Maine
Shenna Bellows sworn in for third term as Maine Secretary of State
AUGUSTA, Maine — Secretary of State Shenna Bellows was sworn into office for her third term Wednesday. Governor Janet Mills conducted the formal swearing-in of all the constitutional officers, which includes Bellows, State Treasurer Joseph Perry, Attorney General Aaron Frey and State Auditor Matthew Dunlap. In her remarks following the swearing-in, Bellows shared a message of transparency and accessibility in continuing to serve the people of Maine. “It is incumbent upon us as elected officials to make government work for the people of Maine,” Bellows said. “We must reduce bureaucracy, improve efficiency, modernize our systems, and above all, bring people together in community to make life better for the people of Maine.”
The Department of the Secretary of State includes three bureaus: The Maine State Archives, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions.
Bellows emphasized her commitment to ensuring free, safe, and secure elections, modernizing government services, and preserving Maine’s history through the State Archives. She highlighted the importance of standing up for the rule of law and democracy, referring to the legacy of Civil War General Joshua Chamberlain and referencing the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. “This is our Chamberlain moment. We must stand up for the rule of law and do the right thing even when it is hard. As your Secretary of State, I pledge to always ensure that we have free, safe and secure elections and that we adhere to the Constitution and the rule of law in every aspect of everything that we do,” said Bellows. Bellows, Maine’s 50th Secretary of State, previously served two terms in the Maine Senate from 2016-2020 and was the executive director of the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine before her election in 2021.
PORTLAND (WGME) — Mild temperatures and lots of clouds will rule the sky on Wednesday before some light rain and snow showers overnight.
Enjoy the mild temperatures while they last as it is turning cold by week’s end.
Lots of clouds will rule the sky for the next few days in Maine. High temps will also sit in the low-to-mid 40s for the day.
Wednesday evening.{ }(WGME)
The next chance for some precipitation will move in Wednesday evening through the nighttime hours as mostly rain with some mountain snow.
Look for some fog and areas of drizzle overnight too.
Thursday morning.{ }(WGME)
Rain will head out early Thursday morning followed by lots of cold, Canadian air.
Highs will still run in the low 40s ahead of a cold front shifting through early Thursday evening.
Once that front exits, expect to not leave the mid 20s on Friday.
Wind chills will be in the negatives and single digits to start Friday morning.
Weekend forecast.{ }(WGME)
The weekend looks calmer, with a round of snow and rain likely Saturday night through Sunday morning.
Temperatures will be back in the 30s after a cold end to the work and school week.
Incoming cold air.{ }(WGME)
Lots of cold air is set to enter the United States next week in waves.
Temperature outlook.{ }(WGME)
The next 8 to 14 days showcase below-normal temperatures around New England.
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You might not give a lot of thought to your two license plates. Maybe only looking at them when you renew your registration or when you got the new pine tree design. But those plates play an important role on the road.
Karyn asked the CBS13 I-Team:
“I see a lot of cars on the road with only a rear license plate. We are issued two plates at the time of registration. Do we actually have to display both on our car? Also, can you be fined for only having one plate?”
Maine law does require drivers to display two license plates. One on the front and one on the back.
The state says that requirement, which has been in place since the 90s, makes cars more visible to law enforcement and helps with automated tolling on the Maine Turnpike.
A driver can be fined if they don’t properly display both plates.
According to state data, convictions for improperly displaying a registration plate have gone up the past few years. Though the numbers are still small compared to the total number of vehicles on the road.
In 2021, there were 63. Seventy convictions in 2022 and in 2023 and 2024, there were around 140.
The are some exemptions to the two-plate law. That includes motorcycles and trailers.
While most states have similar laws, about 20 only require a rear license plate.
The Maine Legislature has debated bills that would remove the front plate requirement in the past, but none have passed.
Have a question for CBS13 I-Team? Call their tip line at (207) 228-7713 or send an email to tips@wgme.com.
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