Morning Update: What you need to know in Maine today

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“No one that I’ve spoken to has said, ‘This is a bad idea in the long term for our students educationally.’ But we’re losing something potentially if we don’t have the Wildcats or the Tigers or the Vikings. We’ve got to be mindful of how we work our way through that.”

— Ben Greenlaw, superintendent of Presque Isle-based MSAD 1, on a proposal to combine Aroostook County’s three largest high schools.

TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Maine is just starting to act on interpreter fraud that a federal investigator flagged years ago. The findings come on the heels of fraud allegations against a major health care provider serving immigrants.

Maine is stopping payments to an embattled health care provider that is facing fraud allegations. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services issued a notice of violation to Gateway Community Services on Tuesday.

Recycling is set to return to Greater Bangor after five years. Municipal Waste Solutions, which serves 115 towns and cities, expects to bring its recycling equipment online by March.

Combining Aroostook County’s three largest high schools won’t be easy. Location, transportation and loss of local identity are just some of the challenges the budget-driven proposal faces.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

• See the latest closings and cancellations
• Conservation groups appeal CMP transmission line plan warning of ‘bad precedent’
• Hundreds in rural Maine frustrated with mail delivery
• Man seriously injured in Hermon assault
• Penobscot County awards $400k in opioid grants to 12 projects
• Penobscot County Commissioners will vote next week on new budget
• Man convicted in Millinocket murder complains about his former lawyers at hearing
• Niche businesses flourished in Aroostook this year
• Police arrest driver in Fort Fairfield crash that killed 2
• Fire destroys Maine home filled with 20K books
• 2 dead in Tremont
• Cony quarterback and UMaine recruit from Portland among Fitzpatrick finalists
• Brewer’s thrilling rivalry win against Bangor punctuated by disagreement over score

MAINE IN PICTURES

A Trenton home that reportedly contained 20,000 books and a significant vinyl collection was destroyed by fire Monday night. Credit: Courtesy of the Trenton Volunteer Fire Department

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

Dr. Muhammad A. Mir speaks about the ‘Quran at the Islamic Center of Maine in Orono on Feb. 4, 2012. Bangor Daily NEws/ Credit: Michael C. York / BDN

“It is an act of worship to do good by every category of people, including the strangers.”

Letter: Faith requires us to do good, including to strangers

LIFE IN MAINE

Two Mainers are suing the state claiming that regulations on fly-fishing-only waters violates the new right-to-food amendment in the state constitution.

These holiday cookies for your dog are easy to make, and your dog will love them.

How to make a non-traditional holiday wreath. Learn how to make a beautiful and affordable non-traditional wreath for your holiday decor. Easy to customize and reuse year after year.