MORE STORIES FROM MAINE, THE NATION AND THE WORLD
June 17
Record temperatures expected as heat wave blasts Maine
Experts say records could be set this week as temperatures are predicted to hit the mid- or upper 90s from Portland to Bangor, foreshadowing what is expected to be a warmer-than-average summer.
June 17
Russian trial of U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich to begin June 26
Russia’s Federal Security Service alleged that the Bowdoin graduate was acting on U.S. orders to collect state secrets but provided no evidence to back up the accusations.
June 17
A year after the Titan’s tragic dive, deep-sea explorers vow to pursue ocean’s mysteries
Concerns have been raised about whether the Titan was destined for disaster on its journey to the Titanic wreck because of the submersible's unconventional design and lack of independent checks that are standard in the industry.
U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to Florida tribe’s online sports betting compact
The plaintiffs questioned whether online sports bets that can be placed from anywhere in Florida could be considered to be on tribal land when only the computer servers that host the betting services are located there.
June 17
Waterville couple look to open food truck court on Kennedy Memorial Drive
Zhanpo "PoPo" Lu of Waterville plans to develop PoPo's Food Truck Court at 121 Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville, where she and her husband, Linjie Gu, would have their own truck and lease space for another 10 food vendors.
June 17
Tobacco-like warning label for social media sought by U.S. surgeon general
Dr. Vivek Murthy said the use of just a warning label wouldn't make social media safe for young people, but it would be a part of the steps needed to do so.
June 17
U.S. gives Maine $272 million to expand high-speed internet access
The largest sum of money ever dedicated to expanding broadband in Maine is being made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and follows thousands of comments about how to extend internet service in the state.
June 17
Netanyahu dissolves War Cabinet after key partner resigns from government
The departure of Benny Gantz, a centrist former military chief, increases the Israeli prime minister's dependence on his ultranationalist allies, who oppose a cease-fire.
June 17
Army Reserve commander defends unit’s response to Lewiston shooter’s mental health
Robert Card's battalion commander said his team did all it could to respond to warnings about Card's failing mental health last year and that his medical providers and police should have taken more responsibility.
June 17
Medicare study tracks lost opportunities to treat overdose survivors
People on Medicare who survived a drug overdose were much more likely to later receive opioid painkillers than medication to treat addiction – and some went on to die of an overdose.
June 17
Augusta councilors seek urgency, accountability in spending thousands from opioid settlement
Officials may vote this week on forming a local committee to make recommendations to councilors on how to spend the city's share of Maine's $230 million settlement with pharmaceutical companies.
June 17
Update: New Hampshire man drowns in Kennebec River while fishing with son on Father’s Day
The man was fishing near the Solon Dam when he slipped and became weighed down as water filled his waders, according to officials.
Fewer Maine babies are being born with substance exposure. No one’s sure why
Hospital data show the lowest figures in a decade, but officials say changes in reporting could be skewing the results.
June 17
Maine school districts are working to keep their students engaged over summer break
Educators have long lamented the dreaded 'summer slide,' but communities are more active than ever in providing resources to prevent it.
Maine’s piping plovers are adapting to washed-out beaches after winter storms
Despite washed-out dunes and higher water lines, experts say the endangered piping plovers nesting along the Maine coast appear to be doing well.
June 16
First heat wave in 2 years arrives in Maine this week
We didn’t have much of a summer last year in Maine, but we will make up for it in a big way this time around.
June 16
Mainers unable to find caregivers for all authorized home care hours
One care coordination agency had more than 750 people approved for home care who had no help at all, with demand expected to grow.
June 16
Six months in, Maine’s first public defenders’ office talks strategy
'I think we are fighting a cultural battle here,' the head of the office says.
June 16
Think cicadas are weird? Meet the superfans who eat the bugs, use them in art and even striptease
The periodical cicadas that have blanketed parts of the Midwest this spring are strange creatures, but they have nothing on some of their superfans.
June 16
Trump allies hope his daughter’s father-in-law can help win Arab American votes in Michigan
Massad Boulos, a Lebanese businessman whose son married Tiffany Trump 2 years ago, is now helping the Republican campaign with outreach in the Arab American community.
June 16
Strong winds, steep terrain hamper crews battling Los Angeles area’s first major fire of the year
At least 1,200 people have evacuated with warnings issued to nearby communities.
June 16
Pilgrims commence the final rites of Hajj as Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha
Fourteen pilgrims from Jordan died from sunstroke, and a spokesman for the Saudi Health Ministry said more than 2,760 pilgrims suffered from sunstroke and heat stress Sunday alone.
June 16
Fayette residents agree to spend funds on Starling Hall
Some residents argue town funds should not be spent on restoring the 1879 building, the oldest building built as a Grange Hall in Maine.
June 16
Small plane crash-lands in Androscoggin River in Topsham
The pilot was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
June 16
7 shot when gunfire erupts at pop-up party in Massachusetts
The victims range in age from 17 to 22 years old, officials said. Two of them were in critical condition.
June 16
Russian forces storm detention facility to rescue staff taken hostage, killing hostage-takers
The hostages at the pretrial detention center in Rostov-on-Don were uninjured, Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service said in a statement.
June 16
2 killed and 6 wounded in shooting during a Juneteenth celebration in a Texas park
An altercation began between two groups during a concert at the event and someone started shooting, Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks said during a news conference at the scene.
June 16
George Clooney, Julia Roberts help Biden raise $28 million at fundraiser
Some of Hollywood’s brightest stars have headlined a glitzy fundraiser for President Joe Biden, helping raise what his reelection campaign said was $28 million and hoping to energize would-be supporters ahead of a November election that they argued was among the most important in the nation’s history
June 16
80 countries at Swiss conference agree Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be basis of any peace
Analysts suspected the two-day conference would have little concrete impact toward ending the war because Russia, was not invited. China, which did not attend, and Brazil have jointly sought to plot alternative routes toward peace.
June 16
Israel’s army says it will pause daytime fighting along a route in southern Gaza to help flow of aid
The army said the pause would begin at 8 a.m. and last until 7 p.m. It said the pauses would be daily until further notice.
June 16
Police identify Michigan splash pad shooter, but there’s still no word on motive
Nine people were injured in Saturday's shooting, including an 8-year-old boy and his mother, both of whom were said to be in critical condition.
Why the nation’s eyes will be drawn to Maine’s 2nd House District race this fall
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is seeking a fourth term in Congress against state Rep. Austin Theriault, a former NASCAR driver who easily won the Republican primary after being endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
June 17
Hundreds of Maine households are stranded in PFAS limbo
The state says it can't afford to mitigate PFAS issues at homes near sludge hot spots that pass state drinking water standards but fail the new federal ones.
June 16
From Worumbo Mill to Moxie Festival: Lisbon to celebrate 225 years of history, community and unforgettable stories
The town plans to celebrate its 225th birthday on June 22.
June 16
Arsonist, shooting suspect killed by police was out on bail, say police
Leein Amos Hinkley, 42, was shot and killed Saturday morning during a standoff stemming from an overnight assault and arson, said local and state police Saturday afternoon.
June 15
Search our 2024 database of Maine moose hunting permits
The 2024 Moose Permit Lottery winners database is searchable by hunter's name or hometown.
June 15
Unity Pride returns after crosswalk controversy last year
Despite a citizen petition last year to remove Pride decorations from town property, this year's parade went off without a hitch. Organizers say it shows the strength of Unity's community and plan to make the march an annual event.
June 15
8 Israeli soldiers killed in southern Gaza in deadliest attack on Israeli forces in months
Saturday’s explosion took place in Rafah, a southern city that Israel has identified as Hamas’ last major stronghold.
June 15
Boothbay Harbor couple got to know Maine by visiting every post office
Over 12 years, Margit Ahlin and Al D'Andrea made treks to 444 post offices, including on islands and in convenience stores.
June 15
Dutch tourist found dead on Greek island; 4 other foreign tourists are missing on nearby islands
Authorities were still searching for the 4 people reported missing.
June 15
Haitian leaders oust police chief and appoint a new one as gang violence claims officers’ lives
More than 2,500 people have been killed or injured across Haiti in the first three months of the year as gang violence continues to surge.
June 15
World leaders meet to discuss Ukraine peace roadmap – but Russia is notably absent
Who would and wouldn't show up was a point of intrigue about a meeting that critics said would be pointless without the presence of Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
June 15
Much of U.S. braces for extreme weather, from southern heat wave to possible snow in the Rockies
Temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic and New England will likely peak in the mid- to upper 90s, which is 'nothing to sneeze at even in the middle of the summer, let alone this early in the summer,' said one meteorologist.
June 15
Many Senate Republicans were done with Trump after Jan. 6. Now they want him back in the White House.
Republican senators’ embrace of the former president comes after years of ups and downs.
June 15
Princess of Wales returns to public view after cancer diagnosis
Kate disclosed in March that she was undergoing chemotherapy for an unspecified form of cancer.
June 16
Shots fired, houses burning and gunman holding police at bay in Auburn
Leein Amos Hinkley, 43, was shot dead by police during the hourslong standoff on Russell Avenue in Auburn early Saturday morning.
The AI revolution comes for farmers growing a third of our food
Although AI is increasingly used in agriculture in large swathes of the developed world, from China to the US and Europe, its emergence in poorer nations and for subsistence farmers is relatively new.
June 14
Trek Across Maine riders cycle into Lewiston after 60-mile stint
Many were happy to have good weather for the first day.
June 14
Las Vegas shooting survivors alarmed at U.S. Supreme Court’s strike down of ban on rifle bump stocks
The Trump-era ban on bump stocks, a rapid-fire accessory that allows a rate of fire comparable to that of machine guns, was nixed in a 6-3 majority opinion.
June 14
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa reelected for second term after late coalition deal
His African National Congress party will now co-govern South Africa, marking the nation's first coalition in which no party has a majority.
June 14
First $1 million of PFAS relief fund reaches Maine farmers
The vast majority of it went to replace income lost at 4 Maine farms struggling to overcome contamination, but the the Fund to Address PFAS Contamination will not release any details.
June 14
G7 leaders tackle migration, AI and economic security on second and final day of summit in Italy
'We are working together and with others to address the pressing challenges of our time,' the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations said on the summit's last day.
June 17
Advocacy group says underutilized mental health statute could have prevented Lewiston shooting
Members of the National Shattering Silence Coalition, including former state legislator John Nutting, have urged the commission investigating the shooting to promote expanding use of Maine's progressive treatment program.
June 14
Senate bill contains military blast protection spurred by Lewiston mass shooting
However, the House version of the defense bill, which cleared the House in a partisan vote on Friday, does not contain the Blast Overpressure Safety Act.
June 14
Recount requested in Senate District 24 Democratic primary decided by 24 votes
Initial results showed Denise Tepler of Topsham beating Jean Guzzetti of Bath, 1,822-1,798.
June 14
Waterville workforce housing project secures federal housing assistance grant
The money, which comes from Community Development Block Grant funds, will help pay the costs of converting the historic building downtown at 165 Main St. into 18 workforce housing units.
June 14
Watch: Mainers invited to design new version of old state flag in contest ahead of November vote
Voters will be asked this fall whether Maine should change its official state flag from the current one based on the state seal to a simpler, pine tree design dating to 1901.
June 14
Micro communities for the homeless are sprouting up in U.S. cities
Faced with years of rising homelessness rates and failed solutions, city officials across the U.S. have been embracing rapid housing options emphasizing 3 factors: small, quick and cheap.
June 14
On a warming planet, outdoor concerts need a new safety playbook
Concerts can increase that risk by increasing crowd density, as athletic fields are often converted into standing or seating room for ticket holders.
June 17
Pittston Fair returns to its roots with new June dates that signal fresh start to Maine’s fair season
Maine's agricultural fair season kicks off this week with the Pittston Fair, which is returning to its historic June start date for the first time in many years.
June 14
Fed diverges from global peers in new era of higher for longer
The Fed staying on hold raises questions around harmful foreign-exchange volatility and risks undermining progress on getting inflation down, according to analysis by Bloomberg Economics.
June 14
Photos: Check out the Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market
All photos by Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
June 14
Maine university system holds first conference on artificial intelligence
The event on Friday drew leaders from business, government and academia to talk about keeping Maine at the forefront of AI use and development.
June 14
Kate, Princess of Wales, says she’s making ‘good progress’ in cancer treatment, will attend a public event
The princess says she will attend Saturday’s royal Trooping the Color ceremony, which will mark her first public appearance since her diagnosis.
June 14
Dresden voters to decide on $1.78 million budget at annual meeting Tuesday
Dresden's spending plan reflects increases in the protection services and highway portion of the budget.
June 14
Central Maine arrest log: June 7-14, 2024
Augusta- and Waterville-area arrests for June 7-14, 2024.
June 14
Alex Jones’ assets to be sold to help pay $1.5 billion Sandy Hook debt as company bankruptcy is thrown out
Judge Christopher Lopez approved converting Jones’ proposed personal bankruptcy reorganization to a liquidation, but threw out the attempted reorganization of his company Free Speech Systems.
June 14
Pope Francis becomes first pontiff to address G7 summit, raises alarm about AI
Francis said politicians must take the lead in making sure AI remains human-centric, so that decisions about when to use weapons or even less-lethal tools always remain made by humans and not machines.
June 14
Jay man arrested after late-night car chase through central Maine towns
Zacheriah Adams, 33, of Jay, was arrested after police laid down spike mats, causing the pickup truck he was driving to stop.
June 15
U.S. Catholic bishops approve outreach to Native Americans, acknowledge boarding school traumas
New guidelines outlining outreach to Native American Catholics was completed as details emerge of decades of widespread abuses inflicted on Native children at Catholic boarding schools.
June 14
Supreme Court strikes down ban on bump stocks, used in nation’s deadliest mass shooting
Maine Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a state-level ban on bump stocks earlier this year, one of several gun law reforms passed in the wake of the October mass shooting in Lewiston.
June 14
Week In Photos June 7-14, 2024
Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.
June 14
Israelis, Palestinians hopeful but cautious over latest cease-fire proposal
Hamas is determined to end the war still standing, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to destroy the militant group before ceasing the fighting.
June 14
Putin offers truce if Ukraine exits Moscow-occupied areas, drops NATO bid
Such a deal appears a nonstarter for Kyiv.
June 14
Market Basket opens much anticipated store in Topsham
Maine's third Market Basket location offers a few different options for locals.
June 14
Falling gas prices give Maine drivers a break heading into summer
The downward trend is a reversal of the typical bump in prices following Memorial Day and the start of vacations for millions of Americans.
June 13
Railroad fined $16,500 for spilling 15,000 gallons of oil into Maine waterways
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a settlement with freight-railroad CPKC after 2 of its trains derailed with significant spillage that eventually flowed into the Atlantic Ocean.
June 13
Tropical rainstorms in South Florida lead to flight delays and streets jammed with stalled cars
Since Tuesday, over 20 inches of rain has fallen in some areas, with more predicted in the coming days.
