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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“If you had asked me in high school if I wanted to do it I would have said, ‘absolutely.’ But I came from a poor family, so the idea never seemed like it had an actual chance of happening.”

— Ryan Lounder of Ellsworth, who started his first business with the help of a $1,400 COVID-19 stimulus check when he was 21 and is now opening his third hobby and gaming shop in downtown Houlton.

TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Maine’s top federal prosecutor was fired by the Trump administration. Darcie McElwee, a Caribou native, had served as U.S. attorney for Maine since 2021.

Toxic BPA is more common in Maine groceries than you think. More than a decade after Maine restricted its use, the chemical is still widespread and doesn’t always have to be disclosed.

New details emerged about a proposed 80-bed rehab hospital in Bangor. If built, it would fill a gap in the region’s rehabilitation services and add another hospital to Encompass Health’s portfolio of more than 160 facilities in 37 states and Puerto Rico.

A Hermon food pantry lost its planned new location after a debacle with town. An old lease was never completed, and on Thursday the Town Council voted to block the nonprofit from building on the land it was planning to occupy.

A historic inn in one of Maine’s priciest towns is for sale. The sweeping 10-bedroom property is just a half-mile from downtown. Running it as an inn is optional.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

MAINE IN PICTURES

Dexter’s Desiree Adams and Fort Kent’s Lily Oliver scramble for the ball during the Class C North Quarterfinals at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on Monday. Credit: Kim Higgins / BDN

Follow our full coverage of the high school basketball tournament by visiting our tourney page.

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. Credit: Alex Brandon / AP

“A legitimate audit for fraud, waste, and abuse would employ accountants and auditors with proven track records and security clearances.”

Opinion: Why Maine unions are suing to stop Musk and DOGE

LIFE IN MAINE

A young gaming entrepreneur is branching out to Aroostook County. Ryan Lounder started his first business with the help of a $1,400 COVID-19 stimulus check when he was 21.

The voice of Maine sportsmen turns 50 this year. “SAM is our watchdog in Augusta, always there, always vigilant and always offering testimony that is not only compelling, but also well researched and representative of the views of its membership,” V. Paul Reynolds writes.