Good morning. Temperatures will range from the single digits to the 20s throughout the state.
Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.
Blue Hill will lose its historic bridge to a $7 million replacement
–The life of one of Hancock County’s most iconic structures is drawing to a close. The Falls Bridge that carries Route 157 traffic between Salt Pond and Blue Hill Harbor will be replaced in three years because it is simply getting too old to warrant further usage. It’s also less expensive to replace the bridge entirely rather than repair the existing, recognizable bridge.
A judge will decide if an accused killer’s confession in a high-profile case should be thrown out
–During a two-day hearing later this week, a Superior Court judge will hear arguments from attorneys for the man accused of killing a Somerset County Sheriff’s deputy last April that his alleged confession should be thrown out because police “beat and pummeled” it out of him. John D. Williams was arrested in Norridgewock last year and accused of murdering Cpl. Eugene Cole, who became the first Maine law enforcement officer to die in the line of duty n 30 years.
State regulators appear poised to make CMP pay for service problems in recent years
— “Based on these substantial shortcomings, the staff is proposing that a management efficiency adjustment be made as part of the rate setting process in this proceeding.” In other words, the beleaguered utility could end up paying another financial penalty for service that fell short of what regulators seek from a publicly regulated utility.
Residents end recall effort as Orrington selectmen hire town manager
–Orrington selectmen Monday night hired a Levant farmer as town manager and collectively breathed a sigh of relief when a group of residents dropped their effort to recall two selectmen.
Maine woman, 25, learns she has cancer just before losing health insurance
–To be diagnosed with a chronic illness just months before losing her parents’ health insurance surely wasn’t something Alex Thayer ever expected.
Maine third-graders won’t be forced to take cursive writing lessons
–A legislative committee on Monday voted unanimously against a bill that would have mandated cursive writing instruction in third through fifth grades at Maine public schools. Instead, the panel will write its own letter — probably not in cursive — to the Maine Department of Education’s Standards Review Committee to nudge that group to study the merits of cursive writing instruction.
Do this: 8 easy ways to repurpose old glass bottles
–Vintage glass bottles are lovely, and there are some really nice new ones too. The prettiest ones are always tempting to hold onto, so why not do it? There are so many easy and fun ways to repurpose old glass bottles. Here are several creative uses for those bottles.
In other news …
Maine
Maine professor continues to inspire with her ‘beyond limits’ adventures
Legislative committee votes against Maine spring bear hunt
High winds cause power outages in southern Maine
Business
New England’s biggest fishing trade show set for this week
New controls in Maine to prevent poaching of valuable eels
Bangor Mall’s fate could be decided by Wednesday
Politics
The push to mandate paid sick leave is gaining ground in Maine
Chellie Pingree supports ruling declaring men-only draft unconstitutional
Janet Mills won’t join group that supports offshore drilling
Opinion
More Republicans should join Susan Collins to block Trump’s emergency declaration
Green New Deal offers a possible route to conquer climate challenge
Sports
Times finalized for Saturday’s state championship basketball games
Sharks acquire former UMaine star from Red Wings for two picks
Two-time Maine Junior golf champion earns top-10 PGA finish
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