Maine Supreme Court Chief Justice said the state is making progress in assigning lawyers to represent criminal defendants who cannot afford them. https://www.mainepublic.org/courts-and-crime/2026-02-12/maines-chief-justice-says-work-still-needed-to-ensure-appointed-attorneys-for-indigent-defendants

In response to these rising costs, the Maine legislature is considering a bill, LD 2196, that focuses on what hospitals charge for treatments. https://www.mainepublic.org/health/2026-02-12/to-stem-rising-health-insurance-premiums-maine-proposal-would-cap-hospital-prices

Maine estimates that 500 of the state's 600 schools will need to be renovated or replaced in the next 20 years at an estimated cost of $11 billion: https://www.mainepublic.org/education-news/2026-02-11/consolidation-could-ease-demand-for-new-maine-schools-but-communities-are-reluctant

The Cross Town facility can store enough electricity to power thousands of homes at times of peak demand. https://www.mainepublic.org/climate/2026-02-11/new-englands-largest-battery-storage-opens-in-gorham

A bill would allow people to bring charges under the Maine Civil Rights Act against anyone who deprives them of their personal liberty. https://www.mainepublic.org/immigration/2026-02-11/after-ice-surge-maine-lawmakers-consider-new-legal-avenue-to-seek-remedies-for-unlawful-detentions

A Border Patrol spokesperson did not immediately provide details of the Tuesday morning operation. https://www.mainepublic.org/immigration/2026-02-10/border-patrol-arrests-at-least-17-farmworkers-in-skowhegan-according-to-immigrant-rights-groups

Democrats in the Maine Legislature on Tuesday enacted a bill that would expand ranked-choice voting to gubernatorial and legislative elections. Lawmakers also passed an order requesting the state law court to advise on whether the bill aligns with the state constitution. 📷: Robert F. Bukaty / AP

Sen. King says Greenland expressed "shock and anger" over annexation threats during visit King said he met with leaders from Greenland and Denmark over the weekend to reinforce relations as the Trump administration continues its call to annex Greenland. 📸: John McDonnell / AP

Gov. Janet Mills is among 18 Democratic governors boycotting an annual meeting at the White House after President Donald Trump disinvited two of their colleagues. 📸: Rick Bowmer / AP

The proposal explicitly states that the city does not operate any department or service to enforce federal immigration laws. https://www.mainepublic.org/immigration/2026-02-10/bangor-city-council-considering-limits-on-ice-cooperation

The former independent gubernatorial candidate was out on probation following his conviction in 2023 on four felony charges of possession sexually explicit materials involving children:

With former Sen. George Mitchell's resignation, the institute said it will begin a process to consider changing its name:

The governor's spending proposal would also draw from a roughly $250 million surplus to fund K-12 schools, MaineCare, reproductive health care providers and veterans' homes:

A report from the County Corrections Professional Standards Council says that health care, transportation for inmates and staffing costs are among the largest line items in county jail budgets, which have been contributing to budget shortfalls in counties across Maine:

When a member of the First Parish Congregational Church in Saco was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 23, fellow parishioners sprang into action:

Penobscot Superior Court Justice Bruce Mallonee wrote in his order that the penalties are meant to sanction the mall owner for letting the building deteriorate but not be so costly to prevent future repairs:

The land use changes will go to the planning board for consideration and eventually to the city council:

According to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, the four victims identified so far are 34-year-old Shelby Kuyawa of Hawaii and 46-year-old Tara Arnold, 47-year-old Jacob Hosmer and 33-year-old Jorden Reidel, all of Texas:

While Gov. Janet Mills has proposed the sending $300 "affordability relief checks" to 725,000 Mainers, Republican lawmakers say adopting recent federal tax changes will offer longer-term relief:

ICE says it arrested 206 people in the state during a multiday operation last month. Here are a few of their stories:

Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says the president's comments on a right-wing podcast, along with the FBI's recent raid of election offices in Fulton County Georgia, suggest Trump is trying to preempt voter backlash to his policies in coming elections:

The council unanimously approved the resolution on Monday night in support of families who have been afraid or unable to go to work during the recent immigration surge and who may have trouble making rent:

The US-Ireland Alliance announced yesterday that it will remove the name of former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell of Maine from the organization's scholarship program:

Hundreds of students at five midcoast high schools walked out of classes today and converged on the Sagadahoc Bridge in Bath with signs to protest federal immigration enforcement in the state:

Both Democrats are the leading contenders vying to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in a race that could determine control of the U.S. Senate next year. They both trail the five-term incumbent in available cash as outside groups ramp up spending:

The nurses called on the federal government to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement and strip the agency of its funding:

Robert Peck says on Jan. 22, he observed ICE agents at a Mexican restaurant across the street from his apartment and followed them to Scarborough. That's when he says the two agents stopped and approached his car:

Dozens of Lewiston High school students walked out and were joined by community members as they marched downtown to Kennedy Park:

It's part of a national day of action, and comes on the heels of a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Maine:

"These dangers are real and carry heavy emotional and physical consequences not only for those serving, but for their families as well," said state Rep. Deqa Dhalac of South Portland.

The letter, addressed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, criticizes the Trump administration's effort to pressure state leaders into turning over residents' data around Medicaid and food assistance:

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce, along with chambers in Portland, Lewiston and Auburn say that businesses across nearly every sector are triaging how to stay open as authorized workers stay home from their jobs due to fear of ICE:

A bill in the State House would limit the amount 'competitive electricity providers' can charge low-income customers using public aid:

Many said it was not yet clear what immigration enforcement in Maine will look like going forward:

The publishers had announced in November that they could no longer afford to continue the almanac due to financial pressures. New ownership says it intends to bolster the almanac's digital presence:

The Republican made the announcement in a news release, saying she had spoken to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Collins had previously asked Noem to pause the surge in Maine and Minnesota, saying the operations were too sweeping and indiscriminate:

After weather related delays, federal investigators are now at the site of Sunday's fatal plane crash in Bangor. Those delays have prevented local authorities from recovering the bodies of the six people on board killed in the crash:

State lawmakers remain skeptical of the low user complaint rate reported to state officials, saying they believe many complaints are either never filed or don't make it through the appropriate channels:

Leaders from half a dozen cities where most of the documented ICE activity has taken place voiced their concerns at a roundtable with Gov. Janet Mills on Wednesday in Portland:

Mills also adopted a more deeply partisan tone during her final "State of the State" address, prompting Republicans to accuse the governor of using the speech for her U.S. Senate campaign:

What happens after someone is detained by ICE? It's been one week since agents arrested Alessia Gaspar DaSilva's husband, Marcos, and a co-worker in Portland. She says Marcos has been transferred three times so far. And in a phone call Tuesday, he says he's being told he'll be moved again:

Nine local clergy and faith leaders were arrested on charges of criminal trespassing outside of Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins' downtown Portland office at One Canal Plaza on Tuesday:

The agency said it has arrested more than 200 people in the state since launching large-scale operations here last week.

The Republican is standing by her calls to pass new funding for DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying a new spending bill will include new accountability measures. But she says the operations in Maine are too sweeping and indiscriminate.

Starting Monday, Mainers ages 15 and up can enter the state lottery to apply for an elver license. The Department of Marine Resources is awarding 20 new licenses to harvest and sell young American eels this year, pound for pound the most lucrative fishery in Maine.

TONIGHT at 7 pm, Maine Public will broadcast Gov. Janet Mills' "State of the State" address. Tune on Maine Public Television, at mainepublic.org, on Facebook or YouTube.

July and August were the busiest months at Acadia. The bump in visitation came amid federal staffing reductions and a 43-day government shutdown, where services at the park were limited.

CSX Transportation will move 21 jobs from Waterville to facilities in Selkirk, New York; and Cumberland, Maryland. Union leadership says most of the affected workers were close to retirement:

In a written statement Monday, a spokesperson characterized those arrested as "illegal aliens." But in many cases, immigration lawyers, employers and family members of those detained say many are pursuing lawful immigration pathways such as asylum, and have legal documents to work in the U.S.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows' comments come after U.S Attorney General Pam Bondi told officials in Minnesota this weekend that ICE agents could be withdrawn if the state met several conditions, including providing voter registration files to the Trump administration: