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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I’m not a great athlete, but I will tell you, when I was a teenager, there were very few gals that I couldn’t take down … And that’s just biological.”

— Former Gov. Paul LePage, explaining why the issue of transgender athletes in high schools is one of his priorities in his quest for Maine’s 2nd District House seat.

TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Paul LePage and Republicans feel 2nd District is theirs to win after Jared Golden’s exit. Former Gov. Paul LePage said his priorities for Maine’s 2nd District election include welfare reform and transgender athlete issues.

A crucial metric about homeownership isn’t being tracked in Maine. The age at which people can afford their first home could be especially useful in Maine — the oldest state in the nation — which needs to attract and retain young people to replace an aging workforce.

The ripple effects of Penobscot County’s HIV outbreak are being felt throughout Maine. Health care providers are confident that this will lead to new HIV cases outside the Bangor area.

One of Bangor’s poorest neighborhoods is collecting essential items for residents in need. With SNAP benefits returning, struggling families can afford food, but everyday items like laundry detergent and diapers can be out of reach.

This Maine family travels to other farms with their dogs to hunt rats. The family has traveled to 30-plus farms and a restaurant to bring their trained dogs to hunt and kill dozens of rodents in a couple hours.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

MAINE IN PICTURES

A screenshot from the new 14-minute documentary “Fifty Seasons” released Saturday by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The film — available on YouTube — details 50 years of black bear research in Maine and highlights one of the nation’s longest-running black bear studies. It features the teams of biologists who have spent decades tracking and monitoring bears across some of Maine’s most rugged terrain. Credit: Courtesy of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

Pam Hetherly fills a syringe with COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic at the Augusta Armory on Dec. 21, 2021, in Augusta. Credit: Robert F. Bukaty / AP

“When these diseases resurface, the costs are high: missed school, strained hospitals, and severe illness. Prevention is the answer — not scrambling to contain an outbreak.”

Opinion: We can’t backslide on vaccines that have improved the lives of our children

LIFE IN MAINE

We’ve rounded up some of our best Thanksgiving advice: how to make gravy for your Thanksgiving feast; apple, pecan and pumpkin dessert recipes; and how to skip the canned pumpkin puree and make your own instead. And if you want to entertain your Thanksgiving dinner companions with trivia, check out these things you may not know about wild turkeys in Maine.

How rare are 300-pound Maine bucks? This chart shows the biggest recorded. Few realize how rare it is for a Maine deer to top 300 pounds field dressed. Only a handful have ever reached that milestone.

Why hunters love Maine’s late deer season. “But when it comes to hunting whitetails, the presence of snow adds a whole new perspective and opens the door to a world of possibilities,” Outdoors contributor Al Raychard writes.

Last member of Peter, Paul and Mary pens book on spiritual journey to Maine. Noel Paul Stookey’s book goes beyond the political messages of Peter, Paul and Mary, into the spiritual experiences that formed his life. 

Christmas is a month away — give Maine adventures, not stuff. “Three non-tangible items have become my perennial go-to gifts for each yuletide season: memberships, adventures and excuses,” writes Outdoors contributor Bob Duchesne.