Crime/Public Safety

NPS Telecommunicators Week

(Maine)  There are probably few jobs more stressful than those held by the calm, reassuring professionals who answer emergency 9-1-1 calls at Regional Communications Centers.  Those who man the phones never know what will be on the other end – a fire, a medical emergency, a crime in progress.  Being able to stay calm in such a crisis, whatever it may be, is certainly worthy of recognition. The Maine Department of Public Safety recognizes April 12th through the 18th as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, honoring the dedicated professionals who serve as the first point of contact in emergencies.  Each year, the Department’s three communication centers alone handle more than 130,000 calls.  We salute dedicated staff everywhere who are there when needed, 24/7.

Local Politics

New State Budget Locks in Free Community College

(Augusta)  Free community college tuition for Maine high school graduates is now permanent.  MaineBiz reports the new state budget, signed by Governor Janet Mills on Friday, locks in the permanent benefit, beginning with this year’s seniors.  The Free Community College program covers 100% of the full -ime tuition – $2,880 a year – at Maine’s Community Colleges.  It’s available to recent graduates pursuing a degree or certificate.  David Daigler, President of the Maine Community College System said, “Now that it’s a permanent program, a generation of young people can move with confidence and intention toward a brighter future for themselves and Maine.”

Surry Voters Say “No” to Newberry Neck Improvements, GSA Tuition

(Surry)  Surry voters on Friday said no to a series of questions that would have allowed improvements on Newberry Neck Road near Carrying Place Beach. Rising sea levels and storms worsened by global warming have at times made the road nearly impassable, raising concerns about accessibility, especially for emergency vehicles.  However residents voted no on all three questions related to raising the road by several feet.  Voters also turned down a question that would have raised additional local funds to support tuition for students attending George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill.  GSA had requested an additional $1,530 per student for up to 21 students for the 26-27 school year.

Economy

Tax Day 

(Undated)  If you haven’t yet paid your income taxes this year, be sure to e-file or get those in the mail by midnight tomorrow night.  The IRS does have payment plans, and you can pay by credit card for a fee if needed.  Visit  i r s dot gov to learn more.

Education

Maine to Pilot Program for Special Ed Teacher Certification

(Orono)  The University of Maine last year received a $20K grant to pilot a four-year pathway to special education certification.  Until now, the only option to become certified through UMaine was to complete a Master of Education in special education.  The Pen Bay Pilot reports the College of Education and Human Development has partnered with three local school districts – RSU 34, Old Town, RSU 26 Orono, and the Hermon School Department, to roll out the program. Those in charge say the goal is to make the pilot program permanent so more students who want to become special educators can do so with a bachelor’s degree, rather than continuing into a master’s program.  

Environment

Ellsworth Annual Clean Up

(Ellsworth) Volunteers can now sign up for road segments and pick up free yellow trash bags for the annual city cleanup during regular business hours at Ellsworth City Hall. The spring cleanup officially begins Saturday, April 18th.  Volunteers are asked to wear boots, work gloves, and bright or reflective clothing, with filled, but not overfilled, trash bags to be placed on the roadside in safe, visible locations. Participants are also asked to separate redeemable bottles and cans to be donated to the SPCA of Hancock County.  The volunteer effort runs through Saturday, April 25th.  Questions?  Contact City Planner Brittany Merrill.  

UMaine Program Works to Save Oysters

(Orono)  Ocean acidification is an increasing challenge for marine ecosystems.  The issue impacts shell-forming species, such as oysters and corals, creating ripple effects for coastal economies that depend on them.  Researchers at the UMaine Aquaculture Research Institute and MIT are exploring a chemical-free approach that uses electricity to help rebalance seawater chemistry and mitigate those impacts.  They say as ocean conditions continue to shift, such solutions highlight the role aquaculture research can play in advancing both environmental resilience and sustainable seafood production.

UMaine Offers Coastal Year Program

(Machias)  Not everyone is cut out to attend a larger university.   So the University of Maine at Machias offers the Coastal Year program.  First year students in select science majors start at UMaine Machias, enjoying smaller classes, hands-on learning, and life by the Downeast Coast.  Some move on to Orono, while others choose to stay and learn in Machias.  From collecting samples from nearby beaches, to working with local hatcheries, students dive into real-world learning from day one, helping to build confidence and independence.  Contact UMaine Machias to learn if it might be the right fit for you.

Health

Phone Addiction

(WaPo)  Studies show most folks spend around five hours a day on their phones.  And evidence points to  heavy social media use affecting our mental health and cognitive functions.  Indeed, the Washington Post reports a jury recently awarded $6M to a woman who alleged social media addiction caused her mental distress.  Meta and YouTube plan to appeal.  But there’s little doubt our phones can be addicting and lead to a lack of focus and other issues.  Now, some are turning to digital detoxes.  In one study involving more than 460 participants, average age 32, even a short time away produced striking results – effectively erasing a decade of age-related decline.  For 14 days, participants used a commercially available app called “Freedom” to block internet access on their phones, though they could still text and make calls.  By the end of the experiment, participants reportedly showed improvement in sustained attention, mental health and self-reported well-being.  If you’d like to know more, you can Google the studies – then put down the phone, at least for a little bit.

Human Interest

Machias Historical  Society Plans Liberty Village

(Machias)  Mainers will soon be able to step back in time in Machias, thanks to a land donation by Gayle Kraus of 94 acres on East Kennebec Road.  The Quoddy Tides reports the gift paves the way for the Machias Historical Society to begin constructing Machias Liberty Village, a living history site designed to celebrate the region’s Colonial heritage. Organizers say plans include construction of several historically inspired buildings – a blacksmith shop, ice house, and blockhouse-style fort – giving Mainers a glimpse into early rural life in Maine.  At the heart of the project lies a natural resource – Thaxter’s Spring – that provided settlers a water supply for their farms.  Once completed, organizers hope the village will become a gathering place for visitors to experience local history, learn traditional skills, and preserve the past by bringing it  into the present.

Artemis II Astronauts Connect with Maine’s Jessica Meir

(Caribou)  The Artemis II astronauts put in a call to their friends aboard the International Space Station last Tuesday as they headed home from the moon.  The LA Times reports it was the first moonship to spaceship radio linkup ever … and marked a joyous space reunion between Christina (Cook) Koch and Caribou, Maine native Jessica Meir, who is commanding the current crew aboard the ISS.  The two teamed up for the world’s first all-female spacewalk outside the orbiting lab in 2019.  Houston’s Mission Control arranged the cosmic chitchat, which carried across the 230,000 miles between the two crews.

Sumner Hosts Children’s Book Drive

(Sullivan)  It’s not just clothes your kids outgrow.  They’ve likely outgrown those picture books and early fiction they loved, as well.  Sumner Memorial High School’s Community Service Drive is holding a Children’s Book Drive for grades K-5 students attending Mountain View School.  Now through May 1st, you can drop off books at the Winter Harbor IGA, Sullivan Dollar General, or in front of Ms. Crabtree’s room at the high school.  Read on.

National News 04/14/26

Trump Post Depicting Himself as Jesus Removed

(WaPo)  After first blasting Pope Leo XIV and his calls for peace, President Trump on Sunday posted to his Truth Social account what appeared to be an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus, wearing a long white robe with a red cloak draped around his shoulders and holding a glowing orb of light.  In the image, Trump’s other hand appeared to touch and heal a sick man.  The ailing man was surrounded by citizens seeming to worship the President, with the background of an American flag, fighter jets, and the Statue of Liberty.  The image drew cries of blasphemy and swift criticism from evangelical Christians and conservative Catholics, who have generally shown inexplicable and unwavering support for Trump.  Following the backlash, and after appearing on his Truth Social account for more than 12 hours, the image was deleted, with Trump claiming it was supposed to depict him as a doctor.

Peter Magyar Elected in Hungary

(Budapest)  Hungary’s Prime Minister in Waiting, Peter Magyar, has pledged to restore relations with the European Union and implement domestic reforms outlined prior to his landslide victory over Viktor Orban. Orban, a Putin ally, had ruled for 16 years and crafted laws to retain his grip on power, obstruct the EU, and pull the country back toward Russia.  In advance of Friday’s vote, the U.S. sent Vice President J.D. Vance to shore up Orban’s bid for re-election;  but Hungarians turned out en masse – an 80% voter turnout – to defeat Orban and install Magyar, who pledged to fight corruption and change the constitution to limit future prime ministers to two terms.

Leavitt Attacks Artemis II Astronaut Christina Koch During Live Broadcast

(Undated)  The Artemis II astronauts are back at their homes following an historic space mission, but not without controversy from the White House.  During a live broadcast, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed astronaut Christina Koch’s remarks about unity and global cooperation, calling Koch “just an astronaut” and admonishing her to “stick to space missions”, adding “complex social policy is a bit out of your orbit; leave the real thinking to us”.  Koch’s calm and measured response ended up being a celebrated rebuttal, with commentators saying Leavitt’s reaction, which has since reportedly been scrubbed, was sudden silence, indicating she knew she had challenged the wrong person.  

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