Jason Savage, who has helped to lead the party since 2013, said he felt the timing was right and that he is excited about the Maine GOP's standing and stability headed into the the critical November elections. https://bit.ly/4eFOZR8

The proposed referendum to ban transgender student athletes from girls' sports failed to quality for the fall ballot after elections officials invalidated thousands of signatures. https://bit.ly/3ST2QuL

Previously, students could borrow up to the total cost of attendance to their institution, but it is now capped at up to $20,500 per year, increasing to $50,000 if their degree is considered "professional." https://bit.ly/4eSRCO6

The housing authority said it's the first in the country to offer the direct rental assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. https://bit.ly/4gQapMD

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner says the race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins was always going to be close. But a massive advantage by outside groups and GOP super PACs has his campaign calling for more support from Democratic counterparts. https://bit.ly/3Rfstp8

Camp Ellis in Saco is sometimes called the "ground zero" of sea level rise. But it's not simply a rising sea that has taken out hundreds of houses and most of the beach over the years. https://www.mainepublic.org/climate/2026-06-30/saco-breaks-ground-on-long-awaited-camp-ellis-spur-jetty

The conservative majority on the nation's highest court upheld the constitutionality of state laws prohibiting transgender students from participating in girls' and women's sports. But the court allowed states to adopt other policies for trans athletes. https://bit.ly/4eQu2l5

In the first public survey of the race since June 9 primary, the Democrat has a double-digit lead over her GOP challenger. Rick Bennett, the former Republican running as independent, is polling in the single digits. https://bit.ly/4p2R5y8

The Supreme Court today upheld the longstanding right to citizenship for nearly all people born in the U.S. https://www.mainepublic.org/immigration/2026-06-30/aclu-of-maine-celebrates-scotus-decision-in-birthright-citizenship-case-it-helped-bring

The Maine Emergency Management Agency website lists cooling centers across the state. https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2026-06-30/portland-and-other-maine-communities-open-cooling-centers-ahead-of-dangerous-heat-wave

Newly released data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture find that Maine's error rate last year was nearly 11%, the bulk of which were overpayments. But starting in October of next year, states with error rates above 6% must cover a portion of the SNAP benefits. https://bit.ly/4v3qe66

Nearly 30 people were killed or seriously injured in traffic crashes last year in the Greater Portland area. The low-cost, quick-build installations are designed to slow down motorists and improve the flow of traffic. https://bit.ly/4xVMfGR

Dhavalkumar Patel was arrested Saturday at Wallace's Market in Friendship. He and his family have owned the store since 2024. https://www.mainepublic.org/immigration/2026-06-29/owner-of-midcoast-eatery-detained-by-ice-agents

The data suggest Maine is not quite meeting its goals in the population centers where housing is needed most. The permit data offer the clearest picture to date of how much housing Maine is building. https://bit.ly/4oTjQ07

At a convention in Auburn hosted by the Maine AFL-CIO, nurses, factory workers and tradespeople came together to weigh in on the first Contract with Maine’s Working Class. https://bit.ly/4ev8MCK

Baxter State Park Officials say 35-year-old climbers Dylan Cunningham and Sean Rowan of Virginia were on Mt. Katahdin's Flat Iron Wednesday when severe thunderstorms rolled through Baxter State Park. https://bit.ly/43UjWuG

The court handed down two decisions this week allowing President Donald Trump to end protections for certain immigrants already in the country, and greatly curtail the ability of others to enter. https://bit.ly/4wboUiA

The postmaster general told Congress that the Postal Service will decline to deliver mail-in ballots in states that have refused to provide voter data to the federal government. Maine is among 30 states that have refused. https://bit.ly/4eSK0eS

While Republican turnout was strong compared to most years, it fell well short of the Democrats’ get-out-the-vote effort, suggesting the GOP may have to overcome a marked enthusiasm gap headed into the fall. https://bit.ly/4oOrxof

The Mi'kmaq Nation has obtained a new land parcel of over 3,400 acres. The parcel will more than double the tribe's land holdings. https://www.mainepublic.org/maine/2026-06-26/mikmaq-nation-to-expand-lands-with-new-aroostook-county-parcel

Congress this week passed a sweeping housing bill aimed at building and preserving more affordable homes. President Donald Trump, however, scuttled plans Wednesday to sign the bill, demanding that Congress first tackle a separate elections measure. https://bit.ly/4xNRVCL

Platner's platform includes banning members of Congress and their spouses from trading stocks while in office, barring lawmakers and military officials from entering the lobbying industry and stripping pensions from members of Congress who are convicted of felonies. https://bit.ly/4v1DSql

Wayne Woodbury served as volunteer firefighter for over 60 years and was remembered as a mentor and leader in the small departments that watch over the rural areas of the state. https://www.mainepublic.org/maine/2026-06-25/first-responders-honor-late-firefighter-that-battled-robbins-lumber-blaze

The Maine Immigrant Business Coalition says it wants to highlight positive contributions and work with state government to ensure regulatory compliance. https://bit.ly/4v5Fvni

The museum's director says the new building — a renovated former textile factory — is more public-facing and better suited to community engagement. https://www.mainepublic.org/arts-and-culture/2026-06-24/lewistons-mill-relocates-to-former-textile-factory-offering-fuller-visitor-experience

Portland officials said the city does not have the staff or a facility to operate a nightly winter warming shelter, so it's looking to nonprofits, faith-based or health organizations and property owners to come up with ideas. https://bit.ly/44xlIlu

A community science effort led by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute is mapping mussel beds with the help of this weekend's extremely low tide. https://www.mainepublic.org/environment-and-outdoors/2026-06-24/volunteers-are-mapping-maines-missing-mussels

A conservative group headed by state Rep. Laurel Libby says it gathered enough signatures to possibly tighten rules around the state's Medicaid program. https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2026-06-24/dhhs-to-consider-mainecare-oversight-changes-amid-fraud-concerns

Friends of Merrymeeting Bay said water samples show conditions from the base of Gulf Island Pond to the Worumbo Dam have improved, but state regulators haven't upgraded the classification rating to reflect the real quality of the water. https://bit.ly/43WHYFk

The rare tick-borne virus can lead to neurological conditions. https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2026-06-23/maine-cdc-confirms-first-case-of-powassan-virus-this-year

Thousands of executive branch employees have been working without a contract since last June. And neither mediation nor a recent independent fact-finding panel appear to have led to an agreement over wages. https://bit.ly/4uVg9Z0

Platner vowed to fight to restore reproductive freedom taken away when Roe v. Wade was overturned four years ago. https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2026-06-22/planned-parenthood-action-fund-endorses-democratic-senate-hopeful-graham-platner

The state's climate council is considering ways to progress on goals without federal support. https://www.mainepublic.org/climate/2026-06-22/as-federal-support-evaporates-maine-says-its-refocusing-on-achievable-climate-goals

Farmers that reported their losses to the USDA can apply for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program until Aug. 7. https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2026-06-22/specialty-crop-relief-fund-could-help-maines-wild-blueberry-farmers

The state is working with independent researchers to make sure it publishes a required biennial greenhouse gas inventory. https://www.mainepublic.org/climate/2026-06-22/for-the-first-time-maine-is-reporting-climate-pollution-without-federal-data

The latest Customs and Border Protection data show crossings ticked up in March and April. https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2026-06-22/border-crossings-into-maine-rise-slightly-compared-to-last-year-after-months-of-decline

The Hudson Museum says it has identified 41 objects for repatriation. https://www.mainepublic.org/arts-and-culture/2026-06-22/umaine-museum-files-notice-to-return-native-hawaiian-artifacts

Matt Dunlap will face former Republican Gov. Paul LePage this fall in an election that could help decide which party controls the House of Representatives next year. https://bit.ly/4fW9ObZ

Gubernatorial hopefuls Democrat Hannah Pingree and Republican Bobby Charles both secured their parties’ nomination after winning a ranked-choice runoff in Augusta held at 1:45 a.m. Friday. https://bit.ly/4oCohfi

The winner of the Maine Democratic Primary for Congressional District 2 has been announced.

The winner of the Maine Democratic Primary for governor has been announced.

The winner of the Maine Republican Primary for governor has been announced.

Ranked choice results are expected to be announced in approximately 2 hours (~11:20 pm)

Invenergy will get $765 million to abandon offshore wind power plans and invest in fossil fuel power plants instead. https://www.mainepublic.org/climate/2026-06-18/trump-deal-scraps-two-gulf-of-maine-wind-energy-leases

Three hospitals in Maine have received warnings from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for failing to comply with price transparency requirements. https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2026-06-18/three-maine-hospitals-receive-federal-warnings-over-price-transparency

Making its first World Cup appearance in 52 years, DR Congo fought higher-ranked Portugal to a 1-1 draw, delighting viewers in Maine. https://www.mainepublic.org/arts-and-culture/2026-06-18/historic-world-cup-goal-fuels-explosion-of-joy-for-maines-congolese-community

Horseshoe crabs are often called living fossils. They've roamed the Earth since well before the dinosaurs. But some scientists say they're now threatened with extinction. https://bit.ly/4exkRpR

Tick feeding killed almost three quarters of collared moose calves this winter according to Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. https://www.mainepublic.org/climate/2026-06-17/drought-fails-to-dull-tick-harms-to-young-moose

Dana Street, the founder of several Portland restaurants, took home the Outstanding Restaurateur award. https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2026-06-17/maine-sees-recognition-at-james-beard-awards

Despite a few minor delays, state election officials say they haven't encountered any major issues during the runoff preparations. Meanwhile, recounts have also been requested in three particularly close legislative primaries. https://bit.ly/3Qmiqyk