Good morning. Temperatures today will be in the mid-40s throughout the state today.
Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.
The road construction projects you’ll encounter in Bangor when winter turns to spring
–Paving, stop light replacements, a redesigned downtown parking garage and a new walking trail so pedestrians no longer have to use a drainage pipe are in store for the construction season.
Maine dark money group was nearly dormant but continued paying the LePage allies who ran it
–While Maine People Before Politics slowly wound down around 2016, it still paid a total of nearly $100,000 to the governor’s daughter and top political adviser. Those expenses included paying Lauren LePage more than $30,000 for a total of 12 1/2 months of work as executive director over the course of fiscal years 2016 and 2017, a job she held while attending the University of Maine School of Law. During that same period, the group paid $65,000 to the firm run by the former governor’s longtime political strategist, Brent Littlefield, who is now a media adviser for the group.
Katahdin’s Dudley Trail won’t reopen for the 2019 hiking season
–The popular route up Mount Katahdin closed in 2016 after a rock and debris slide. It was originally supposed to reopen in 2018.
Times and owners are changing, but Maine country stores are holding their own
–Ownership changes at two Knox County general stores have not stopped both places from being centerpieces of community. The new owners might make subtle changes, but the core of what makes country stores so quintessentially Maine will continue.
Mainers are old, but still doing things ‘most people half their age don’t do’
–Maine people are the oldest folks in the country. There’s more oldsters here, relatively speaking, than any other state in the union. That fact is usually seen as an economic and health care conundrum to be solved. But for one Maine man, it’s a photographic opportunity and something to celebrate.
3 simple steps you can take to protect yourself from identity fraud
–It is important to emphasize that there are powerful things you can do to make sure that your data is protected. Rather than be the next victim, you can be your own best fraud fighter instead.
Do this: Walk off cabin fever with these winter treks
–In Maine, the tail end of winter often brings on a little cabin fever. Grab your snowshoes and get outside.
In other news…
Maine
Petition hopes to bring back ‘Indian’ mascot in Skowhegan
Mainers are old, but still doing things ‘most people half their age don’t do’
Forestry officials find destructive emerald ash borer in York County trees
Bangor
Students move eggs with excavators at annual trade competition in Bangor
Bangor-based National Guard battalion tapped for deployment
Former Bangor coach Roger Reed honored by peers
Business
Almost 60 percent of US women have jobs
IRS waives tax penalty for certain fishermen and farmers
Brunswick solar farm owner buys 3 clean-energy trade shows
Politics
Jared Golden has heated exchange with House GOP leader over election reform bill
Lawmakers push new Maine DHHS chief for greater urgency on child welfare cases
How Maine’s members of Congress voted this week
Opinion
Blame Democrats, not me, for Paul LePage victories
Maine can have both environmental stewardship and aquaculture innovation
Democrats might need Biden more than they know
Sports
UMaine rallies past Albany for berth in America East women’s basketball final
McGovern backstops UMaine men’s hockey shutout of Boston U
Greely shuts out Old Town-Orono for Class B hockey title
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