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QUOTE OF THE DAY
— Steve Eaton, vice president of operations for Zero Energy Homes, one of the companies that have teamed up to build affordable solar-powered homes in Maine.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES
Susan Collins starts to line up money for Maine that may not come. With an August recess approaching, Congress has little time to pass all 12 funding bills before the Sept. 30 deadline.
I’m the Bangor Daily News’ new rural politics reporter. Tell me what I need to know. Is there a fierce and undercovered debate in your community? Are services strained? Are government policies affecting you?
Invisible rural homelessness grows in the shadow of a Maine tourism mecca. In 2023, 42 percent of Hancock County residents were below the poverty line, or above it but still unable to make ends meet.
Orrington trash plant at risk of permanent closure if judge freezes funding. Eagle Point Energy Center has been embroiled in a lawsuit with the facility’s former owner, Penobscot Energy Recovery Co., over tipping fees.
New partnership aims to build affordable solar homes in Maine. Two Maine companies plan to build 10 solar-powered houses for low- and moderate-income residents who have been priced out of the housing market.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
- Feds restore UMaine grants caught in Donald Trump’s fight with Janet Mills
- Maine writer named to Time’s most influential digital creators list
- Overdose deaths continue to decline in Maine
- St. Joseph Hospital patients’ social security numbers exposed in cyberattack
- Man accused of assaulting his pregnant wife at Brewer motel granted $10K bail
- London-bound flight diverted to Bangor because of 2 disruptive passengers
- Bangor mental health clinic closing after 21 years
- Maine police chase erratic driver for 50 miles on I-95
- Registration now open for Fort Kent International Muskie Derby
- Former girlfriend of John Lennon to display her photos of him on MDI
- Ellsworth man acquitted of attempted murder in police shooting
- New owners make improvements to Brooksville marina
- A Maine fire chief’s old license plate mysteriously surfaced across the ocean
- Midcoast fishing town of slain paddlerboarder shocked at her killing
- Maine police criticize ‘irresponsible’ theories about slain paddleboarder
- Belfast council rejects faith-based group’s request to use city park
- Former student accuses Maine boarding school of forced labor in lawsuit
- Settlement reached in lawsuit accusing former Maine principal of sexually harassing student
- ATV sparks Vassalboro house fire
- Child killed in Albion hit-and-run; man charged
- Two Farmington men injured in explosion
- Wilton man shot by police during armed standoff
MAINE IN PICTURES

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

“When you defund Planned Parenthood, you’re not punishing an organization. You’re punishing the people who rely on it to survive.”
Opinion: On July 4, politicians celebrated freedom while slashing live-saving social programs
LIFE IN MAINE
This Maine island mail boat will take you on a puffin tour. Seal island, 21 miles off the coast, encompasses 65 acres and is the site of the largest puffin colony in Maine.
Meet the rare Maine bug that’s equal parts Frankenstein’s monster and Dracula. This critter is an accomplished hunter, it’s also part vampire — but only on other insects.
Watch this huge Maine snapping turtle visit a fisherman. Colin Chase of Gray enjoyed a close encounter with a huge snapping turtle on a lazy day of fishing