Former GOP Rep. Bruce Poliquin wants his old seat back
Former Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin is going going to try to win back his old seat from Democratic Rep. Jared Golden. Poliquin cited problems caused by “liberal politicians with extreme beliefs” in declaring Wednesday that he’s running to “bring Maine common sense back to Washington.” His announcement potentially sets up a big-dollar fight in the state’s sprawling, largely rural 2nd Congressional District. But first Poliquin would have to win a primary race against two lesser-known GOP candidates. Golden, from Lewiston, unseated Poliquin in a close race that was decided by additional voting rounds under ranked-choice voting.
Maine man pleads not guilty to Capitol riot charges
GORHAM, Maine (AP) — A Maine man who faces charges stemming from the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol has pleaded not guilty. Thirty-four-year-old Nicholas Hendrix, of Gorham, faces four misdemeanor charges. The Portland Press Herald reports Hendrix pleaded not guilty via videoconference on Monday. Charges against Hendrix include unlawfully entering the Capitol, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted government building, violent entry and disorderly conduct in the Capitol building, and illegal parading or demonstrating in the Capitol building.
Maine city declares emergency, goes remote as COVID-19 rises
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The City Council in Maine’s largest city has declared an emergency to allow it to keep meeting remotely while cases of coronavirus rise in the state. The Portland City Council has described the declaration as a “limited emergency” and it went into effect earlier this week. Mayor Kate Snyder told the Portland Press Herald that the move is “to protect the public’s health” and is “the prudent path to take.” The city had been working on a path to open City Hall to more in-person services, but then coronavirus cases started to rise in Maine and elsewhere in the country.
After decades in woods, New Hampshire man forced from cabin
CANTERBURY, N.H. (AP) — For 27 years, 81-year-old David Lidstone has lived in the woods of New Hampshire along the Merrimack River in a small, solar-paneled cabin, growing his food, cutting his firewood, and tending to his cat and chickens. But his off-the-grid existence appears to be at risk. Court documents say the woodlot “River Dave” calls home just a few miles away from Interstate 93, yet hidden by the trees, has been owned by the same family for decades. The current owner has been trying to get him out since 2016. Lidstone, now jailed, says a prior owner gave his word — but nothing in writing — to let him live there.
HYDROPOWER TRANSMISSION PROJECT
DEP: No violations in clearing of woods for power line
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — The Maine Department of Environmental Protection says there’s no evidence to support claims that Central Maine Power is violating its permit requirements while clearing a path for a transmission line. Commissioner Melanie Loyzim responded to claims by four lawmakers who visited a work area and cited irregularities. The 145-mile (233-kilometer) power line dubbed the New England Clean Energy Connect would serve as a conduit for up to 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to reach the New England power grid. Work resumed this week after tree-clearing was halted for two months to protect a federally endangered bat.
AREA CODE SHORTAGE
Maine state regulators open probe into area code shortage
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Public Utilities Commission has opened an investigation into a lack of phone numbers available in the 207 area code, the only area code used in the state. The Portland Press Herald reports that the investigation centers on the number-forecasting practices of the provider Verizon. Last year, an assessment found Maine no longer had access to most of the 8 million numbers in the area code. Maine could run out of usable numbers by late 2024 because of expected demand. Maine Public Utilities Commission said it questions how Verizon distributes numbers to people.
FLORIDA FLIGHTS
Direct flights from Maine to Miami coming this late fall
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — An airline is going to start offering direct flights from Maine’s most populous city to Miami starting this late fall. Frontier Airlines said Tuesday the nonstop flights will begin three days a week in November. The airline has served Portland since 2018 and also goes to several other Florida cities and other locations around the country. Paul Bradbury, the Portland International Jetport’s director, said in a statement that the flights target “high demand destinations that are in season while providing convenient, non-stop service.”
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CHURCH-PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS
Court declines to hear church’s attack on COVID restrictions
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a Maine church’s preemptive legal attack on future restrictions associated with a variant of the virus that’s spreading across the country. Calvary Chapel asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stop Democratic Gov. Janet Mills from enforcing or reinstating any pandemic-related restrictions due to the delta variant of the coronavirus. The request was denied Monday by Justice Stephen Breyer without even asking the other side to respond or asking his colleagues to get involved. The Maine attorney general’s office contends the lawsuit is unnecessary because the governor’s civil emergency already expired.
FATAL CRASH CHARGES
Man charged with manslaughter in crash that killed son
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A Maine man has been charged with manslaughter for a crash that killed his 10-year-old son and injured his wife. Prosecutors say 50-year-old Stephen Fiddie was on drugs when he crashed a minivan into a building in Bangor last August. His wife was seriously injured and his son died at a hospital. Fiddie made his first court appearance Monday afternoon and was released on $10,000 unsecured bail. A phone number for Fiddie couldn’t be located. He didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment.