Maine

Maine Cops Warn BMV Issuing Driver's Licenses to Individuals with Bogus Social Security Numbers – The Maine Wire

Published

2 years ago

May 30, 2024

Maine Cops Warn BMV Issuing Driver's Licenses to Individuals with Bogus Social Security Numbers – The Maine Wire

A police department in southern Maine is seeing an “uptick” in the number of driver’s licenses issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to individuals using the social security number “999-99-9999”.

“We’ve seen an uptick in [BMV] using 999-99-9999 for social security numbers,” wrote Darcie L. Valido, the Assistant Director of Operations for Sanford Regional Communications, in a May 23 email to various police departments in southern Maine.

In the email, which was obtained via a Freedom of Access Act request, and a phone interview, Valido said she sent the email because the bogus social security number can cause issues with the in-house police database.

That “heads up” email was received by law enforcement agencies throughout York County.

Valido was not aware of how or why the proxy number was linked to several bonafide Maine driver’s licenses.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D), who is responsible for overseeing the BMV, did not respond to a request for comment about the “uptick” in proxy social security numbers that the Sanford PD has experienced.

Deputy Secretary of State Catherine Curtis, the director BMV, did not respond to a request for comment about the phony social security numbers.

[ York County Jail Hiring Sanford’s ‘New Arrivals’…]

It’s unclear exactly how individuals without valid social security numbers are obtaining Maine driver’s licenses — or whether they are being registered to vote.

In order to obtain a driver’s license in Maine, individuals are required by law to prove that they are a Maine resident, present in the U.S. lawfully, and provide two forms of identification.

“If your social security number is not on file with the Secretary of State, you must provide your social security number,” the BMV website states.

One potential explanation is that the Sanford PD just happens to be encountering an uptick in nonimmigrant visa-holders who have obtained driver’s licenses by providing an I-94 document, also known as the Arrival/Departure Record.

[ Homeland Secretary: Illegal Aliens Trying to “game” Asylum Rules…]

Jessica Vaughan, the director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, said that the licenses linked to 999-99-9999 social security numbers could possibly have been provided to such non-citizen visa-holders admitted to the U.S. legally.

“They are lawfully admitted and would not need a SSN in most cases,” Vaughan said.

However, the lack of an official explanation from Bellows or the BMV has some Republicans concerned Maine is aiding illegal immigration and potentially allowing non-citizens to vote in Maine’s elections.

Maine Republican Party Executive Director Jason Savage told the Maine Wire that Attorney General Aaron Frey (D) should launch an investigation into whether illegal aliens are obtaining Maine driver’s licenses and registering to vote.

[ Chinese Citizen Charged With Felony Drug Trafficking in Maine Invokes “Asylum” Claim to Avoid Deportation…]

“This revelation is deeply disturbing. It suggests Maine’s Secretary of State is aiding people who are not legally present to obtain documents, including ID and driver’s licenses,” Savage said in a statement.

“With a wide open southern border and waves of illegal immigrants coming to Maine, this is a recipe for disaster,” said Savage.

“Maine’s Attorney General must investigate this issue immediately and provide full transparency,” he said. “Shenna Bellows needs to be replaced with a Secretary of State that respects the rule of law and U.S. Constitution by the next Maine Legislature.”

[ Maine House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross Pushes Legislation to Allow Illegal Aliens to Obtain Driver’s Licenses…]

Although Maine law currently prohibits the BMV from giving driver’s licenses or IDs to illegal aliens, several other states — including Massachusetts, New York, and California — will provide licenses regardless of immigration status.

In January, Maine’s Speaker of the House, far left Democrat Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross, introduced a bill (LD 1138) that would have removed the legal requirement that Maine driver’s licenses only be given to those present in the U.S. legally.

Later in the session, however, the bill was pulled at Talbot Ross’s request.

“The allegations raised here give me serious concerns about what is happening behind the scenes and in the dark at the Secretary of State’s office,” said Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor), the top Republican in the House of Representatives.

“I’m alarmed that once again Democrat-appointed Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is seemingly creating new laws out of thin air,” said Faulkingham.

Although Democrats and progressive groups have long maintained that non-citizens are not voting in U.S. elections, a study conducted by the nonprofit Just Facts estimated that as many as 2-5 million non-citizens were registered to vote as of 2022.

Source link

Maine

Wet, cooler today; rain & snow impacts across Maine

Published

9 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Wet, cooler today; rain & snow impacts across Maine

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Good morning and Happy Sunday everyone. Skies are cloudy with fog across much of Maine this morning. Rain has entered locations along the interstate and to the northwest. Temperatures vary from the upper 30s to mid 40s. Winds are out of the SE between about 5-15 mph.

Today will be a wet and impactful day with rain and even snow anticipated as a large cold front passes through Maine. Skies will be cloudy with plenty of fog lasting through the morning. Rain will expand across the interstate by the late morning hours, reaching Downeast locations by midday/the early afternoon.

By the early to midafternoon, temperatures will start to drop across northwestern locations as the cold front passes through Maine. This will result in rain turning over to mixed precipitation and eventually snow across the Western Mountains, Moosehead region, and Northern Maine. Rain will continue steadily and at times heavily across the foothills, Interstate, Coast, and Downeast. A few thunderstorms are even possible closer to the coast.

Snow will expand across areas to the northwest of the interstate this evening, reaching all the way down to Interior Midcoast communities, the Bangor region, and Interior Downeast areas by sunset and into the start of the night. Precipitation will taper off across Western Maine shortly after sunset, before exiting the entire state around midnight tonight. High temps today will vary from the low 40s to low 50s with SSE to NW gusts reaching 20-25 mph.

WABI Weather 4/19/26 AM(WABI)

Snowfall totals will vary under 2 inches across Western, Northern, and Interior Downeast locations. However, a few pockets of 2-4 inches are possible, mostly in higher elevations across the mountains. Rainfall totals will accumulate around a half inch to three quarters of an inch when all is said and done.

Precipitation will be out of Maine by midnight tonight, with cloudy conditions giving way to mostly clear skies by sunrise. Lows overnight will dip back below freezing across much of the state, from the low 20s to mid 30s tonight, so cover up any plants or flowers outside. WNW gusts will reach 20-25 mph. A Small Craft Advisory is expected offshore.

Skies will be partly to mostly sunny across the interstate and coast on Monday morning. However, by the late morning to midday hours, clouds will build with a few scattered rain and snow showers in spots. Conditions will remain on the cloudier side in the afternoon before clearing up around sunset into the start of Monday night. Highs will be chilly on Monday, from the low 30s to upper 40s. WNW to SW gusts will be a bit breezy, reaching 20-25 mph, which will add to the wind chill factor.

High pressure will build on Monday night, remaining overhead on Tuesday. Skies will be sunny in the morning, becoming partly to mostly sunny in the afternoon. Highs will remain cool, in the 40s across the board with North to SW gusts only reaching 15-20 mph.

A weaker low-pressure system could bring showers across Maine on Wednesday and Thursday. There is a bit of model uncertainty on exactly when it will impact Maine. The GFS has impacts on Wednesday, while the EURO, GRAF, and GDPS models have most of the impacts on Thursday. We will continue to monitor this system and potential impacts. All it looks to provide as of now are cloudier skies and rain showers, with some snow shower chances farther to the North.

By Friday and Saturday, conditions are trending on the drier side with sunshine and average temperatures returning to the forecast.

SUNDAY: Highs from low 40s to low 50s. Cloudy with AM fog. Rain becoming widespread throughout the day, turning over to snow to the north & west during PM. SSE to NW gusts reach 20-25 mph.

MONDAY: Highs from low 30s to upper 40s. Partly to mostly sunny early. Developing clouds with scattered rain/snow showers by midday/afternoon. WNW to SW gusts reach 20-25 mph.

TUESDAY: Highs throughout the 40s. Sunnier AM. Partly to mostly sunny PM. North to SW gusts reach 15-20 mph.

WEDNESDAY: Highs from low 40s to low 50s. Mostly cloudy with a few rain showers. Few AM snow showers possible North. SSE to SSW gusts reach 20-25 mph.

THURSDAY: Highs from mid 40s to mid 50s. Cloudier skies with rain showers possible. Some AM snow showers possible North. NW gusts reach 20-25 mph.

FRIDAY: Highs from upper 40s to mid 50s. Partly cloudy. NNW gusts reach 20 mph.

Source link

Maine

18 jaw-dropping views from Katahdin to help you plan for warmer weather

Published

21 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

18 jaw-dropping views from Katahdin to help you plan for warmer weather

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in September 2022.

When it comes to Maine hiking, summiting Katahdin is the ultimate achievement.

Maine’s tallest mountain stands at 5,269 feet, and there are a number of different trails hikers can take to get up and down Katahdin. And while some are harder than others, none are easy.

But the views are incredible.

Whether it’s the rugged terrain of the Knife Edge or the vast landscape of the 200,000 acres that compose Baxter State Park below, here’s a look at what it’s like to climb Katahdin.

Hunt Trail

Hunt Trail traces the edge of a ridge on the west side of Katahdin known as Hunt Spur. Credit: Aislinn Sarnacki / BDN

Katahdin Stream Falls is one of the many scenic highlights of Katahdin’s Hunt Trail. It’s located about a mile from the trailhead at Katahdin Stream Campground. Credit: Aislinn Sarnacki / BDN

Abol Trail

Chimney Pond Trail

Cathedral Trail

Saddle Trail

Northwest Basin Trail

Knife Edge

Hikers on the Knife Edge of Katahdin have few options for getting off trail to relieve themselves of human waste. Above treeline, Leave No Trace principles recommend planning ahead to avoid the necessity of going to the bathroom in fragile alpine areas, or getting off trail as far as possible to relieve themselves on rock or gravel. Credit: Courtesy of Brad Viles

Tablelands

South Peak

Hamlin Peak

Source link

Maine

Maine Township Residents OK Purchase Of Building For Food Pantry – Journal & Topics Media Group

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Maine Township Residents OK Purchase Of Building For Food Pantry – Journal & Topics Media Group

Maine Township residents vote in support of purchasing building for the relocation of the township food pantry.

A proposal for Maine Township to purchase a building at 9850 Milwaukee Ave. in Glenview to move its popular and growing food pantry received strong approval at the township’s Annual Meeting held last week at the Town Hall on Ballard Road.
More than 100 residents attended the meeting where they approved buying the property for $1,429,000. The 3,000 sq. ft. building, which is located within the township, had been the home of a local restaurant. It is currently vacant.
In March, Supervisor Kim Jones explained that the food pantry needs more space for food and to accommodate clients who need food. “We’ve totally outgrown it,” said Jones at the time. “We’ve been looking for more than a year.”
Following last week’s meeting, Jones said about the vote, “That magical moment really encapsulated the strong support system that’s been built from neighbors helping neighbors throughout our community. The food pantry has grown in leaps and bounds throughout the last five years thanks to the dedicated work of its staff, volunteers and the public.”
Des Plaines City Clerk Dominik Bronakowski served as ceremonial moderator for the event.
Jones also recognized a number of employees and officials who currently serve the township. They included Assessor Susan Moylan-Krey and MaineStay Youth and Family Services Director Richard Lyon for their 20 years of service to Maine. Assistant Director of MaineStreamers, Therese Tully was recognized for her 25 years of service.
The meeting also recognized former Des Plaines Self-Help Closet and Pantry Director Debbie Walusiak who was presented the Sgt. Karen Lader Good Citizen Award for her more than 20 years of service to the Des Plaines community.
“Debbie is an exceptional community leader and volunteer,” said township Clerk Pete Gialamas whose office runs the annual award program. “Her work with the Des Plaines community, particularly her leadership navigating the Self-Help Closet and Pantry’s 2020 move to a larger location in the midst of the COVID pandemic really shows the depth and resolve of that leadership and dedication to service.”
In 2011, the clerk’s office instituted the award in honor of Lader, a resident of Des Plaines and a 15-year veteran of the Cook County Sheriff’s Police who lost her battle with cancer in 2010. She was deeply involved with the township’s Neighborhood Watch program and active in Maine’s National Night Out Against Crime event held each August. She also worked on Special Olympics and animal rescue.

If you like this story, you can get a whole lot more practically every day of the week by subscribing to journal-topics.com. Click here to choose your preference of either print or online, or call 847-299-5511.

Source link