Sagadahoc County Emergency Management Agency announced the girls' discovery and safe return in a Facebook post at 1:47 p.m., about three hours after they initially went missing:

Together they will add 200 infant and toddler slots to the region and hope to eventually be the first in the state to provide 24/7 care:

The deal, announced late Wednesday in a joint statement, ends months of contentious negotiations centered on reimbursement rates:

The Maine Office of the Secretary of State says they received several complaints from voters and municipalities about aggressive behavior by groups petitioning for a citizen’s initiative at the polls on Tuesday:

Jared Golden made the announcement in a lengthy column published in the Bangor Daily News in which he lamented the increasing hostility in the nation's politics and threats against him and his family:

A conservative group that wants to restrict transgender students' access to sports and school bathrooms is circulating a petition at polling places in Maine today. If they collect enough signatures, the measure could be on next year's ballot.

Alongside the statewide questions, voters will decide multiple local elections including whether to implement a $19-per-hour minimum wage in Portland:

Health system officials say if they're able to agree on a new contract, they'll ensure it's retroactive so that care will be billed at in-network rates:

Consumer advocates are urging Mainers to explore ACA health plans even though some may be facing higher costs:

The Sanford Head Start location serving over 100 children will remain open despite their Nov. 1 loss of federal funds due to the government shutdown:

Hunting with lead bullets can leave residue that is toxic to wild scavengers such as bald eagles:

As the government shutdown heads into November, some 170,000 people in Maine are bracing for the loss of monthly grocery money from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program:

The state usually receives LIHEAP funding through the federal government around this time of year. But because the government is shut down, Maine does not have money available to issue regular payments or emergency aid through the Energy Crisis Intervention Program:

The state money, plus $250,000 from a foundation, aims to boost food pantries and other programs as 170,000 Maine residents face the loss of SNAP or food stamp benefits. www.mainepublic.org/politics/202...

The development, called Wilbur's Woods, is supported by an almost $20 million investment from the Governor's Affordable Homeownership Program. www.mainepublic.org/business-and...

Maine voters will cast ballots on two statewide referendum questions as well as local races during the off-year election. www.mainepublic.org/politics/202...

Immigration lawyers and one District Attorney say victims and witnesses are afraid that engaging with the criminal justice system could put them at risk. www.mainepublic.org/immigration/...

Greenville voters will consider whether to allow the town to seek a $1 million bond for a community recreation center that will include public preschool classrooms and a private day care:

A new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics has found that early exposure to peanuts has resulted in roughly 40,000 fewer allergies in U.S. children over the past decade:

A crowd of people wearing blue and holding signs converged at the Longley Bridge in Lewiston Friday afternoon for a vigil to remember those affected by the mass shooting two years ago that killed 18 people:

The industrial production kitchen can currently produce 2,000 meals a day, with the capacity to eventually create 10,000. The nonprofit service provider Preble Street is operating the hub, based in South Portland:

Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, has largely blamed Democrats for the shutdown. Democrats, meanwhile, accuse Republicans of refusing to negotiate on extending health care premium subsidies for millions of Americans:

County officials said after years of poor accounting practices, it's the only way to pay off the county's debt and keep critical operations running:

The University of Maine System saw slight enrollment growth this year, primarily due to an online program at the University of Maine at Presque Isle with over 3,000 students:

The buildings are located in Brunswick Landing — the former naval air station that now houses over 150 companies and organizations mainly in tech and STEM:

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state will accept medications that are no longer wanted or needed:

The U.S. CDC had reported earlier this week that more than 11% of the roughly 600 passengers on the Oceania Insignia were sick:

Morning Edition Host Irwin Gratz spoke with Chris Herbert, managing director of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing, who says on top of the rising cost of building materials, there's a shortage of affordable land and stubbornly high interest rates:

The poll shows that 58% of likely Democratic primary voters favor Platner. Janet Mills, Maine's two-term governor, who was recruited by national party leaders, was polling at just 24%. None of the other candidates in the crowded field received more than 1%:

For nearly two months, Graham Platner’s bid for the U.S. Senate was marked by momentum and bravado as the political newcomer drew big crowds to his town halls and he channeled Democratic voters’ hopes for a newer, brasher kind of candidate:

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the state CDC have issued an alert warning that wildlife in parts of Knox, Thorndike and Unity are unsafe to eat because of PFAS contamination:

The Wabanaki Alliance has come out in opposition to Question 1 on November’s ballot, warning that the Wabanaki nations would be harmed by changes to absentee voting and its exclusion of tribal IDs as a valid form of voter identification:

Graham Platner, in an Associated Press interview, said that while his campaign initially said he would remove the tattoo, he chose to cover it up with another tattoo due to the limited options where he lives in rural Maine.

Louvre a good heist story? Here's one that hits home. Explore Portland's infamous 2013 art heist in the Essential Salt episode, "An Art Heist Stuns Maine, and a Hawk Baffles Birders": www.mainepublic.org/podcast/esse... Image Credit: Jeremy Lurgio.

Nurses from across Maine gathered in Augusta today to highlight concerns about understaffing and workplace violence against nurses:

State officials warn, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is expected to run out of regular funding in the coming weeks due to the federal government shutdown:

The state official charged with animal cruelty in the death of Maine's first public safety comfort dog, Baxter, resigned from his post on Oct. 3, according to the Department of Public Safety:

Platner says he didn't know about the Nazi affiliation when he got the tattoo as an 18-year-old rifleman in the Marines:

The project called for the paving of new lots, adding a net total of 265 spaces to accommodate a growing number of Jetport travelers. But the plans have been under scrutiny for the last two years, particularly from Jetport neighbors:

While positive news, 2024 was also a difficult year for North Atlantic right whales, with a total of five detected deaths, 16 entanglements (10 of which had attached fishing gear), and eight vessel strikes.

Nirav Shah, who lives in Brunswick, was the public face of Maine's response to the COVID pandemic and also held the second-highest position at the U.S. CDC for two years until President Donald Trump regained office:

The nationwide series of protests included at least 40 demonstrations in Maine. Participants talked about what they see as Trump's unlawful expansions of executive powers and cuts to essential services:

Susan Stamberg, an original National Public Radio staffer who went on to become the first U.S. woman to anchor a nightly national news program, has died:

Have you listened to Maine's Political Pulse lately? ➡️ Find it wherever you get your podcasts, or, visit our website to read the Political Pulse and sign up for email updates: www.mainepublic.org/podcast/main...

Proponents of Question 2 argue the existing law — often referred to as Maine’s yellow flag law — is a failed experiment that was not used to stop a gunman in Lewiston from killing 18 people and injuring and traumatizing countless others in 2023 despite warnings about his deteriorating mental health:

Gov. Janet Mills ended months of speculation this week by officially entering the Democratic primary to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins next fall:

Dozens of ratepayers turned out in Freeport Tuesday to speak out against a proposed electricity rate hike sought by Central Maine Power. CMP says the increase is needed the fund critical upgrades to the grid:

A Liberty, Maine-based T-shirt company known for its nature-themed designs is teaming up with the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California to raise money for the protection of sea otters, with a major boost from pop star Taylor Swift:

Education advocates in Maine say they're concerned about the Trump administration's action Friday to furlough almost all of the support staff in the Office of Special Education Programs, or OSEP, within the U.S. Department of Education:

Since July, Maine has experienced its worst drought in more than 20 years. Fall foliage experts say the dry weather shortens the amount of time leaves are on the trees: