Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024

Quote of the Day

“I feel like my son died from gun violence. Even though it was self-inflicted, it still counts, right?”

— Steve Cartwright, whose son Joel took his own life in 2008 with a gun he bought the same day.

Today’s Top Maine Stories

A year after the Lewiston mass shooting, Maine is still struggling to define its relationship with guns. Some of the victims and their family members have become gun control advocates, while others have bought guns and taken self-defense classes after having little interest in them before. But they all fear Maine, once considered immune from mass shootings, will see more violence.

We talked to Northern Light Health’s finance chief about the health care system’s $100 million deficit. The challenges facing James Rohrbaugh are notable. Northern Light, which another credit agency is eyeing for a potential downgrade, is one of the state's biggest health care systems and one of its largest private employers.

Maine could crack down on illegal political “straw donors.” Today the maximum penalty for secretly funneling money through an intermediary is $5,000. The Maine Ethics Commission thinks it should be much more.

This is how to apply for Maine’s new eviction prevention program. In contrast to earlier programs, income-qualified applicants will get monthly rent subsidies for up to a year beyond back rent.

News from Around the State

More than a third of Mainers are not confident their votes will be counted

1 in 4 Maine voters have requested absentee ballots

Your Maine election questions answered on Reddit by BDN’s political editor

Aroostook fire destroys $500,000 worth of antique cars

Nurses picket Aroostook hospital over contract bargaining

4 arrested in Aroostook County for allegedly dealing fentanyl and meth

Aroostook wildlife refuge receives $12K from contractor that released pollutants

25-room inn proposed near Bar Harbor school

Fire truck crashes in Hancock County

76-year-old Maine man dies after truck runs him over

21-year-old dies in central Maine rollover crash

Bangor girls soccer defeats Brewer to earn top seed in A North

These 4 high school teams had key football wins

UMaine hockey wants to end years of frustration at Northeastern’s Matthews Arena

Maine in Pictures

Things to do this Weekend

There’s a whole slew of Halloween-themed events in the Bangor region this weekend, including the Maine Witch Walk and Goblin Market on the Bangor Waterfront from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, the Downtown Bangor Trick or Treat at businesses all throughout downtown from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, and another weekend of the Maniac Manor Haunted House at the Bangor Mall. There’s also the annual Kenduskeag Haunted House, a community-sponsored event at the Kenduskeag Ballfield from 7 p.m. to midnight on both Friday and Saturday. If Halloween’s not your thing, there’s the return of the Dueling Pianos show at 8 p.m. Friday at Hollywood Casino, and jazz singer Michael Feinstein performs at the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono, also at 8 p.m. Friday.

From the Opinion Pages

Life in Maine

Maine snowbirds may want this new Florida bird identification book. "Much has changed In just 15 years. Boreal chickadees could be found along the Maine coast as far south as Vinalhaven,” Bob Duchesne writes.

Here are five Maine hikes to enjoy the fall foliage. Consider taking a walk and enjoying this fleeting and colorful time of year.

Maine hunters go to extreme lengths to stop people from stealing their trail cameras. Stolen trail camera equipment means a loss of time, money and, of course, the images.

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