Maine

Maine Mariners power past Trois-Rivieres

Published

3 weeks ago

January 25, 2026

Maine Mariners power past Trois-Rivieres

The Maine Mariners used four power-play goals to defeat the Trois-Rivieres Lions 5-2 on Sunday at Cross Insurance Arena.

Jacob Perreault led the Maine offense with two goals and an assist. All four power-play goals came in a span of 2:58 of the first period.

Brooklyn Kalmikov, Jacob Hudson and Sebastian Vidmar also scored for Maine (18-11-5-2), which improved to 7-1-2 in its last 10 games and pulled into a third-place tie in the North Division with the Adirondack Thunder, just one point out of second.

Brad Arvanitis, starting his third game in as many days, stopped 32 of 34 shots for his seventh win of the season.

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Maine

Does average monthly grocery spending in Maine exceed $400 per person? | Fact brief

Published

10 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Press Room

Does average monthly grocery spending in Maine exceed 0 per person? | Fact brief

Yes.

Average monthly grocery spending in Maine is more than $400 per person, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The bureau tracks per-capita spending on various consumer goods and services in each state. It found Mainers spent $5,337 per person annually — or $444.75 per month — on groceries in 2024, the most recent year for which data is available.

The spending category is designated by the bureau as “food and beverages purchased for off-premises consumption.” It includes grocery and convenience store purchases but excludes purchases at restaurants, including takeout.

Maine’s per-capita grocery spending increased by 1.8% in 2024 from the previous year and has risen by 57% since 2014, according to the bureau. The data reflects individual spending and is not necessarily a measure of grocery prices.

Nationally, the highest per-capita monthly grocery bill in 2024 was $625.33, in the District of Columbia, while the lowest was $273.17 in Oklahoma.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

The Maine Trust for Local News partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

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Maine

‘It’s a win-win’: Bill to fund towns repurposing vacant schools into affordable housing

Published

22 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Press Room

‘It’s a win-win’: Bill to fund towns repurposing vacant schools into affordable housing

AUGUSTA (WGME) — Lawmakers are in talks over a potential solution to help solve Maine’s housing crisis.

It involves repurposing vacant schools and providing towns the support to do so.

Lawmakers are in talks over a potential solution to help solve Maine’s housing crisis. (WGME)

Bill sponsor Traci Gere is calling it a common sense solution.

“It’s a win-win for everyone involved. The community, the folks who will be living there in the future and the developers,” Gere said.

Data from the state shows there are more than two dozen vacant school buildings across Maine. Gabe Gauvin from the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority says some towns don’t have the means to do anything about it.

“Demographic trends indicate closures will continue. This list stands to grow dramatically,” Gauvin said.

Lawmakers are in talks over a potential solution to help solve Maine’s housing crisis. (WGME)

Gauvin and the Maine Development Land Bank Authority support Gere’s bill.

It would establish the Vacant School Housing Conversion program, along with a $5 million annual fund to support school conversions. Gere says it not only fulfills the ongoing need for housing but also rehabilitates buildings already in the community.

“It does really have that warm place in the community’s heart. People don’t want to see it deteriorate and fall apart. People want to see it used for productive reuse, whether it’s for something that is housing related,” Gere said. “We want to make sure to leverage those and use those sources as much as possible to make sure these buildings become housing that people can affordable.”

Lawmakers are in talks over a potential solution to help solve Maine’s housing crisis. (WGME)

Gauvin says the money would go towards helping municipalities pay costs for planning, construction and infrastructure improvements.

If passed, the bill would also mandate the Redevelopment Housing Authority to submit an annual report to the legislature on the group’s progress.

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Maine

New trial begins for Maine man in death of 3-year-old Edgecomb girl

Published

1 day ago

February 17, 2026

Press Room

New trial begins for Maine man in death of 3-year-old Edgecomb girl

BATH, Maine (WGME) — A new trial began on Tuesday for a Maine man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter in Edgecomb.

Tyler Witham-Jordan is charged with depraved indifference murder for the death of Makinzlee Handrahan.

On Christmas morning in 2022, Handrahan’s mother, Faith Lewis, called 911 around 7:30 a.m. after finding her daughter cold, stiff, bruised, and not breathing.

Dispatchers said they heard the girl’s mother say, “Oh my god, I think my daughter’s dead.”

A photo of 3-year-old Makinzlee Handrahan is shown during{ }Tyler Witham-Jordan’s trial. Witham-Jordan is accused of killing Handrahan in 2022 in Edgecomb. (WGME)

Her boyfriend, later identified as Witham-Jordan, could be heard saying, “I’m f—-d” and “I’m finished.”

First responders said they found bruises all over the little girl’s body.

The medical examiner ruled her cause of death blunt force trauma and said she had internal injuries.

According to court documents, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said there was a DHHS investigation in October 2022 after Handrahan’s daycare reported she had a scratch and bruises, which her mother and Witham-Jordan said were caused by a cat scratch and falling on the stairs. Investigators said there was also purple swelling under her eye at the time.

Police said Witham-Jordan was still living with Handrahan and her mother months later when she was found dead on Christmas.

Witham-Jordan’s first trial began in December 2024.

During the trial, the state claimed Witham-Jordan had been agitated that the child had been sick around the holiday and was looking to get high.

“All 27 pounds of her was killed, quietly and discreetly. No one heard her die,” state prosecutor Lia Bogue said. “He wanted to get together with his connection on Christmas Eve because he needed more drugs.”

Both sides focused on early morning texts between Witham-Jordan and Lewis about checking on her, because she had been in bed for hours.

{p}The apartment complex off Route 1 in Edgecomb where 3-year-old Makinzlee Handrahan lived. She died on Christmas Day 2022. Her death has been ruled a homicide. (WGME){/p}

The apartment complex off Route 1 in Edgecomb where 3-year-old Makinzlee Handrahan lived. She died on Christmas Day 2022. Her death has been ruled a homicide. (WGME)

Defense attorney Jim Howaniec said the state didn’t have evidence that Witham-Jordan committed the crime.

Attorneys gave theories about DNA evidence at the scene, including on a comb with a “huge” clump of the child’s hair found in the bathroom. The defense accused Lewis of committing the murder instead.

However, Witham-Jordan’s first trial ended in a mistrial after Handrahan’s mother was shown her daughter’s battered body and cried out at Witham-Jordan, “What did you do to my baby?”

Because of that, the defense asked for a mistrial, and the judge granted it.

Witham-Jordan’s second trial began on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.

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