Good morning. Temperatures will be in the mid-teens in the north and upper 20s in the south and windy throughout the state.
Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.
A month after rescue, orphaned bear cub placed with surrogate family is thriving
–Last month, a bear cub abandoned by its mother as the result of an interaction with a logging operation was relocated to another den with a surrogate mother and siblings. A visit to the site by a state bear crew and the BDN found the family of four appears to be doing well.
A plan to house female inmates at Long Creek could be the first step to closing Maine’s last youth prison
–The Maine Department of Corrections wants to turn empty parts of its embattled youth prison into a women-only detention center. Three senior corrections officials said the move could be the first step of many on a path to ending youth incarceration in Maine.
Even in the winter, Old Town students have their lessons in the woods
–Old Town Elementary School has made a point of bringing students outside throughout the school year as part of their regular lessons. On Monday, kindergarten students were learning about animal habitats and feeding patterns, so the kids practiced hiding from predators.
Washington County joins lawsuits against opioid pill makers and retailers
–The county with the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in Maine has joined what is expected to become a nationwide lawsuit against opioid pharmaceutical manufacturers and the retailers that sell them. The chairman of the Washington County Commission said the opioid epidemic has taken its toll not only on those with addictions and their families, but on the county’s taxpayers.
Few but formidable Greenville girls basketball team playing for a state title
–Greenville is seeking its first girls basketball state championship since 1985. Last year, the Lakers boys ended a 64-year drought by winning the Class D boys basketball title.
New Camden film festival offers a welcome respite from the March doldrums
–The month everyone loves to hate is nearly upon us, but Camden’s new two-day film festival Cabin Fever could save it.
Watch this: A Maine mom with dementia recognizes her daughter
–MJ Grant of Sanford took her mother, who is deaf and battling dementia, to a nearby beach and recorded video of their sign language conversation in the car. In it, Grant captures the moment her mother realizes that she’s talking with her daughter.
“Dementia can be beautiful,” Grant wrote about the exchange. “Within the confusion there can be such beauty and sweet little surprises.”
In other news …
Maine
10 Maine chefs and restaurants named semi-finalists for food ‘Oscars’
Bill passed to protect rights of clammers, wormers at Acadia National Park
Michael Liberty, once called ‘Trump with a Maine accent,’ faces new charges for alleged scam
Bangor
Mills will open Bangor psychiatric facility for which LePage signed $11.3M lease
Bangor beats Cony to reach ‘A’ North hockey semifinals
Old Town mill owner says last week’s steam signals step toward reopening
Business
Aroostook County’s last biomass plant will shut down in April
Waterville mill nears return to full production after fire
US still sends lots of lobster to China, but tariffs keep industry on edge
Politics
Collins says she will oppose confirmation of Wheeler to EPA
Latest GOP push for Maine voter ID seems destined to fail again
Prospect of a referendum creates incentive for a deal on Maine paid sick leave bill
Opinion
The beauty of the Electoral College should not be thrown away
Trust Maine voters to make big decisions, but give them good information
Shutdown’s impacts linger in national parks
Sports
Sixty students compete in Maine’s first girls’ wrestling state championship
UMass Lowell hands UMaine men sixth straight loss
UMaine women’s basketball team wins 10th straight, clinches top playoff seed
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