Good morning. Temperatures will be in the low 30s throughout the state.
Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.
UMaine football team has a chance to make more history in tonight’s playoff game at 8 p.m.
–UMaine already made history by winning a home playoff game for the first time in the program’s 126 years as the Black Bears topped Jacksonville State 55-27 last Saturday.
Now the 12th-ranked Black Bears (9-3), the No. 7 playoff seed, can become the first UMaine team to reach the Football Championship Subdivision national semifinals if it can knock off third-ranked Weber State (10-2), seeded second, at 8 p.m. tonight in Ogden, Utah.
We’ll keep a live blog so you can stay on top of the action, play by play. Visit bangordailynews.com at 8 p.m. to follow along.
Another Maine town faces a severe shortage of police officers
–Thomaston is the latest Maine town that will have to reduce coverage hours and explore recruitment upgrades because of a shortage of police officers. When an officer leaves for training at the state criminal justice academy in January, it will leave just the police chief and one other officer to cover the town of about 3,000.
How have Paul LePage and his policies personally affected you?
–Since he stepped into the Blaine House in January 2011, Gov. Paul LePage‘s policies and demeanor have made him a polarizing figure. To best understand his legacy, we need to learn what his impact was on the people of Maine. That’s you. Fill out our survey to tell us how LePage has touched your life.
Big investments from China could make Auburn the mushroom capital of North America
–Despite trade tensions at the top levels of government, Auburn’s mayor and other city officials have been quietly courting investment from China. The big payoff could be a $15 million to $20 million deal to open a mushroom growing center in the Maine city. Negotiations continue, with hopes for an agreement early next year and construction by 2020.
State officials proposing major change to trout fishing laws
–In the northern region, general law would prohibit the use of live fish as bait, which would only be allowed on waters governed by special regulations. Two public hearings are scheduled this month to solicit feedback on the proposal.
Add Bar Harbor to the list of towns where single-use plastic bags could be banned
–The town on Mount Desert Island will hold a public hearing in January on a proposal to ban single-use plastic bags at retail establishments. You can check out this map to see which towns in Maine have now banned plastic bags.
Do this: Your Maine weekend guide
This weekend, Penobscot Theatre Company’s production of “Elf: The Musical” opens at the Bangor Opera House, Rubblebucket plays at the State Theatre in Portland on Friday and Talking Heads tribute band Start Making Sense plays on Saturday, and there’s an Ugly Sweater Party at the Rockport Opera House on Friday. Plus, there’s plenty of more going on.
In other news…
Maine
Bucksport man who held police at bay with grenade faces more charges for Halloween standoff
Joyce McLain murder case to be featured on Discovery Channel
Waterville gets $7.3 million from the feds to revitalize its downtown
Bangor
Downtown Bangor’s Tesoro to reopen in late December, and it’ll take credit cards
Want your fill of the holiday classics? Bangor-area theaters have you covered
Three arrested after police find crack cocaine, $5,800 in Jeep
Business
Advocates tell Janet Mills that clean energy and better roads will add good jobs
Aroostook wind power backers see opportunity if CMP transmission project fails
To lure business, Lincoln moves quickly to take advantage of new federal tax break program
Politics
Man behind botched rollout of unemployment system gets new state job in child welfare
Judge rejects LePage bid to stall Medicaid expansion
Recount begins in Maine’s 2nd District with court decision looming
Opinion
Why we must remember the ‘date which will live in infamy’
President George H.W. Bush was exceptional
Michelle Obama said what women are really thinking
Sports
Longtime assistant coach takes over for Narraguagus girls basketball team
National semifinal berth on the line as UMaine battles Weber State
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