Maine’s largest airport looks to set summer travel record
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s largest airport is in line to set a record for summer travel. The Portland International Jetport has been busier than usual as travelers have resumed flying. The Portland Press Herald reports the number of airplane seats for sale into and out of Portland broke records in July and August. There were about 300,000 seats available for purchase in August. That was a little more than a record set for that month in 2018.
Airplane’s landing gear falls onto a golf course in Maine
GORHAM, Maine (AP) — An airplane’s landing gear fell from the sky onto a golf course in Maine. The Gorham Police Department said the strut with tire and wheel crashed onto the seventh hole fairway Tuesday evening at Gorham Country Club. No one was hurt. The pilot was planning to land at Portland International Jetport but returned to New York upon learning part of the landing gear was missing. Police say the twin engine Piper Navajo returned safely — conducting a belly landing — at MacArthur Airport in Islip, New York.
NOAA to support Maine dam removal project to help salmon
FARMINGTON, Maine (AP) — The federal government is going to help fund a dam removal project in Maine that conservationists have said is critical to restoring fish habitat. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is giving more than $300,000 toward the Walton’s Mill Dam removal project. The project would remove the only dam on Temple Stream, which is located in the Kennebec River watershed in Maine’s western mountains. NOAA said the removal of the dam would restore access to more than 50 river miles. That would be helpful to endangered Atlantic salmon, which return to Maine rivers to spawn.
Maine pols: Time to open border for vaccinated Canadians
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (AP) — Maine’s governor and congressional delegation believe it’s time to open the international border to vaccinated Canadians. Maine is home to several border communities that have been disrupted by the closed border during the coronavirus pandemic. The Canadian government has said vaccinated Americans can cross the border starting Aug. 9. The politicians said Wednesday it’s time for the U.S. to reciprocate. The United States government on Wednesday extended the closure of the land borders with Canada and Mexico to nonessential travelers until at least Aug. 21. New daily cases of the coronavirus continued an upward trend in Maine and around the country.
Maine pols: Time to open border for vaccinated Canadians
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (AP) — Maine’s governor and congressional delegation believe it’s time to open the international border to vaccinated Canadians. Maine is home to several border communities that have been disrupted by the closed border during the coronavirus pandemic. The Canadian government has said vaccinated Americans can cross the border starting Aug. 9. The politicians said Wednesday it’s time for the U.S. to reciprocate. The United States government on Wednesday extended the closure of the land borders with Canada and Mexico to non-essential travelers until at least Aug. 21.
AP-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-CANADA-US
Despite Canadian easing, US extends land border restrictions
The United States government is extending the closure of the land borders with Canada and Mexico until at least Aug. 21. The move announced Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security came two days after the Canadian government announced it would begin letting fully vaccinated U.S. citizens into Canada on Aug. 9, and those from the rest of the world on Sept. 7. At the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 both the U.S. and Canadian governments restricted non-essential travel by land between the two countries, although Canadians have been able to fly into the United States. Until the Canadian decision on Monday, the two governments had extended the closure every month.
LAND PRESERVATION-HIGHWAY
Maine looks to protect wetlands to offset highway project
HOLDEN, Maine (AP) — Maine officials have proposed preserving more than 1,600 acres of wetlands to help offset the environmental impact of a highway construction project that has drawn criticism. The Bangor Daily News reports the Holden wetlands would serve as an offset for the impact of the construction of a 6-mile connector between Interstate 395 in Brewer and Route 9 in Eddington. The connector project has been subject to debate for years and has faced opposition from local officials and others. There is a public comment period about the conservation proposal until July 29.
AP-US-ODD-COCAINE-CAKE
Cocaine disguised as cake seized from vehicle in Maine
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency says a New York man and a Maine woman tried to disguise cocaine as a cake. Acting on a tip, police stopped the car on I-295 in Gardiner on Tuesday, and a drug-sniffing dog found 4 pounds (2 kilograms) of cocaine worth $200,000. Half of the cocaine was disguised as a marble cake that was actually made of cocaine with coffee grounds used to cover up the scent. The two were arrested on drug charges. It’s unknown if they have an attorney.
RAINY DAY FUND
Maine’s rainy day fund grows despite pandemic
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine’s so-called “rainy day” fund has grown to nearly $500 million, the highest total ever recorded. Republicans had said Democratic Gov. Janet Mills would drain the fund, but she announced a $224 million deposit on Tuesday. That brought the the stabilization fund to $491 million, or more than double where it was when Republican Gov. Paul LePage left office in 2019.
REDISTRICTING-MAINE
New timeline takes Maine redistricting process into the fall
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is allowing the state more time for redistricting because of delays in the release of detailed population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Under the Maine Constitution, lawmakers have until early June of the year following every U.S. census to approve congressional and legislative districts drafted by an independent redistricting commission. But those deadlines were made impossible because of delays by U.S. Census Bureau, which won’t be releasing detailed population data until next month. The new timeline takes Maine’s redistricting process into the fall.