The Casco Bay Island Transit District (CBITD) has approved its first rate hike in more than a decade, increasing the cost of round-trip tickets for tourists and visitors while decreasing the price of the long-term passes used by those who frequently travel to and from the islands. These efforts will be coupled with spending cuts [...] The post The Casco Bay Ferry Will Soon Become More Expensive for Visitors and Cheaper for Commuters appeared first on The Maine Wire ..read more

An Ecuadorian national who was previously deported from the U.S. four times has been sentenced to just over a year in prison for entering the country illegally after he was found by Border Patrol agents in Maine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine announced Friday. Cristian Paul Pinguil-Caguana, 37, of Ecuador, was [...] The post Ecuadorian National Previously Deported Four Times Sentenced to Year in Prison for Illegal Reentry After Being Found in Maine appeared first on The Maine Wire ..read more

Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Friday signed into law her proposed legislation to expand background checks to advertised firearm sales and strengthen the states “yellow flag” law. [RELATED: Patriot’s Day: Maine Dems Mark Anniversary of American War for Independence by Voting for Gun Control…] The bill, LD 2224, entitled “An Act to Strengthen Public Safety [...] The post Janet Mills Approves Expansion of Background Checks for Private Firearm Sales, Change to Yellow Flag Law appeared first on The Maine Wire ..read more

President Joe Biden’s average approval rating is lower than any other modern U.S. president at the same point in their term, according to data released Friday by Gallup. President Biden averaged 38.7 percent job approval during his recently completed 13th quarter in the White House, which ran from Jan. 20 to April 19, Gallup found. [...] The post Biden’s Approval Rating Hits Historic Low: Gallup appeared first on The Maine Wire ..read more

Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court decided on Thursday to uphold a COVID vaccine mandate for emergency workers, which was originally instituted in 2021. [RELATED: Maine Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Case Challenging Vaccine Mandates for EMTs…] “The [Emergency Medical Services] EMS immunization rule was consistent with the purposes of the EMS Act, and the EMS [...] The post Maine Supreme Court Upholds COVID Vax Mandate From 2021 appeared first on The Maine Wire ..read more

Several environmental groups have sued the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP) for allegedly failing to do enough to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the state. Involved in the lawsuit are the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Sierra Club, and Maine Youth Action (MYA). These organizations are pursuing [...] The post Environmental Groups Sue Maine in Effort to Force Adoption of Controversial EV Mandate appeared first on The Maine Wire ..read more

Maine will soon be transferring a total of $60 million out of the Budget Stabilization Fund (BSF) in response to the damaging storms the state faced in December and January. This spending comes as part of the supplemental budget approved by lawmakers earlier this month and signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills (D) Monday. [...] The post $60 Million for Storm Relief Initiatives Soon to Be Transferred from Budget Stabilization Fund appeared first on The Maine Wire ..read more

New provisional data published by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows that the U.S. birth rate has hit a record low, and is now significantly below the replacement rate. “The birth rate on Earth is so low that we’re facing civilizational collapse unless the birth rate returns to a sustainable level,” said Elon [...] The post CDC Report: U.S. Birth Rate Hits New Record Low appeared first on The Maine Wire ..read more

Former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday to acknowledge an endorsement from his former Attorney General (AG) Bill Barr, while mocking him for his disagreements with the former president. [RELATED: Trump Posts $175 Million Bond, Blocking NY AG Letitia James Craven Bid to Seize Trump Tower…] “Wow! Former A.G. Bill Barr, who let [...] The post Trump Mocks Former AG Barr While Acknowledging his Endorsement appeared first on The Maine Wire ..read more

Five people from Maine were arrested by Canadian authorities late Saturday night for the unauthorized fishing of elvers in the Meteghan area of Digby County, near the southwestern coast of the province, the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO) announced Wednesday. Elvers, or “glass eels,” are extremely valuable baby American eels — often fetching [...] The post Five People from Maine Arrested in Nova Scotia for Unauthorized Elver Fishing appeared first on The Maine Wire ..read more