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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I haven’t seen another project like this in Maine, and I think it would be a model project for other communities.” 

— Luke Dyer, manager of the Aroostook County town of Van Buren, on plans for a town-run community hub and small business incubator, created in collaboration with university students from Philadelphia.

TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Jonathan Bush says Maine is thinking too small about its economy. The nephew of President George H.W. Bush and the cousin of President George W. Bush is not launching a campaign in Maine yet, but he is taking a new step onto our political stage.

A Democrat with national ties announced his 2026 bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. Jordan Wood joins a field of potential Democratic contenders, including Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis, Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau and former state Sen. Cathy Breen.

The parts of Maine hit hardest by the housing crisis are far from the coast. Here are three areas where housing prices have risen the most since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Explore this map of home value increases across the state.

A new bill would give police the option to refer kids accused of crimes to state health officials instead of sending them to juvenile court. But discussion among lawmakers last week hit a familiar snag: How exactly would the collaboration between health and corrections officials work?

The Bangor Daily News sued the town of Orrington for records on the local trash plant. We are seeking records of the town’s invoices, receipts, other payments and contracts between Orrington and the Eagle Point Energy Center.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

MAINE IN PICTURES

Jonathan Bush, who is considering a run for the 2026 Republican gubernatorial nomination, speaks with a reporter outside of his Cape Elizabeth home Friday. Credit: Michael Shepherd / BDN

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

Diesel technician David Stokdijk, a Northern Maine Community College intern, works on fixing a trucks ABS sensor for a heavy duty truck at northern region Maine Department of Transportation main fleet garage in Caribou on Aug. 24, 2023. Credit: Paul Bagnall / BDN

“Maine legislators are debating the budget now, and there is a very real chance that Free College will continue to get popular support, but not get funded at the end of the session.”

Opinion: We can’t let free community college slip away

LIFE IN MAINE

A 66-year record for biggest brook trout caught in Moosehead Lake has been broken. Tim Obrey, regional fisheries supervisor, tells the story.

Here are the final results of the 2025 Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race. As unofficial race-day results suggested, a Canadian kayaker had the top time for the 19th year in a row. 

BDN contributor David Small took these amazing photographs of ospreys fishing in the Narramissic River in Orland.