Good morning. Temperatures will be in the mid-30s throughout the state.
Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.
Stress rises for Coast Guard families in Maine who don’t know when the next paycheck will arrive
–The ongoing partial federal government shutdown means Coast Guard families don’t know if the paychecks due next Tuesday will arrive. That uncertainty heightens an already stressful situation, and has spurred local and federal government officials to try to offer help. But uncertainty and worry prevails.
The nonprofit group that owns the Millinocket mill site is trying to eliminate a $1.4 million IRS debt
–The IRS’ $1.4 million lien against the Millinocket mill property last month caused a North Carolina forest products company to cancel its plans to develop a $30 million factory on the former mill property. So Our Katahdin, the nonprofit group that owns the mill site, has filed a third appeal with the IRS contesting the tax debt. The debt is also preventing the release of more than $8 million in funding to help along the site’s redevelopment.
Some Bangor students have started to get free meals after school
–A partnership including Bangor schools, the Boys and Girls Club of Bangor and the Good Shepherd Food Bank has brought more complete meals to after-school programs at Fairmount School and the Boys and Girls Club. “This is giving them enough energy to get through after-school activities, but some of them have expressed to me that that’s also their dinner for the night,” said Tiffany Lindsey, who oversees after-school programs at three Bangor schools.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will make an appearance in Eastport
–De Blasio is making his second appearance in the small, Washington County city in as many years. Last year, de Blasio’s talk was on the state of democracy. This year, he is expected to give an informal talk titled “50 Years After MLK: The Path to Progressive Change Today.” The talk will serve as a fundraising benefit for the Eastport Arts Center.
An acclaimed photographer put a portrait booth outside BIW
–And she learned a lot about the men and women who build ships there. “I learned that — and this I’m not proud of this — I made some assumptions going into this,” Heather Perry said.
A group that wants to buy land that’s key to preserving public access near a Maine island beach is running out of time
–Monday is the deadline for Land for Southport’s Future to finish raising the $800,000 needed to buy a 3-acre parcel that would preserve public access to Hendrick’s Head Beach.
Do this: See Phish in Bangor this summer
–Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Jon Fishman and Page McConnell will perform in Bangor on Tuesday, June 25 and Wednesday, June 26, as part of a 26-date summer tour. A ticket request period is currently underway at tickets.phish.com, ending at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21. Tickets go on sale to the general public via Ticketmaster beginning Jan. 26, and are priced between $45 and $85.
In other news…
Maine
First review in two decades shows all the ways Maine failed kids with mental health problems
Maine man who fought with a trooper and fled to Hawaii to serve 2 years in prison
Camden charter captain acquitted in crewman’s death at sea
Bangor
Walter Musson, who made a living as Bangor’s ‘Slate Man,’ dies at 68
Hampden Academy basketball’s starting center hospitalized after car crash
‘Bro-country’ duo Florida Georgia Line will return to Bangor waterfront in July
Business
‘Development disease’ fears don’t stop Tractor Supply from moving closer to building in Belfast
Developer proposes new restaurant, hotel and rooftop bar in Portland
Sears gets another reprieve from liquidation
Politics
Mills to release senior housing bonds that LePage blocked since 2015
What has to happen before the new governor’s Cabinet can be sworn in
Trump ends talks after Democrats reject wall money, calls meeting ‘total waste of time’
Opinion
Trump’s prime-time speech perpetuates border wall fight
Universal pre-K is the wrong path forward for education
Share your top issue for Maine in 2019
Sports
Vermont men’s basketball team coasts past UMaine
Lukas, Costigan, Leithiser, Godsoe to join Old Town athletic hall of fame
Former UMaine football head man named AFCA National Coach of the Year
