Good morning. Temperatures will be in the 20s, with some clouds throughout the state.
Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.
The lawyers who have been fighting for a Maine pastor’s right to protest abortion in Portland want out
–Attorneys Kate Oliveri and Stephen Whiting are asking the court to allow them to drop Andrew March as a client in his ongoing legal case against Attorney General — and governor-elect — Janet Mills and the city of Portland.
The lawyers say March has effectively stopped communicating with them over the case, making it impossible for them to continue representing him.
The Lewiston pastor filed his civil suit in 2015, claiming that Mills, the city and several police officers violated his constitutional rights by ordering him not shout his protests from the sidewalk outside the Congress Street Planned Parenthood clinic
Poliquin to appeal ruling that rejected his legal challenge to ranked-choice voting
–Outgoing U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin on Monday said he will appeal a federal judge’s ruling last week that rejected the Republican’s challenge to the state’s ranked-choice voting system, a move that could keep the longshot lawsuit alive for months.
Miller Drug, a Bangor household name, will become Northern Light Pharmacy
–It’s the latest phase of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems’ rebranding as Northern Light Health. The pharmacy has been affiliated with the health care system since 2010 and a wholly owned subsidiary of it since 2014.
Vintage ‘Broke Neck Santa’ a Belfast conversation piece
–Lots of towns have festive seasonal light displays that help to dispel some of the darkness that falls all too early in December in Maine. But only one Maine city’s municipal Christmas lights feature a vintage version of the jolly old elf with his head cocked at a deeply quizzical, not to say uncomfortable-looking, angle. That would be Belfast, and that’s Broke Neck Santa, as locals affectionately call him.
BDN outdoors artist, columnist Tom Hennessey remembered as a Maine classic
–Throughout a 54-year career at the Bangor Daily News, Tom Hennessey left a legacy that will likely never be matched. His work as an artist and illustrator, combined with columns that he wrote about Maine’s outdoors, transported readers to some of Hennessey’s favorite places and defined the state’s outdoors traditions for many.
“Thanks, Tom Hennessey. You reminded us that our state was a precious place,” Bruce Bowden of Eddington said.
This record-setting UMaine football team was the best in school history, and next year’s could be even better
–The University of Maine started the season by enduring the death of freshman Darius Minor and was picked to finish eighth in the Colonial Athletic Association. However, a stout, swarming defense and a balanced offense enabled the Black Bears to reach the Football Championship Subdivision national semifinals.
In other news..
Maine
Maine works to cut emissions from transportation sector
What to know before you eat snow
Maine Maritime’s Bucksport annex could be training sailors this spring
Bangor
Spanish Mass is music to the ears of Bangor area speakers of Espanol
Longtime BDN artist, columnist Tom Hennessey dies at 81
Orneville pair in stolen truck allegedly lead police on chase through Bangor
Business
French company buys Maine plants in $555 million deal
LL Bean heiress allowed to go forward with Wyeth Reading Room project
Maine’s minimum wage to go up to $11 on Jan. 1
Politics
Mills taps AG’s office chief to lead Maine’s budget department
2 Democrats, including Bangor’s council chair, announce bids in special House race
What Janet Mills’ first Cabinet choice says about how she plans to govern Maine
Opinion
How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus
The Tom Hennessey I’ll always remember
Sports
4 UMaine football players earn postseason honors
With two weeks left in the NFL regular season, here are 6 big unanswered questions
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