment calls for the company to sell or give up control of 13 amphitheaters nationwide, including Maine Savings.  The agreement would also allow other ticket sellers to handle a portion of ticket sales and would cap Ticketmaster service fees at 15%.  Many state attorneys general say the proposal doesn’t go far enough to dismantle Live Nation’s dominance in the concert industry.  The trial is expected to resume next week.  

Education

Ellsworth Goes with Bell to Bell Cellphone Ban

(Ellsworth)  There’s no question personal electronic devices are a distraction for us all; nowhere is that more evident than in schools, where educators struggle to keep kids focused.  The Ellsworth School Board this week voted to enact a bell-to-bell cellphone policy for students beginning this Fall.  The policy means students in grades pre-K through 12 will have to lock up their devices – cell phones, smart watches, and other personal electronics – at the beginning of each school day.  Details, such as how phones will be stored, will reportedly be worked out during the coming months.  Superintendent Amy Boles stressed that parents can call the schools, call the office, and that students will be able to have access to use the phone if a need arises for them to call home.

Environment

Maine Big Night

(Maine)  On any given night between April 1st and May 15th, Maine could experience Big Night, a mass migration of amphibians moving en masse across roadways – many becoming road kill.  Founded by Greg LeClair, Maine Big Night organizers work to assist the animals across the roads while collecting valuable data to protect them for decades to come.  You can become part of their successful journey by signing up as a volunteer, beginning March 15th.  You must sign up to be a monitor and will receive training and notice of the movement 24 hours in advance.  Maine Big Night usually occurs on warm, rainy nights when spring temps reach 45 degrees-plus.  To sign up and find a training session for 2026, visit maine big night dot org.

Elvers on the Menu at Saturday’s Maine Fisherman’s Forum

(Augusta)  Elvers were on the menu at the Maine Fisherman’s Forum on Saturday – at least as a talking point.  The Mount Desert Islander reports harvesters, scientists, and policymakers packed the room to hear about an international proposal to require an export pass to sell American elvers.  The majority of American-caught glass eels are sold in Asian markets, so such a plan would have created significant commercial complications.  The Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission fought successfully to defeat the proposal. Those in attendance also learned of an estrogen-enriched feed being marketed to ensure farmed eels grow to be females, a government program that is looking for ways to diminish the industry’s dependence on foreign markets, and a predicted slow start to this year’s season, which opens March 22nd.  The yearly quota for 2026 is set at 9,688 pounds, unchanged since 2013 when ASMFC last approved an increase.

UMaine Researchers Create Mycelium-Based Food Packaging

(Orono)  Paper, plastic, or mushroom?  UMaine researchers have created a new food-packaging material made from mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi, and cellulose nanofibrils derived from wood.  The resulting product is oil- and water-resistant and decomposes after use.  A team led by Sandro Zier used turkey tail mushroom mycelium and shortened the production process from weeks to just three days.  They’re now refining methods to scale production, including exploring roll-to-roll manufacturing to move closer to commercialization.

Infrastructure

City of Ellsworth Announces Street Sweeping Schedule

(Ellsworth)  The City of Ellsworth will begin spring cleaning on March 30th – specifically, street sweeping.  Crews will be working during the day and overnights in the coming weeks, and they ask residents to avoid parking on streets scheduled for sweeping in order to allow crews to work efficiently.  Sweeping will continue through late May, covering both in-town streets and outer roads.  You can view the schedule on the City of Ellsworth’s social media pages.

National News

Iran’s Ship Attacks Worsen Economic Concerns

(AP)  Iran Wednesday attacked commercial ships across the Persian Gulf and targeted Dubai International Airport, escalating a campaign of squeezing the oil-rich region, as global energy concerns mount and countries began tapping oil reserves.  In a 13-nothing vote, the UN Security Council demanded Iran halt “egregious attacks” on its Gulf neighbors.  Meanwhile, oil prices on Wednesday surged, as the market reacted to a significant supply shock caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US/Israeli war with Iran.  

Pentagon Blocks Photographers from Hegseth’s Briefings on Iran War

(AP) In a move it has failed to explain,the Pentagon has not permitted photographers to cover Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s last two briefings on the war in Iran.  The Defense Department under Hegseth has had a contentious relationship with the news media assigned to cover him, with most mainstream news organizations last year leaving their desks at the Pentagon rather than accept new Trump administration rules that stifled their rights as a free press that is required by the Constitution.

Death Valley Experiences Superbloom

(DV National Park)  Looking for a place to get away to a breath of spring?  How about Death Valley National Park in California?  While the name seems to contradict what’s happening there, the park has come alive with a rare, once in a decade “superbloom”, where millions of wildflowers burst into full color all at once.  Park rangers say millions of seeds may lie buried in the park’s soils for years, gearing up for a massive outburst.  When weather conditions are just right, as they have been this year, they all begin to sprout at the same time, spreading across the dull brown desert in waves of brilliant color.  Low elevation displays are beginning to happen this month and are expected to dress up mid elevations beginning in mid-April and higher elevations early May to mid-July.

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