David Heidrich lives in Augusta.

From the cliffs of Acadia to the woods and waters of Katahdin’s national monument, Maine’s public lands are more than scenic, they are the backbone of our economy and way of life. Anyone who has spent any amount of time in these or other public places knows that they offer more than just natural beauty. They are central to our identity, drawing visitors from around the world, supporting small businesses and sustaining jobs in communities across the state.

As someone deeply invested in the success of Maine’s outdoor recreation and tourism industries, I know that investing in our public lands will support thriving communities for generations to come. But maintaining these places requires more than appreciation, it requires sustained investment and action.

In 2020, Congress recognized that many of our country’s national parks and other public lands were suffering from decades of deferred maintenance. Roads, bridges, water systems, historic structures and visitor facilities were aging faster than they could be repaired. In response, lawmakers passed the Great American Outdoors Act, which created the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). 

This landmark legislation provided five years of dedicated funding to address long-overdue repairs on federal lands. Here in Maine, the LRF delivered $54 million for critical repairs to our public lands. These investments supported projects at places like Acadia National Park — improving trails, restoring historic carriage roads and upgrading essential infrastructure — as well as work on national forests and wildlife refuges across the state. These projects have served to protect natural resources, improve safety and enhance visitor experiences while supporting local economies.

Now, with that funding having expired, Congress is considering the America the Beautiful Act, introduced by Sen. Steve Daines of Montana and Maine’s own Sen. Angus King. The bill has received strong bipartisan support, and I want to thank Sen. King and Sen. Collins for their leadership in advocating for this important legislation.

The America the Beautiful Act rises above politics and reflects a shared commitment to conservation and safeguarding the places that help define both Maine and our nation. By continuing to invest in our public lands, we ensure they sustain local economies while preserving natural resources for residents, visitors and future generations alike.

Outdoor recreation is a cornerstone of Maine’s economy. Each year, millions of visitors come to experience our parks, trails, waterways and working forests — supporting roughly 32,000 jobs and generating $3.9 billion in economic activity. That is approximately 5% of Maine’s workforce and 4% of its GDP, respectively. Communities throughout Maine depend on these visitors, and the continued health of our public lands is essential to their continued success.

While important progress has been made, maintenance backlogs on our federal lands persist and require reliable, long-term funding. Congress should pass the America the Beautiful Act because it would provide $2 billion per year for eight additional years to address ongoing maintenance needs across national parks and public lands — without raising taxes.

This is accomplished by: 1) dedicating lease and royalty payments from energy producers operating on federal lands and waters to conservation, 2) requiring federal agencies to identify and dispose of unneeded assets, and 3) leveraging private funding by introducing a preference for projects with a 15% financial match from private stakeholders or nonprofit organizations.

By passing this legislation, Congress can ensure that Maine’s treasured public lands remain safe, accessible and vibrant. If we want future generations to experience Maine as we know it today, we need to invest in it now.

Four Massachusetts companies have announced hundreds of layoffs as residents and businesses flee the state due to what critics describe as soaring energy costs, high taxes, and costly climate mandates.

According to the state’s Worker’s Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) tracker, a total of 283 Massachusetts workers are set to lose their jobs by the end of the fiscal year.

That includes 70 planned layoffs at Innovative Care Partners, which has locations in Northampton, West Springfield and Pittsfield, by June 30; 78 layoffs at Community Health Link at its Webster, Worcester and Lincoln locations, also by June 30; 83 layoffs at Compass Group USA in Boston by July 1; and 52 layoffs at Community Counseling of Bristol County at locations in Attleboro, Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton between June 30 and July 13.

These latest notices come as several businesses have been moving out of Massachusetts over the past several months, including some that had been staples of the state’s economy.

In January, the reigning Massachusetts “Manufacturer of the Year,” Curia Global, shut down operations at its Burlington facility. Other notable departures include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Panera Bread, Cape Cod Potato Chips, Zipcar, SynQor, Analogic Corp. and more. Most recently, in April, Takeda Pharmaceuticals announced the elimination of 247 jobs from its Cambridge location.

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance told the Herald upon Curia Global’s exit that the Bay State has become an increasingly inhospitable business environment.

“The taxes here are high, the climate regulations are pretty extensive and we also have people in positions of power who don’t seem that interested in growing business here,” Executive Director Paul Craney said.

Healey denounces President Trump’s cap on student loans for health care and social workers

Gov. Maura Healey is responding to the Trump administration implementing a rule limiting access to federal student loans for graduate degrees in the nursing, physical therapy, physician assistants, occupational therapy, education and social work fields.

“At a time when people are already struggling with costs, President Trump is making higher education more expensive and harder to access. This rule is going to push students into more expensive private loans, and it blocks pathways into critical careers in the health care and education spaces,” Healey said in a written statement. “As the daughter of a school nurse, I know firsthand how important these jobs are to our communities.”

Healey spoke in opposition to this new rule back in March and continues to warn that it will increase costs and limit career opportunities. She launched a $15 million state loan repayment program for early education and care professionals along with loan repayments for health and human service workers through the MA Repay Program.

The new rule, implemented by the U.S. Department of Education, caps federal graduate student loan borrowing at $20,500 per year for the listed programs the administration deems not “professional.” The Healey-Driscoll Administration estimates that approximately 13,000 Massachusetts graduate students will be impacted.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration calls it a “common sense” regulation that will help control the ever-increasing costs for higher education.

The New Hampshire Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Saturday, May 2, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 2 drawing

25-37-42-52-65, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 2 drawing

Day: 6-4-6

Evening: 0-7-6

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 2 drawing

Day: 6-3-8-5

Evening: 4-4-5-7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Megabucks Plus numbers from May 2 drawing

01-07-10-19-32, Megaball: 05

Check Megabucks Plus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 2 drawing

06-17-31-42-50, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the New Hampshire Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Pick 3, 4: 1:10 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. daily.
• Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
• Megabucks Plus: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
• Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
• Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a New Hampshire managing editor. You can send feedback using this form.