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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“A success of this project is that it’s serving a lot of people. But a consequence of that is that there’s increased traffic.”

— Zach Falcon of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor on the church’s syringe exchange pilot program, which has been popular with users but is causing tension with neighbors.

TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Maine police watched a suspect through a neighbor’s camera for three years without a warrant. Until last week, Willie Banks’ attorney believed the camera just happened to catch the shooting. Then she learned there was more to the story.

A needle exchange at a Bangor church has been popular, but less so with neighbors. The pilot program is one attempt to address the overlapping crises of homelessness, substance use disorder and an ongoing HIV outbreak.

Bobby Charles defended his aggressive plans to cut spending at a Republican debate. The gubernatorial candidate fired off a litany of targets for the $4 billion he wants to cut from the state’s roughly $7 billion budget. On Wednesday evening, Democratic candidates for the 2nd District tackled issues important to Indigenous tribes in Maine during a forum in Presque Isle.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

MAINE IN PICTURES

Jon Hunt, co-owner of The Side Chick Inn in Merrill, holds what he calls the toughest rooster on the farm. Credit: Kathleen Phalen Tomaselli / BDN

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

Republican gubernatorial candidate Garrett Mason (left) gestures to entrepreneur Jonathan Bush at a debate hosted by CBS News 13 and the Bangor Daily News in Portland on May 7, 2026. Credit: Benjamin Kail / BDN

“I believe Garrett Mason is the only tested and vetted conservative in this race with a proven record of delivering results.”

Opinion: I served with Garrett Mason in the Maine Senate. I’m endorsing him for governor.

LIFE IN MAINE

The former Husson president’s house is on the market for $580,000.

Hummingbirds are returning to Maine. See where they are now.

A cow moose and calf showed up at a North Maine Woods checkpoint.