Good morning. Temperatures will be in the high teens in the north and mid-20s in the south, with partly sunny skies and a chance for snow in parts of the state.
Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.
This year marks 50 years since Bangor tore down its old city hall to put up a parking lot
–The old building, knocked down in early 1969, was one of the most distinctive structures in Bangor. Opened in 1894, the 4½-story building was known officially as the Samuel F. Hersey Memorial Building and was located at the corner of Hammond and Main streets. It had not only the usual offices, but a large public auditorium with 1,500 seats and a horseshoe-shaped balcony.
Students in 3 Maine towns thought they had little in common. Then they started talking.
–Twenty years ago, Operation Breaking Stereotypes got its start as a partnership between Orono High School and a high school in the Bronx. Today, the nonprofit’s founder has set her sights on making students within Maine realize how much in common they have with students elsewhere in the state with backgrounds that appear insurmountably different. The overriding message? Students are more than the stereotypes that might define their communities.
A dog went missing in Massachusetts 8 months ago. Then he turned up 175 miles away in Maine.
–No one will ever know how Kaiser, a 5-year-old king shepherd, made his way from Ashby, Massachusetts, to South Paris over the past eight months, but Tom Wollcott and his two small children don’t really care. They’re just enjoying their first weekend back together again.
More women step forward about sexual assault cases at UMF to spark changes
–Students at the University of Maine at Farmington are continuing to push the school to improve its response to victims of sexual violence, and the school recently announced additional plans to enhance student safety.
Orono theater presents a play about a boy with autism, for people with autism
–Orono-based theater group Some Theatre Company will offer a special sensory-friendly performance of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” when it stages the play this week. The performance is specially suited to many individuals on the autism spectrum who would have a difficult time sitting in a theater filled with loud sounds and bright lights that can trigger uncomfortable feelings and reactions for those on the spectrum.
Maine school’s plan to ditch white grad gowns for girls sparks debate
–A plan to discontinue the use of white graduation gowns for female seniors at Foxcroft Academy has sparked a debate among students, alumni and others in the community between those who favor the traditional boys-in-burgundy, girls-in-white garb reflecting school colors and those who think the change eliminates gender bias.
Maine farm’s bid to save ‘Game of Thrones’ goats imperiled by crackdown on semen
–The Icelandic goat is critically endangered, with more than 1,000 goats left in the world. The goat was once only found in Iceland, but the rare breed has recently found a second home: Maine.
Though it is the only sanctuary for the species outside Iceland, new international livestock regulations may threaten its future.
Do this: Check in on the latest tourney updates
–There’s another full day of quarterfinal play Monday, and there’s a lot to catch up on from the weekend. No. 2 Hampden Academy was stunned in an upset by No. 7 Skowhegan. MCI ousted Oceanside in an OT battle. Portland nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat rival Deering by 1 point. And one team even earned their school’s first playoff victory ever. Catch up on all of the bracket updates here, and check out Monday’s game schedule here.
In other news …
Maine
Teachers on both sides of school principal controversy say they fear retaliation
Alaska State Troopers arrest Auburn man in connection with 1993 murder
Woman dies after being struck by snowmobile
Bangor
Former Bangor Fire Chief Robert Burke dies at 82
Three buildings go up for sale in downtown Bangor
Bangor Savings Bank buys more waterfront property to handle growth
Business
Get ready to pay higher credit card fees
Discount shoe seller with 4 Maine stores is folding
Maine companies ask for exemptions from Trump’s steel tariffs
Politics
A Corinth official shared a picture of his filled-out ballot. But the election was a month away.
Republican, Libertarian candidates emerge for vacated Maine House seat
Maine has enrolled more than 6,000 under Medicaid expansion so far
Opinion
Republican reservations show danger of border emergency declaration
News media needs to ask hard questions about the Green New Deal
Proposed adjacency rules change is necessary and well crafted
Sports
Get the latest high school basketball tournament results
Florida State rallies to edge UMaine and complete doubleheader sweep
UMaine men’s hockey team rallies to beat Merrimack
Your Morning Update is published every weekday. To receive this in your inbox weekday mornings, or to check out our range of free newsletters, click here.
To subscribe to the Bangor Daily News, click here.