Maine Biz - Maine may be known as Vacationland, but it’s also one of the best states in the country to find a job, a report from WalletHub shows.In its 2026 ranking of the best and worst states for jobs, the personal finance website placed Maine at No. 7, between Washington at No. 6 and Texas at No. 8. Nebraska claimed the top spot, while West Virginia ranked last at No. 50.
Nathan Bernard - The state of Maine shattered another statewide record for heating oil prices this week. On October 29, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER)’s weekly survey showed average statewide heating fuel prices rising to $6.05 per gallon as of October 26. This broke the previous record average statewide prices of $6.04 set on October 22, and $6.02 per gallon on September 21.
The record-shattering heating prices are taking their toll on Mainers ahead of the midterm elections on November 3. Roughly half of Mainers rely on heating oil as their principal energy source in winter—compared with just 3% nationwide—meaning Mainers face an increase of thousands of dollars in heating. The heating oil price hikes are directly affected by the war in Iran and closure of the strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly 20% to 25% of the world’s seaborne oil and petroleum product flow. Sen. Susan Collins voted to extend U.S. military operations in Iran five times since February 2026. Canvassers across the state are hearing that heating oil is a top issue for Maine voters in the Senate race
Covenant Health has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a class action lawsuit over a data breach that impacted at least 284,000 Mainers.
UPCOMING
Calendar for Wolfe's Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment
News Center Maine - L.L.Bean is gearing up to transform its Freeport flagship campus into a winter wonderland for its annual Northern Lights Celebration. The festivities kick off Friday, Nov. 6, with a new Holiday Treat Weekend, marking the first of 11 themed weekends stretching into the new year.
….The annual tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, at Discovery Park, where a 32-foot Norway spruce will be illuminated alongside performances by local a cappella groups.
Other holiday activities include movie nights, trivia, gift-making workshops, pet visits with Santa, holiday light displays, and heated igloos.
Visitors can also enjoy themed weekends featuring holiday treats, nostalgic decorations, gift wrapping, and other seasonal activities.
The celebration will ring in the new year with The Maine Event, a family-friendly New Year's Eve gathering at Discovery Park featuring music, games, and a countdown at 9 p.m. Festivities are scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m.
Northern Lights will continue into the new year with wellness-themed activities, including yoga walks and outdoor experiences.
A full schedule of events and registration information is available here.
OCT 30
NOV 3
Tonic, 7 Dunlap St., Brunswick: Open mic with Rexy Dinosaur, 6-8