Crime/Public Safety

ICE Grows Staff in Maine

(Maine)  Immigrations and Customs Enforcement grew its Maine staff by 44% over the past year.  That’s according to the Portland Press Herald, which reports its the agency’s first significant hiring growth in the state in at least a decade … and one done without many typical avenues for recruitment.  For example, Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said he lost two employees to the agency last summer, after ICE offered $50K bonuses to new recruits.  While Maine law enforcement agencies struggle with staffing, they say they can’t compete with an agency like ICE that is flush with cash after Congress voted to fund them to excess.  It’s especially concerning, considering agents have mostly arrested people without criminal convictions, while some agents, such as David Brouillette, who shot and killed an innocent man last month in Biddeford, did have a history of abuse allegations, and others reportedly are untrained, unqualified as law enforcement, and have backgrounds that include allegations of violence against others.  Since October, ICE nationwide has hired some 5500 new deportation officers.

Local Politics

Lubec Takes Over Fishermen’s Memorial

(Lubec)  Voters in Lubec agreed to take over management of the Lost Fishermen’s Memorial there.  The memorial, established in 2016, overlooks the Lubec Narrows and honors commercial fishermen from Washington County, Maine and Charlotte County, New Brunswick, who lost their lives while at sea.  The memorial had been maintained by a volunteer committee that stirred controversy last year over whether to include the names of Chester and Aaron Barrett, a father and son lost off Trescott while on the way home from a scallop expedition.

Economy

Ellsworth Property Taxes Due

(Ellsworth)  The City of Ellsworth reminds residents 2027 property tax bills have been mailed, with payment due by September 10th.  They say if you haven’t yet received your bill, it may mean they don’t have your current address, and they’d be happy to update that for you.  Just contact their offices during regular business hours.

Maine Insurance Bureau Approves ACA Rate Hike

(Augusta)  The Maine Bureau of Insurance on Friday announced it has approved a nearly 15% average rate increase for 2027 ACA individual plans.  The bureau told the Portland Press Herald the increase was driven by rising healthcare costs.  Sign ups on the Affordable Care Act marketplace have plummeted nationwide after Congress failed to extend certain tax subsidies that made premiums more affordable.  MBI reports enrollment in Maine declined from about 65K in 2025 to 58K in 2026 after the tax credits were cut.  The United States is the only wealthy, developed nation without a universal healthcare system,  mirroring third world and developing countries such as Nigeria, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Yemen.  

Deer Isle Craft Market Grows

(Deer Isle)  What began as a handful of artisans selling their crafts at the Deer Isle Farmers’ Market has grown to thirty vendors.  Island Ad-Vantages reports Mary Eaton approached the market thirteen years ago about selling her handmade scarves and sweaters.  At the time, they told her there was no room.  So she checked with the town, who suggested she set up at the same location; just on a different day.  She chose Thursdays, and the Deer Isle Artisans Market was born.  Now, she says, almost every week, someone asks to join.  These days, they’ve moved the space back toward the ballfields, with vendors mostly coming from the Peninsula and the Island.  Eaton says many vendors are retirees looking to make a little extra income, but all have grown to be friends, creating what customers call a charming and delightful atmosphere.  The market is open 10 to 2 Thursdays, likely through mid October.

Ellsworth American Layoffs

(Ellsworth)  It was a sobering day Thursday at the Ellsworth American, as word from the top came to cut staffing.  Publisher Chris Crockett told the Bangor Daily News they would not comment on individual personnel or other confidential human resources matters, so it’s unclear how many people were laid off nor who was affected.  The Ellsworth American has been a beloved source of local news since 1851 and is the oldest weekly newspaper in the state.  Reade Brower acquired ownership of the paper from longtime owner Alan Baker in 2018.  In June 2025, press operations in Ellsworth were closed and moved to South Portland.  No word on changes at the Mount Desert Islander or Midcoast Villager, both of whom are still owned by Brower.

Education

Daycare Center to Open in Castine’s Round School

(Castine)  A new daycare center is expected to open this fall in Castine’s Round School Building.  The River Observer reports the town-owned building has sat empty since shortly after voters last January denied a lease renewal to the town’s only daycare center, Community Childhood Learning Place.  A months-long bidding process resulted in Blue Hill resident Nichole Johnson’s planning to have local kids back in the Round School by the first week in September this year.  Johnson, who has nearly 20 years of childcare experience, owns Golden Sun Childcare.  The new daycare will give priority to Castine residents, children of school and town employees, and children of Maine Maritime faculty and staff.  

Health

Global Fluoride Shortage Affects Maine’s Water

(Maine) A global fluoride shortage has forced several Maine water districts to temporarily stop adding the substance to their public water supplies.  Regions affected include the largest, Lewiston and Auburn, along with Portland and Waterville; although the latter two have replenished their supplies and resumed adding fluoride.  Not all municipalities in Maine fluoridate their water – Kennebunk ended the practice a decade ago.  Local water managers tell sources the shortage doesn’t affect water safety but is strictly a dental health issue.

Maine Launches Mental Health Network for Farmers

(Maine)  Maine is launching a mental health network to help local farmers survive the emotional trauma caused by soil and water contamination by PFAS, or forever chemicals.  Maine Today writes the issue has threatened the long-term financial and physical health of rural families.  Maine has taken a leadership role in the national PFAs farm crisis and is now shifting its focus from protecting the land to protecting those who farm it.  Operators at 988 and 211 crisis centers will receive special training to handle the unique stress of farmers trying to cope with the wide range of risks associated with the chemicals.

Human Interest

Castine Woman Returns from 25-State Equal Rights Tour

(Brooksville)  We take the right to vote for granted, but women in the United States have had that right for just over 100 years.  A Castine woman recently took the history of suffrage on a 25-state tour with her 1914 Saxon automobile, hoping to secure Congressional recognition of the Equal Rights Amendment.  According to Island Advantages, during their Driving the Vote for Equality Tour, Jeryl Schriever of Castine and Susan Nourse of Freeport, with support from ERA NOW Board member Kathy Bonk of Brooksville, mirrored the 10,700-mile 1916 trip a pair of suffragists – Alice Burke and Nell Richardson – took in their Saxon Golden Flyer to lobby for women’s voting rights.  The Equal Rights Amendment has received the requisite support of 38 states, but an arbitrary 1972 deadline has been utilized by opponents to block its recognition.  Supporters hope the ERA will become the 28th Amendment.  Visit drivingthevote.org to learn more.

Infrastructure

Ellsworth Bridge Hill Work 

(Ellsworth)  While the water main break on Bridge Hill in Ellsworth has been repaired, the City says traffic will continue to be diverted for now.  That’s because the major break damaged the road, and the City must now coordinate with the Maine Department of Transportation on repairs to the section that was impacted by the break.  They ask folks to please be patient … and stay tuned.

Old Town Bridge Collapse

(Old Town)  Officials continue to investigate last week’s collapse of the Llewellyn Estes Bridge, which was under construction in Old Town.  Workers were reportedly pouring concrete for the bridge deck about 2 p.m. on August 13th when the middle section gave out in a V-shape, dropping steel girders and debris into the Stillwater River.  Three construction workers suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the collapse.  No motorists were on the structure, as traffic had been diverted to a temporary adjacent bridge.  The Maine Department of Transportation continues to investigate the design, materials, and structural fabrication data.

National News 08/17/26

ICE Shock Gloves

(Undated)  While local law enforcement agencies struggle with recruitment and funding, Congress in June passed the so-called “Secure America Act”, giving ICE and Customs and Border Protection agencies $70B in new funding to support mass deportation and border enforcement through 2029 without standard oversight guardrails.  Alarmingly, some of that funding will be used to purchase gloves capable of delivering an electric shock.  It’s especially concerning, since by and large the majority of those arrested have no criminal background, with many continuing to be held in concentration-camp-like settings or even deported to strange countries rather than their homeland.  Critics say the gloves are just a step further in the direction of cruelty.

Sailors Attempt to Jump Overboard 

(Strait of Hormuz)  Several sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier have reportedly tried to jump overboard in recent days.  The ship has been deployed to the war-torn Middle East region for more than nine months and has spent a record-breaking 250 consecutive days at sea, with sailors suffering severe mental exhaustion and harsh living conditions. Lawmakers are demanding a formal investigation after family members relayed reports of critical supply shortages, moldy showers, broken plumbing and contaminated water.  The Pentagon is downplaying reports of a widespread mental health crisis, saying it has been misrepresented.

Giant Ball of Hair Rolls Through NYC

(Undated)  Talk about letting your hair down – a giant ball of human and synthetic hair recently rolled through the streets of New York City.  Dubbed “Tumblehair”, the art installation was the brainchild – or scalpchild – of Uncommon Creative Studio for a biotech haircare brand that represents the billions of strands of hair shed each day by New Yorkers.  Video of the hairball has gone viral on social media and sparked conversations about shedding and hair longevity.  No word on whether or not it “wigged out” most of those who saw it and were forced to “brush” aside any temptation to touch it.

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