MAINE NEWS & NOTES

Maine News Tuesday June 2

Hmm - "As my old boss, Bill Clinton, might have said, there is nothing that's wrong with Maine that can't be fixed by what's right with me." – Angus King III, making his pitch to voters in Old Orchard Beach ahead of the June 9 gubernatorial primary.

WalletHub - The personal finance company WalletHub today released its report on the Best States for Racial Equality in Education, along with expert commentary. To identify which states demonstrate the highest levels of racial equality in education, WalletHub analyzed all 50 states across six key metrics. The study examines disparities between white and Black Americans in areas such as high school and college attainment, test scores, and graduation rates. Below, you can view key highlights from the report.

Racial Equality in Education in Maine (1=Most Equality; 25=Avg.):

Overall Rank: 7^th
1^st – Share of Adults with at Least a Bachelor’s Degree
20^th – Average ACT Score

To view the full report and your state’s rank

Graham Platner - Susan Collins is the single largest recipient of AIPAC money in the United States Senate. In just the last few weeks, Susan Collins took over half a million dollars from AIPAC. One-third of her entire campaign fundraising haul came directly from AIPAC. And that doesn’t not even include any of AIPAC’s Super PAC spending.

There is a genocide happening in Gaza. American taxpayers have been paying for bombs to destroy hospitals and schools overseas – instead of building them here at home. We’ve been paying to help starve children in Palestine – rather than feeding them in America.

Wikipedia - The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is an American pro-Israel lobbying group that advocates its policies to the legislative and executive branches of the United States. It is one of several pro-Israel lobbying organizations in the United States, and has been called one of the most influential lobbying groups in the U.S.

MS NOW- After reports over the weekend that Graham Platner sent sexually explicit text messages to women while he was married, Democrats are standing by Maine’s presumptive Democratic Senate nominee. Asked on Monday if he was rethinking his support for Platner, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. — the progressive leader who endorsed the oyster farmer just days into his campaign — told MS NOW, “Certainly not.”

It was a similar sentiment from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. — another Platner booster — who brushed off questions about the candidate’s indiscretions and pivoted to rising gas prices, the war in Iran and Democratic hopes of unseating the Republican incumbent, Sen. Susan Collins.

\Maine Morning Star - In their final debate, the five Democrats running for governor were asked how they would help struggling renters. From rent relief to eviction prevention, the candidates highlighted parts of their housing plans, while reiterating much of what they’ve said before: there’s a housing crisis, with insufficient stock and a dearth of affordable options.

Amid a flurry of last-minute campaign events ahead of the June 9 primary, the five Democratic candidates — Shenna Bellows, Troy Jackson, Angus King III, Hannah Pingree and Nirav Shah — gathered at the University of Southern Maine’s Hannaford Hall on Thursday evening for a forum sponsored by the Cumberland County Democratic Party.

Maine Morning Star - President Donald Trump’s administration sued Maine on Wednesday for refusing to provide immigration authorities with covert license plates. The 18-page complaint filed in the U.S. District Court accuses the state of discriminating against federal immigration agencies by requiring that vehicles could only be granted such plates if they aren’t used for civil immigration purposes.

“Federal law enforcement agencies should not be subject to the challenged BMV policy, which is unconstitutional and recklessly disregards officer safety, public safety, and federal operational needs,” the lawsuit reads. The Trump administration has also filed similar lawsuits against Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington.

“There are over 150,000 renter households in Maine. Fifty-one percent of them are spending as much as 51% of their income on rent and risk eviction every month,” said moderator Cathy Lee. “Many of you focus on building housing, which takes years, or reducing property taxes for homeowners. What policies do you propose that would stabilize renter households now?” MORE

Maine News Monday June 1

Press Herald - As spring turns to summer in Maine, park rangers are welcoming some familiar faces. Along with the tourists, the state will once again become home to thousands of birds of different species. The 16th annual Feathers Over Freeport birding festival at Bradbury Mountain and Wolfe’s Neck Woods state parks on Saturday and Sunday celebrated their return with a community event for all ages.

...“The focus is on just inviting people to come with their whole family to enjoy,” said Wolfe’s Neck park manager Andy Hutchinson. The highlight, he said, are the returning ospreys that nest high up in the trees on Googins Island every year.

Other event highlights included a do-it-yourself birdhouse making station, a leave no trace presentation, a bird footprint making workshop, and a wildflower walk. The live music event was rained out Sunday, but the weather held up enough for a two-hour morning walk for the early birds.

“If you went without a guide, you’d miss them,” Hutchinson said of the ospreys spotted on the morning walk. “It was really nice for people to see (the osprey) on her eggs and hear the male in the background making his call.”

InteractivePolls - Governor Janet Mills has reminded Maine voters that she remains on the ballot for the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, despite suspending her active campaign on April 30. Mills made the clarification in an interview with the Sun Journal on Sunday. “People have the impression that I ‘withdrew’ or ‘dropped out,’ but I simply suspended active campaigning,” she said. “I am still on the ballot. CitinG challenges and trailing poll numbers, Mills paused campaigning but did not file formal withdrawal paperwork with the Secretary of State. As a result, any votes cast for her will be counted. She has not endorsed the presumptive nominee, Graham Platner.

Newsweek - Collins is currently polling worse against Platner, who is leading RealClearPolitics’ average by 7.8 points.

Press Herald - A customer at the popular Miss Portland Diner in the West Bayside neighborhood of Portland said she found a hidden camera in the bathroom Wednesday morning. The customer, Cheyenne Farrell, told WGME that the camera was taped to the base of a chair in the corner of the stall, which was facing the toilet.

Tom Manning, a co-owner of Miss Portland, said in a statement Sunday afternoon that he called Portland police after Farrell told them about the camera. He said they are still investigating the situation.

“First and foremost, the safety, privacy and trust of our guests and employees are extremely important to us,” Manning wrote, adding that they turned the camera over to police and are cooperating with the investigation.

Press Herald - This fall, Maine voters could be weighing in on a question about transgender inclusion in school sports and private spaces, put forward by a citizens' initiative. But because of Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows' most recent decision, the debate heads to the judicial branch, where both the Maine Superior Court and Maine Supreme Judicial Court could review it. Here's a closer look at the path a ballot question must take in order to become law.

Maine Morning Star - Several of the 20 contested Republican primaries for the Maine Legislature are in swing districts that’ll be consequential for whether Democrats hold onto their slim majorities in the general election. “Especially in a state like Maine that has smaller legislative districts, you can outperform national trends,” said Billy Bob Faulkingham, the outgoing minority leader of the Maine House of Representatives. Democrats have held a trifecta in state government since Gov. Janet Mills began her tenure in 2019, but the party’s majorities in both chambers have narrowed. In 2024, Maine Democrats bucked national trends of Republicans gaining control of state legislatures, however the Maine GOP flipped seats in each chamber.

WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 key indicators of economic performance and strength. The data set ranges from GDP growth and the unemployment rate to startup activity and the share of jobs in high-tech industries.

Economic Performance of Maine (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

Overall Rank: 48th

47th – Change in GDP

44th – Exports per Capita
32nd – Startup Activity
37th – % of Jobs in High-Tech Industries
47th – Annual Median Household Income
34th – Change in Nonfarm Payrolls
30th – Government Surplus/Deficit per Capita

For the full report

Maine News Sunday May 31

Newsweek - Republican Senator Susan Collins is trailing Democrat Graham Platner in polls for Maine's U.S. Senate race ahead of this year's midterm elections, but she similarly struggled in public polling in her 2020 race but went on to win reelection.

The race is among the most important of the midterms, with Democrats viewing it as a top flip opportunity after former Vice President Kamala Harris carried the state by about 7 percentage points in 2024. On paper, Collins looks more vulnerable now than she did in 2020, but her outperforming the polls that year has raised concerns among Democrats about whether there could be a similar situation this year.

Politico - Graham Platner exchanged sexually explicit texts with multiple women while married to his wife, Amy Gertner, his campaign confirmed to POLITICO on Saturday, the latest scandal he has faced since launching his Maine Senate campaign last year. In a statement, Gertner slammed a former friend for spreading “malicious gossip” in the wake of a Wall Street Journal report that she had informed her husband’s campaign of the texts in late August.

Two new books dive deep into the history of Maine’s Irish immigrants

News Center Maine - Streets in Maine were closed Saturday morning as crews worked to clear trees and restore power following strong winds. A cold system from Canada brought chilly temperatures, rain, and winds to Maine, according to NEWS CENTER Maine Meteorologist Christian Bridges. In Portland, wind gusts were up to 45 mph.

Brunswick neighborhood market to close after 71 years (pressherald.com)

FREEPORT

At Wolfe's Neck Center Farm Camp, kids engage in hands-on learning immersing them in sustainable agriculture and the environment. From caring for livestock, tending (and tasting) what is in our gardens, exploring our surrounding ecosystems and making new friends, campers fill their days with fun and discovery. While emphasizing play, exploration and farm-based activities, campers will try new things, gain confidence and skills, and grow in their individual relationship with farming and food. Our nonprofit educational farm is located just five miles from I-295 and downtown Freeport, ME. CONTACT

JOBS

Domino's Pizza, Inc. posted a job opening for Customer Service Rep(03091) - 8 School St. in Freeport. Apply here.
First Atlantic Health Care posted a job opening for Certified Nursing Assistant - Med Tech -CNA-M in Freeport. Apply here.
You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

Low-carbon design shapes agricultural education center (constructionspecifier.com) — Freeport’s Wolfe’s Neck Center has opened a new low-carbon Smith Center for Education and Research, giving local agricultural programs a permanent, energy-efficient home. Built with mass timber, biogenic materials, and rooftop solar, the Grange Life facility dramatically cuts energy use while echoing traditional barn architecture. It’s designed to host public meetings and hands-on sustainable farming education for the community.

REST OF MAINE

Press Herald - Democratic challenger Graham Platner has so far outraised Republican Susan Collins in the race for her U.S. Senate seat, $16.3 million to $15.1 million. But Platner is also outspending the incumbent, $14.1 million to $7 million, according to campaign finance reports.

WCVB - For generations, Fogg’s Water Taxi has helped people navigate Maine's Casco Bay, connecting island communities and visitors across the region's busy coastal waters. The family-owned business offers transportation throughout the bay, along with sightseeing tours that showcase the region’s islands and waterfront views. Despite the large area they cover, owner Dennis Fogg says the service stays efficient thanks to Fogg's fleet of seven boats.

But the Fogg family’s connection to boating goes beyond transportation. At nearby Fogg Boatworks in Yarmouth, the family also designs and builds the vessels they use. The company manufactures custom aluminum work boats known as Foggcraft, built for a range of commercial and practical uses.

The boats are designed with Maine’s unpredictable coastal conditions in mind. According to the company, the vessels are fuel efficient and capable of handling rough weather, making them well suited for life and work on Casco Bay.

Midcoast Now - Read about some new ventures for Rice's Drug Store in Bath and STARC on Brunswick Landing, and a goodbye to Tess' Market in Brunswick.

Bronze flag holders disappear from veterans’ graves in apparent theft on Orr’s Island

Maine News Friday, May 29

Graham Platner - Multibillionaire Ken Griffin just gave $2,500,000 to Susan Collins’s super PAC (after she voted four times to cut his taxes).

Susan Collins opposes Donald Trump’s $1B ballroom request

Maine Morning Star - In their final debate, the five Democrats running for governor were asked how they would help struggling renters. From rent relief to eviction prevention, the candidates highlighted parts of their housing plans, while reiterating much of what they’ve said before: there’s a housing crisis, with insufficient stock and a dearth of affordable options.

Shah, the former head of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, talked about his immigrant family living in a “ratty” apartment in the west side of Chicago fearful of getting the boot from the landlord. He said in Maine “it is relatively easy to evict somebody if they are not paying their rent in a timely manner” and as governor he would shore up tenants’ rights. He also talked about permanently funding rent relief as well as existing programs that provide services and support before people are on the cusp of eviction.

Both Jackson and Bellows specifically mentioned the Quality Housing Coalition’s Project Home, a Portland-area eviction prevention program that offers wrap-around services to tenants who have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity, as a model that should be expanded across the state. They also both discussed the impact that private equity is having on the housing market.

“[W]e have to protect the stock that we have right now,” Jackson said, “be it houses, be it apartment buildings, mobile home parks, private equity is coming in here, buying these places up and forcing people out by raising rates, and the greed of this industry is insatiable.”

Jackson, a former Maine Senate President and logger from Allagash, also highlighted the work being done at UMaine Orono to 3D print homes with wood fiber, which is currently being explored as a solution for Bangor’s unhoused community, and said if elected he’d look into tax credits for renters.

“Housing is a human right,” Bellows declared, noting that in her hometown of Hancock, a mobile home park bought by private equity is pricing out longtime residents. Bellows, who currently serves as Maine Secretary of State, said the state needs to take a “housing first approach,” and said if elected she’d expand recovery homes and support a tenant’s bill of rights.

King did not say how he would help renters but highlighted the impact on companies that can’t secure affordable or stable housing for employees. “That is a huge problem for our economy, not just for our families, and for creating more and better jobs,” he said.

Center Square - The Department of Justice filed separate federal lawsuits Wednesday against Washington, Oregon, Maine and Massachusetts, escalating a clash between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states over federal immigration enforcement. The legal action follows a formal warning issued earlier this month by the Justice Department, which all four states refused to act upon. Federal officials argue the restrictions violate the U.S. Constitution, intentionally obstruct federal power and put undercover agents at risk. The lawsuits stem from decisions by state motor vehicle departments to suspend or heavily restrict the issuance of confidential, undercover license plates to Department of Homeland Security personnel, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.

Maine News Thursday May 28

Maine Dems - Susan Collins is running for her sixth Senate term. ... Just look at who writes her paychecks.

Corporate PACs like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and the Koch Brothers
93% of donors come from outside of Maine. (In fact, the majority of her donors live in Florida!)
65% of of her individual contributions are more than $2,000
Her average campaign contribution is $997

Press Herald - Two students from Portland High School and Bonny Eagle High School took home the 2026 Junior Achievement Titan state championship for southern Maine. The pair beat over 140 other teams in the simulated business-building competition, and will represent the region at nationals in Boston next month.

Freeport-area schools pass $47.6 million budget

Freeport

Public Works will begin crack sealing on South Street at Bow Street, and continuing on South Street to South Freeport Road, past South Freeport Village Market and up to Smelt Brook Road, at which point Maine DOT maintains South Freeport Road as it continues back up to Rte 1. The rubberized crack fill preserves the road by keeping water from getting in and disrupting the foundation. This… (Nextdoor )

JOBS

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. posted a job opening for AE - Stock Associate - Evening (Off-Hours) in Freeport. Apply here.
Wal-Mart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Brunswick. Apply here.
You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

Pownal Election Info

State Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, June 9 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. This election determines party nominees for upcoming races and includes local positions as well as the Budget Validation Referendum (BVR). Registered voters will vote at their town polling place to approve or reject the total school budget. Residents are encouraged to prepare in advance by:

Reviewing the sample ballots
Learning more about candidates
Review School Budget documents at RSU 5 website
Request or return absentee ballots

You can access all of this information—including our “Meet the Candidates” page—on the Town’s election resource page. Taking a few minutes to review this information ahead of time can help ensure a smooth and informed voting experience.

Healthcare Spending in Maine (1=Most Expensive; 25=Avg.):

Average Cost of Health Care: $579.10
Average Cost of Health Care as % of Median Monthly Household Income: 9.30%
6^th – Average Price of a Doctor Visit
13^th – Average Price of a Dentist Visit
7^th – Average Price of an Optometrist Visit

For the full report

Maine News May 27 Wednesday

X New - UNH Senate poll - Maine

Platner 51% Collins (Inc) 42%

Press Herald - A new independent poll suggests that undecided voters in Maine’s gubernatorial primaries are making up their minds, leading to a surge in support for former Senate President Troy Jackson among Democrats. The University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll, conducted May 21-25, showed a 12-point jump since February for Jackson, who is now tied at 28% with former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav Shah, the perceived front-runner.

The survey comes with less than two weeks left before the June 9 primaries. It’s the first poll showing Jackson in first place. Even his own internal poll in March showed him trailing Shah by 13 points.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows polled at 13% — a six point drop since February. But her showing was enough to maintain a one-point lead over former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree, who increased her support to 12%.

Green energy entrepreneur Angus King III came in at 7% — up two points since February.

Maine Biz - Maine employers added 1,700 nonfarm wage and salary jobs in April, fueled by hiring momentum in health care and professional and business services. Gains were partially offset by a decline in construction jobs, though employment in that sector remained roughly in line with year-ago levels, the latest monthly barometer from the Maine Department of Labor shows.

Maine nonfarm wage ands salary jobs increased by 1,700 in April, according to preliminary estimates from the Maine Department of Labor.

Maine’s unemployment rate edged down slightly to 3.1% in April, marking 52 months below 4%.

The rate compares to 3.2% in March and 3.3% in April 2025, Maine’s jobless rate has been below the U.S. average for more than 18 years and remains below the state’s long-term average of 5.4%, dating back to 1976. Unemployment averaged 4.4% for New England and 4.3% for the U.S. in April.

News Center Maine - When Nirav Shah announced he was running to be the next governor of Maine, his first campaign pillar was “to feed kids,” and with two weeks before the primary, he explained how. In Freeport on Tuesday, Shah spoke to the press and supporters about his plan to combat hunger. Focusing on out-of-school programs and streamlining bureaucracy, Shah said he wants to ensure that no Maine child or family is food insecure. The plan involves at least $60 million in spending from the state’s rainy-day fund, something Republicans have long opposed.

Press Herald - The Portland Teachers Union is urging voters to reject the school district’s proposed, $179.3 million budget. The “vote no” campaign is a first for the union, which has never asked voters to vote against a budget until now. Union leaders say the potential budget prioritizes administrators while cutting essential positions.

JOBS

Advantage Solutions posted a job opening for Traveling Retail Merchandiser in Freeport. Apply here.
McDonald's posted a job opening for Shift Managers - Opening, Day, and Closing Shifts in Freeport. Apply here.
You can search for other jobs near Freeport here.

Already overwhelmed this election season? Unsure where to start? Check out our 2026 voter guide, which covers everything from the federal level to local races, referendums, and measures across Maine. It includes an election timeline and candidate profiles.

After a record year for pedestrian deaths in Cumberland County in 2025, District Attorney Jacqueline Sartoris has announced a new policy requiring law enforcement to treat all crashes involving pedestrians or bicyclists that result in injury as potential criminal or civil matters and refer them to her office for review….

Under the policy, police agencies in Cumberland County must secure crash scenes, preserve physical and digital evidence, and forward complete investigative reports to the district attorney’s office for review of possible charges or civil enforcement actions, the office said in a press release.

Maine Morning Star - The Trump administration had given Maine a deadline of Friday to rescind its policy denying immigration authorities covert license plates. The state didn’t budge, leaving the threat of a lawsuit lingering. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows had received a request from federal authorities for undercover license plates a week before U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s large-scale operation in the state began in January, and amid a major surge in Minnesota where federal agents shot and killed U.S citizens.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows invalidated a citizen-led ballot initiative aiming to restrict transgender students’ access to school bathrooms, locker rooms and team sports that align with their gender identity. That’s because the group leading the effort did not collect enough valid signatures to qualify for a ballot referendum, she said at a Tuesday press conference in Augusta.

FREEPORT NEWS

Town of Freeport- Public Works will begin crack sealing on South Street at Bow Street, and continuing on South Street to South Freeport Road, past South Freeport Village Market and up to Smelt Brook Road, at which point Maine DOT maintains South Freeport Road as it continues back up to Rte 1. The rubberized crack fill preserves the road by keeping water from getting in and disrupting the foundation. This project is scheduled over the next 2-3 weeks and traffic will continue to flow around as the work is done.