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QUOTE OF THE DAY
— Navindra Seeram, dean of the pharmacy school at the University of New England in southern Maine, who published more than three dozen studies promoting the health benefits of maple syrup while being funded by the industry, according to the new investigation by The New York Times and health news outlet The Examination. Seeram’s work has suggested maple syrup may help prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, bacterial disease, inflammation and other ailments.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES
Two Maine Democrats voted with Republicans against new gender identity protections. The bill is unlikely to pass because Republicans can block the required two-thirds majorities.
Gov. Janet Mills said she’s “happy to go to court” over the Trump administration’s Title IX lawsuit. And despite tariffs, the governor, speaking at a tourism conference in Bangor on Thursday, told Canadians “we want you here” for Maine’s tourist season.
A new initiative is helping schools buy local food after a U.S. Department of Agriculture program was canceled. It’s part of a larger effort to address food insecurity in Maine, given ongoing challenges to providing all kids with adequate nutrition and the loss of federal funding.
A Maine researcher promoted maple syrup while getting industry funding. Navindra Seeram’s work has suggested maple syrup may help prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, bacterial disease, inflammation and other ailments.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
- Maine farmers call on Trump administration to restore USDA funds and staff
- Bill that would open MDI to deer hunting draws mixed response
- You can get free help to protect your catalytic converter at this Bangor event
- Locals applaud Maine school board’s break with Janet Mills on transgender students
- Hancock County probate judge suspended from the bench a 2nd time
- Stockton Springs convenience store closes after less than a year
- Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in deadly Waterville shooting
- Massachusetts man allegedly led Maine police on high-speed chase across 2 counties
MAINE IN PICTURES
FROM THE OPINION PAGES
“Many Americans have been trained to see taxes as theft and government as corrupt. I believe that mindset isn’t just misguided — it’s dangerous. Functioning societies cost money. If we want clean water, safe roads, decent schools, reliable hospitals and public systems that work, we have to stop pretending we can have them for free.”
LIFE IN MAINE
Eggs are expensive. Enter the Easter potato. Smoother-skinned potatoes can be dyed with food coloring. So can jumbo marshmallows or wooden eggs.
This $1.6M house for sale on the Penobscot River comes with an indoor pool. “It’s unique, and it’ll take a unique buyer,” the listing agent said. “It’s not a medium-income home.”
A kayaker will try for his 19th win at the annual Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race on Saturday. Rather than lament the fact Trevor MacLean has a stranglehold on the event, paddlers are content to seek success where they can find it.
Versant Power’s 24-hour nesting osprey livestream is online. The utility builds platforms at more than 25 sites to keep the federally protected birds off its electrical infrastructure.