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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It could be sugar, it could be spices, it could be flour, it could be anything.”
— Jeff Nichols, who worked for decades in silo fire and explosion prevention for industries that deal with “combustible dusts,” such as the wood sawdust that became the fuel for a deadly explosion at a Searsmont lumber mill last week.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES
The on-site investigation into the explosion at the Robbins Lumber mill is expected to continue for several more days. The company told the state it will not lay off any workers. A funeral has been set for the firefighter who died.
Here’s what causes silo explosions like the one at a Searsmont lumber mill last week. Silo fires have happened in Maine before, but explosions are unusual. The Bangor Daily News archives record only one, in 2017.
Bangor is poised to spend more money on homelessness as residents question the results. The BDN identified nearly $375,000 in spending last year for Bangor projects that were primarily homelessness-related.
Donald Trump’s shipbuilding plan has Maine politicians worried about Bath Iron Works. At least 10 BIW-built destroyers are deployed in the Middle East amid a tenuous ceasefire with Iran, a reminder of what the shipyard produces.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
- Nirav Shah’s opponents criticize him for getting ad help from a school-choice group
- Janet Mills backs Hannah Pingree to succeed her as governor
- Maine’s public universities on verge of closing $1.39M deal for 1st systemwide AI tool
- Bangor tied a heat record Tuesday. It may break one today.
- A church is moving into Bangor’s former Books-A-Million building
- Bangor man says neighbor shot his dog
- Free dental clinic returns to Houlton in June
- $7.8M MSAD 33 budget moves forward to referendum
- The state has updated its plans for dangerous Orland intersection
- Ellsworth censures city councilor over alleged ethics violation
- On Sullivan Planning Board, Graham Platner voted to pump the brakes on solar
- Little Caesars is opening in Belfast
- Maine’s highest court rules in neighbors’ fight over $1,600 in cut trees
- 2 teens accused of pair of burglaries at Maine cannabis dispensary
- 8 former detainees at Maine’s youth prison allege ‘unimaginable abuse’
- 2 Maine women injured in South Carolina shooting
- 1976 College World Series ‘seems like yesterday’ for UMaine teammates
- UMaine baseball freshman named America East Rookie of the Year
MAINE IN PICTURES
FROM THE OPINION PAGES
“The report highlights how local reporting empowers Mainers to advocate for safety, hold officials accountable, help their neighbors in times of need (such as families affected by last week’s fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont), and find solutions to regional challenges.”
LIFE IN MAINE
Black flies can ruin your time outdoors, if you let them.
Maine game warden pilots are a special breed, Outdoors contributor V. Paul Reynolds writes.