Ranked Choice Voting
(Augusta) – Maine’s highest court has ruled that ranked choice voting will be used in the upcoming June primary elections. The justices ruled that the controversial voting method in which voters rank their choice in offices with more than 3-candidates is in effect for the primary election. That same election will also determine whether the multi-vote system will move forward, despite legislative action to delay it until the constitution changes. The Secretary of State’s office will now prepare ranked choice ballots. The primary is scheduled for June 12, and both Republicans and Democrats have more than two candidates running for governor.
Rockland Drug Arrest
(Rockland) – Police in Rockland responding to a shoplifting complaint have arrested a 35-year old Veazie man on drug charges. The Rockland Police department reports to Star 97.7 that a convenience store reported that Brian Caggiano was stuffing DVD’s down his pants Monday afternoon. Officers spotted Caggiano’s SUV and gave chase. When they stopped him, a DVD fell out of the vehicle, and they spotted baggies of white powder in the Jeep. Caggiano is charged with trafficking in Fentanyl and crack cocaine, theft and failing to stop.
Hall Quarry Fire
(Mt. Desert) – A summer rental cabin in the Hall Quarry section of Mt. Desert went up in flames yesterday morning. Firefighters from a half dozen communities responded to Robinson Lane after a neighbor spotted smoking coming from the cabin. By the time firefighters arrived the building was fully engulfed in flames. No injuries are reported. The fire marshal’s office may try to determine the cause, but little is left of the building.
Sea & Sky Festival
(Machias) The Bold Coast Sea and Sky Festival will return to Machias for a 3rd summer. The event’s success is dependent on volunteers to assist with the family-fun free activities. Planning committee member Bob McCollum says festival attendance grows each year so they’re anticipating needing 60 or more volunteers. The Bold Coast Sea and Sky Festival was developed by Machias Pat’s Pizza owner Bill Burke with help from co-organizers the Rotary Club of Machias. This year’s festival is July 20th & 21st. Sign up to volunteer online at: Bold Coast Sea And Sky Festival dot Com.
Home Invasion Arrest
(Boothbay Harbor) A Boothbay Harbor man is arrested in connection with a home invasion in Nobleboro. Police say 19-year-old Hunter Andrews is charged with Robbery for the incident Monday. Andrews allegedly broke into a home while it was occupied and tried to steal valuables. The witness gave police a description. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office released a sketch on social media. A concerned citizen who saw the post confronted Andrews who allegedly confessed to the crime.
New Elver Dealer
(Ellsworth) A new elver dealer has set up shop on Water Street in Ellsworth. D and D Elvers is owned by Darrell Young and his son Dustin. Darrell and his wife Angela are among the founders of the Maine Elver Fishermen Association. Elver season began nearly a month ago. The Ellsworth American reports the price per pound for baby eels can fluctuate greatly each day and at one point reached $28-hundred dollars in Ellsworth. D and D Elvers is able to pay those prices with funds from a Chinese buyer who collects the purchased elvers a few times each week and packages them for shipment from Logan Airport in Boston to Japan.
Donation Matching
(Bar Harbor) The Jesup Memorial Library is raising money to support their day-to-day activities as 45% of their annual operating budget comes from donations. From now until Saturday each donation will be doubled. A generous, anonymous donor is matching up to $15-thousand dollars in contributions in support of last week’s National Library Week and the current National Volunteer Appreciation Week. The Jesup Memorial Library on Mount Desert Street has been serving the Bar Harbor community since 1911.
Principal Search
(Ellsworth) Ellsworth Elementary Middle School is searching for a new principal to oversee grades 5 thru 8. Current principal James Newett announced his retirement plans earlier this year and will leave his post after the school year ends in June. The application period is open thru this Friday.
ME Healthcare
(Augusta) The state wants public input on an effort to lower individual health insurance premiums for Mainers. The Legislature last year passed a law to reduce premiums for individuals who don’t qualify for subsidies under former President Obama’s signature health law. Maine is applying for a federal waiver to create the program, which aims to stabilize Maine’s individual health insurance market amid premium increases and Anthem’s exit.
Retail Pot Compromise
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – Legislators in Maine have sent a compromise bill governing marijuana retail sales to Governor Paul LePage, who has vowed to veto it. The Senate gave final approval to the bill Tuesday. LePage recently said he’d veto it because it won’t combine medical and adult-use marijuana programs. But votes in the House and Senate suggest lawmakers may have the two-thirds support needed in each chamber to override him.
Tax Proposals
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – Lawmakers have a shrinking window to consider competing tax proposals by Governor Paul LePage and Democrats. Democrats revealed a $52 million plan Tuesday to update Maine’s tax code, while providing property relief and credits for employer-paid family leave. LePage wants to use a budgetary surplus for roughly $90 million in tax breaks. He proposes cutting the top corporate tax rate from 8.93 to 8.33 percent and creating a $500 child and dependent tax credit.
Sports
- Boston Celtics 120 Milwaukee Bucks 106 (Jaylen Brown 30-points, Celtics lead playoff 2-0)
- Boston Red Sox 10 L-A Angels 1 (Mookie Betts hit 3-home runs)
- Rick Porcello will start against the Angels tonight.
High School Baseball
George Stevens 5 Sumner 3
Brewer 10 Gardiner 3
