QUOTE OF THE DAY

“That was a picture-perfect storm where the roads were being attacked by hydraulic pressure in the day and mechanical pressure of freezing water at night.” 

— Bangor Public Works Director Aaron Huotari describing the winter of 2021-2022. This year has been much different, he said. 

TODAY’S TOP MAINE STORIES

The UMaine women’s basketball and men’s ice hockey teams have big games Friday.

— The women face steep odds in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Ohio State and its standout pressure defense. Here’s how to watch women’s basketball.

— The men take on Boston University in their first trip to the Hockey East semifinals in more than a decade. Here’s how to watch men’s hockey.

 — Despite the teams’ success, a 2022 law prevents you from being able to bet on these games.

Bangor schools switched to full-day prekindergarten, and they are seeing remarkable results.

A Hancock County probate judge won’t go to jail for not paying $43K in child support. He paid up and more.

MAINE IN PICTURES

Traffic follows a plow truck on Route 1A in Holden on Thursday morning. Many Mainers were surprised to wake up Thursday to several inches of snow on the ground and 20 mph winds. More early spring snow is expected on Saturday morning. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

This weekend brings the ninth annual Maine Science Festival in Bangor, featuring three days of programming for all ages centered around science, technology, engineering, math and creativity, at both the Cross Insurance Center and in downtown Bangor. For a full schedule for this free festival, visit mainesciencefestival.org. Also this weekend is Maine Maple Sunday, in which we welcome this season’s first delicious batches of Maine maple syrup. Sugar houses all over the state open their doors to visitors for shopping, samples and family-friendly farm activities. For a full list, visit the Maine Maple Syrup Producers website.

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

In this Sept. 27, 2023, file photo, the Maine Community College System board of trustees listen to Maine Community College System President Dave Daigler (center-right) speak at the Edmunds Conference Center at Northern Maine Community College. Credit: Paul Bagnall / The Star-Herald

“I barely take home more than $1,000 every two weeks. My monthly rent is $885. All of my teeth are rotting, and I can’t afford a dentist … I’m working full time and relying on food stamps and MaineCare to support my family because my employer doesn’t pay me enough.”

Opinion: Community college workers shouldn’t have to rely on food stamps and MaineCare

LIFE IN MAINE

The fastest growth on Maine farms is not the crops but tourism. The finding comes from newly released census data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The U.S. National Biathlon Championships are this weekend in Fort Kent. The snow and cold weather came back just in time.

USA Today published its 2024 Restaurants of the Year. Maine’s lone entry on the 46-deep list is a rustic reservation-only spot in the interior midcoast (and it’s not The Lost Kitchen).