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$2 million of fentanyl was ‘misdelivered’ to a Maine resident. Police don’t know who sent it.

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 million of fentanyl was ‘misdelivered’ to a Maine resident. Police don’t know who sent it.


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A Maine resident received two “misdelivered” packages containing nearly 30 pounds of fentanyl worth $2 million, authorities announced this week.

The package is from California and was mailed to Winslow, Maine, about 75 miles northeast of Portland, the Winslow Police Department said in a news release Wednesday.

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Someone called police about the package on May 3, police said. 

“The resident had not ordered anything nor was any delivery expected,” police said.

The package contained bags of pills that “tested presumptively positive for fentanyl,” a potent synthetic opioid, police said.

A second package containing pills was delivered the following day, on May 4.

The pills weigh 29½ pounds, police said.

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Winslow police did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s requests for more information.

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for pain relief and as an anesthetic. It is about 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

A fentanyl overdose can cause respiratory failure leading to death, the DEA said.

Deaths involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl rose to 70,601 in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

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Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.





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Maine

Lawmakers advance bill to provide death benefits after two DOT workers killed on the job

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Lawmakers advance bill to provide death benefits after two DOT workers killed on the job


After a fatal car crash in Waterville killed two Maine Department of Transportation employees in January, state lawmakers are backing a bill to expand death benefits to the families of DOT workers killed on the job.  The Labor Committee unanimously voted Tuesday to advance LD 669, which will make DOT employees eligible for the same […]



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Maine man accused of lighting bed on fire after fight with girlfriend

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Maine man accused of lighting bed on fire after fight with girlfriend


WISCASSET, Maine (WMTW) – A Maine man has been arrested after police say he intentionally set a bed on fire after a dispute with his girlfriend, while they were still in it.

Police responded Monday, March 9, to a report of a fire that had been intentionally set inside a home on Beechnut Hill Road, according to the Wiscasset Police Department.

Investigators say the homeowner, Terry Couture, 41, set the bed on fire following an argument while both he and his girlfriend were in it. Authorities said the fire was extinguished and no serious injuries were reported.

Couture was arrested and charged with attempted murder, arson, aggravated criminal mischief, and domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.

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The investigation is ongoing.



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Celebrate Maine Maple Weekend at Williams Family Farm

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Celebrate Maine Maple Weekend at Williams Family Farm


CLIFTON, Maine (WABI) – Maine Maple Sunday is less than two weeks away, and the Williams Family Farm in Clifton is gearing up for one of the sweetest seasons yet.

A long stretch of frost and snow meant a late start this year, but the first boil of sap has finally run through the evaporator, and maple season is officially underway.

At Williams Family Farm, everything is done by hand:

  • Fresh maple syrup, bottled on-site
  • Maple sugar, carefully extracted in small batches
  • Baked candied pecans, cashews, and more

The Williams family has spent years working with whatever weather sends their way.

Long winters, surprise warmups, and everything in between—they’ve learned how to adapt so community members can enjoy their products.

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As co-owner John Williams explains, the key is in the temperature.

“You need to have it warm during the day and still freezing at night, so typically that’s the middle of February,” said Williams. “We have a lot of trees, so we have to start tapping them before the conditions are ideal, so we start tapping way before it’s time for it to run just so we can get them all tapped. If you have ten trees in your backyard, you want to wait until roughly now, the middle of February to now, and when it’s actually running and put them in then because you can put all your taps in, in one day.”

They’re excited to welcome the community during Maine Maple Weekend on March 21 and 22.

They will be boiling up sap, hosting demonstrations, and providing free samples.

Locals can also join them for their third annual pancake breakfast where all proceeds are donated to Holbrook Recreation.

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Follow the link to find out their hours for March and more.



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