Northeast
Maine must release voter rolls to conservative group for independent audits, federal court rules
A federal appeals court has ruled that Maine must release its voter list to a conservative-backed group that’s conducting independent audits, concluding that state restrictions on distributing the list violated the National Voter Registration Act.
The Public Interest Legal Foundation sued Maine over its decision to prevent the wholesale release of voter registration lists without restrictions, such as prohibiting the information from being published online.
Organization spokesperson Lauren Bowman said the group sued to ensure its researchers can compare voter rolls in one state against those in another and that it had no intention of publishing the rolls. PILF President J. Christian Adams called the decision issued Friday by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston a “monumental victory for transparency in elections.”
MAINE LAWMAKER WARNS OF ‘CALIFORNIA AGENDA’ BEING PUSHING IN HIS PURPLE STATE
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said she remains “deeply concerned” because voter information has been previously shared online, something state officials had argued could subject voters to harassment.
“Promises aren’t good enough,” said Bellows, a Democrat. “No Mainers should be afraid that by registering to vote that their information will be published online and that they’ll face threat, harassment and other harms.”
The Maine State Capitol is photographed in Augusta, Maine. (eyecrave productions via Getty Images)
Baseless claims of widespread voter fraud are part of what’s driving efforts to obtain the rolls, leading to lawsuits over whether to hand over the data in several states, including New Mexico and Pennsylvania, in addition to Maine.
State election officials and privacy advocates have raised alarms about a push by several conservative groups to access state voter rolls, fearing that the lists could be used to intimidate voters or cancel registrations.
In New York, prosecutors sent a cease-and-desist order to the group New York Citizens Audit, demanding that it halt any “unlawful voter deception” and “intimidation efforts” after voters reported that so-called auditors were showing up on their doorsteps.
Maine historically provided voter registration lists to candidates and political parties before being sued in 2019 for failing to provide the rolls to the Public Interest Legal Foundation.
Rules governing voter lists vary by state. Nearly every state, including Maine, prohibits using the rolls for commercial purposes and several confine access to political candidates and parties for campaign purposes.
Maine still has some prohibitions, such as protecting the addresses of people who have received a protection-from-abuse order, Bellows said.
The state is still evaluating the impact of Friday’s court ruling.
“We will do everything in our power in accordance with the law and court decision to protect voter information from abuse,” Bellows said.
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Beach day tips and tricks to have fun in the sun
Make a day in the sun more easy with these beach hacks.
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Vermont has some of the most relaxing beaches in New England.
While other states may be known for their island beaches or their saltwater getaways on the shores of the mainland, Vermont has plenty of freshwater beaches that make it a real treat to visit those parts of the Green Mountain state.
Yankee Magazine, one of the most notable lifestyle publications covering New England, said that four of Vermont’s beaches are among the best in New England.
“From wide sandy stretches and dramatic ocean bluffs to hidden coves and family-friendly shores, New England beaches offer something for every kind of beachgoer,” Yankee Magazine said.
Out of 34 New England beaches, here are the four beaches in Vermont that made it, ranked in their proximity to Burlington.
Sand Bar State Park, Milton — ‘finest stretch of Lake Champlain beachfront’
Yankee Magazine chose Sand Bar State Park in Milton, Vermont, as one of the best beaches in New England because how perfect it is for families with children, because of its shallow waters and play areas.
“Vermont’s most popular day-use state park is home to its finest stretch of Lake Champlain beachfront, a 2,000-foot strand with a dropoff so gradual that it seems you could wade from the mainland to the Champlain Islands,” Yankee said.
There are also a number of cooking grills and picnic areas at the Milton beach for those who like to have burgers by the beach after a nice swim, according to Vermont State Parks.
Only around 16 miles away from Burlington, it takes less than 30 minutes to drive to Sand Bar in Milton, making it great for families and friends who don’t want a long drive to the beach.
Alburgh Dunes State Park, Alburgh — ‘One of Vermont’s newest state parks’
Forty-one miles from Burlington, Alburgh Dunes State Park might seem like long haul for a beach, but worth it.
“One of Vermont’s newest state parks was established to preserve an incongruous feature of northern Lake Champlain, a duneland left behind by retreating glaciers,” Yankee said.
The Vermont State Parks website said the foundation of this beach began thousands of years ago, when glaciers deposited soil on bluffs close by, and slowly the forces of nature carried that soil to Lake Champlain, creating Alburgh Dunes.
“Before the park was established, people altered the dunes. Some sand was removed to replenish the beach, trees were cut for firewood, and visitors walking on the dunes wore paths through the grasses,” the state parks website said. “These actions increased erosion.”
Now, fencing has been erected to prevent further ecological damage of the beach.
Boulder Beach State Park, Groton — ‘sandy shoreline along Lake Groton’
Yankee rated Boulder Beach State Park, which is almost 70 miles away from Burlington, highly not only because of the magnificent glacier-formed boulders after which the park is named, but because of the conveniences that come with it.
“There’s a definite wilderness feel to the terrain in this southern threshold of the Northeast Kingdom, but the park is well equipped with changing facilities, boat rentals, a concession stand, and a broad lawn dotted with picnic sites behind the beach,” the magazine said.
Safe to swim in as well, Boulder Beach State Park is in walking distance of the other six state parks in Groton State Forest.
Crystal Lake State Park, Barton — ‘glacially carved jewels of northern Vermont’s lake country’
Crystal Lake State Park in Barton, Vermont, might be the farthest away from Burlington, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth traveling to.
“One of the glacially carved jewels of northern Vermont’s lake country lies just outside the town of Barton and features a sandy swimming beach with a spectacular view,” Yankee Magazine said.
Crystal Lake spans three miles long and is around one mile wide, Vermont State Parks’ website said. Be careful swimming there as parts of it are over 100 feet deep.
“A large historic granite bathhouse provides restrooms, changing areas, and a concession stand,” the parks website said. “The park offers about 40 free-standing charcoal grills, nearly 80 picnic tables, rental boats and canoes, and ample parking.”
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@usatoday.com.
Editor’s note: Follow live World Cup standings updates and analysis for the round of 32
Paraguay fans can breathe a sigh of relief, their team is headed to the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
Paraguay rebounded nicely after a tough first match against the United States, defeating Turkey and drawing Australia, finishing the group stage in third place and officially qualifying for the knockout rounds when Uruguay lost to Spain on Friday night.
However, it does not get easier from here, as Paraguay will take on Germany in the round of 32.
SHOP: Paraguay vs. Germany World Cup tickets
The match will take place outside of Boston at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. and is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to buy tickets for Paraguay vs. Germany’s in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
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Germany vs. Paraguay round of 32 World Cup ticket price
With its Group E win, Germany will play its Round of 32 match at Gillette Stadium on Monday, June 29. As of publication, the cheapest available tickets for Germany’s game in Boston start at $1,044.
Germany World Cup Round of 32 game information
- Where: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
- What time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Tickets: Starting at $826
- When: Monday, June 29
Shop Germany vs. Paraguay World Cup tickets
More: Here’s how to buy 2026 World Cup Final tickets in New York
When is Paraguay vs. Germany World Cup game?
Germany clinched the top spot in Group E on Saturday, its Round of 32 match will take place on Monday, June 29.
Where is Paraguay vs. Germany World Cup game?
Germany and Paraguay will play their round of 32 game outside of Boston. This will be the team’s first game in Foxborough, Mass. for the tournament.
Shop Germany vs. Paraguay World Cup tickets
Germany World Cup schedule
- Sunday, June 14: Germany def. Curaçao WIN 7-1
- Saturday, June 20: Germany vs. Ivory Coast WIN 2-1
- Thursday, June 25: Germany vs. Ecuador LOSS 2-1
- Monday, June 29: Germany vs Paraguay in Boston (round of 32) – Shop tickets
Shop Germany vs. Paraguay World Cup tickets
World Cup Group E standings
Paraguay World Cup schedule
- Paraguay vs. United States – LOSS 4-1
- Paraguay vs. Turkey – WIN 1-0
- Paraguay vs. Australia – DRAW 0-0
- Monday, June 29 – Paraguay vs. Germany in Boston (round of 32) – Shop tickets
World Cup Group D Standings
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The South Side Street Fest added additional metal detectors and ID scanners, plus a dedicated line for locals, to help people get in faster after long lines were reported for the event’s first outing last weekend.
There were no lines at 11 p.m. on Friday, the event’s second night, but an organizer said Saturday, when they usually see larger crowds, will be a better test of the new measures. While attendees praised the event’s first night from a safety standpoint, with no arrests and an average number of citations issued, some criticized how long it took to get in on June 20.
“It’s a little overkill. I kind of had to wait 30 minutes,” Justin McCord said. “The line was just startling to me.”
John DeMauro, a business owner and member of the South Side Hospitality Partnership, which is working with the city to put on the event, said leaders have heard the feedback.
“We got more people than we thought there [would be],” DeMauro said. “There was a little bit of a wait to get into the entrances.”
They’ve since added four ID scanners and two more metal detectors, he said.
“We should be able to move those lines along fairly quickly this week,” DeMauro said.
The event is restricted to people 21 and up, but anyone under 21 who lives within the footprint can still get through. They’ll be escorted to their homes, a police commander told KDKA-TV, adding that few kids live inside the event’s footprint.
They also have a new solution for South Side residents to enter the footprint faster: a local lane pass. Acting just like a fast pass at an amusement park, those who have it can go through a dedicated entry line.
“Wanted that to be quicker, wanted that to be not as cumbersome,” he said.
Anyone who lives in the 15203 zip code, which covers the entire South Side, can register for the pass online, he said. At the 18th Street security checkpoint on Friday, residents had to show their ID with the 15203 zip code to go through the local lane.
Because the zip code is used, it means it’s not just for people who live inside the footprint. Anyone who lives on the South Side can enter using the pass, for instance, if they want to grab something from a corner store. Fifty people had registered as of 7 p.m. on Friday.
The line also helps to get delivery drivers through, Zone 3’s police commander said.
A bar owner within the footprint told KDKA-TV last week that during the fest’s debut, they saw a lot of people on the street but fewer in bars. But because it’s so early, they said they weren’t concerned.
“I think that’s the general consensus,” DeMauro said. “It was a really good start to it, but our intention is to make it grow. I think that’s the biggest thing we want people to understand.”
He added that the intention moving forward is to keep listening to feedback and making changes to improve the festival. He also encouraged people to come down to test the improved security measures themselves.
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