Morning Update: What you need to know in Maine today

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Every town has different rules, which we are more than willing to follow. So we’re going to one town council at a time and saying ‘Hey, we’re here.’”

— Jimmy Coscina, CEO of Full Bloom Cannabis, which launched in 2017 and has two stores in Aroostook County. The company hopes to branch out into new markets, but in Maine that can be a slow and uncertain process.

TODAY’S TOP STORIES

A reinforced wall is going up around Gov. Janet Mills’ official residence in Augusta. The project has been years in the making, but recent attacks on politicians nationally have drawn renewed attention to the safety of elected officials.

Wait times for lawyers in Penobscot County have plummeted since a new public defenders office opened. In the past year, the number of people waiting for a lawyer has shrunk from around 300 people to 50 or fewer on any given day.

Weed shops are booming in some Maine towns, but expanding into new markets isn’t easy. Successful cannabis businesses looking to branch out in Maine face barriers of acceptance and geography.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

• Maine will see sunny skies and warm weather this weekend
• Maine’s homeless shelters get long-awaited emergency funding
• Dozens of coastal Maine beaches tested last year found to have risk of pathogens
• New Indian restaurant coming to Bangor this fall
• Boil water order issued for 2 Bangor streets
• Lack of info about Maine paddleboarder’s slaying rattles community
• Body recovered from Maine river
• Maine’s ‘Lobster Fest’ set for the 1st weekend of August
• Mountain bike lifts and new lodge are among the ideas for Camden Snow Bowl
• 6 kids — including 1 as young as 9 — accused of extensive vandalism in Maine town
• Southern Maine road closed after car stereo part mistaken for bomb
• UMaine hockey adds new assistant coach with NCAA championship pedigree
• Cooper Flagg says pro debut ‘not up to my standard’ after helping Dallas win
• Watch Cooper Flagg score 1st NBA points with emphatic Summer League dunk

MAINE IN PICTURES

Crawford Pond is seen Wednesday in Union. ​​The lack of information being given out by the Maine State Police concerning the homicide death of Sunshine Stewart, who was last seen paddleboarding on the pond, is leaving many people in the area nervous. Credit: Robert F. Bukaty / AP

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

Trees and debris covers the ground Wednesday after a flood in Hunt, Texas. Credit: Ashley Landis / AP

“As we mourn, we must also ask questions and seek answers, from government officials at all levels.”

Editorial: T​​exas flooding highlights need for better understanding of climate change

LIFE IN MAINE

Watch out, Maine: Japanese beetles are back.

Using two flies at once can improve your fishing success rate.

Watch a bull moose with velvet-covered antlers in the North Maine Woods.