Maine
Maine mental health care advocates push for services after Lewiston shooting – Maine Beacon
Advocates for mental-health care in Maine are applauding Gov. Janet Mills’ push to increase access to services, following last year’s deadly shooting in Lewiston.
Mills has proposed the establishment of a statewide network of crisis receiving centers so that any person can get prompt and appropriate care.
Hannah Longley, clinical director of advocacy and crisis interventions with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Maine, called them an amazing model that reduces stigma and saves money.
“It helps to divert from higher levels of care,” said Longley, “so individuals are less likely to end up in an emergency room or criminal-justice system.”
Longley said too often people in crisis end up in county jails where they remain until they’ve been stabilized.
The governor’s proposal builds on the success of an individual crisis center in Portland and efforts to build a new center in Lewiston.
Maine is experiencing a shortage of mental-health care professionals, and state lawmakers have introduced several bills to improve their pay, remove barriers to licensure and reduce their student debt.
Longley said twenty years ago, Maine was the envy of the nation in terms of mental-health services and treatment.
She said without greater support for health-care professionals, it will be hard to earn that reputation back.
“Social work historically has been one of the lowest paid masters-level professions,” said Longley, “that still has the same amount of educational debt, and so really trying to make that a viable workforce.”
Longley said the Lewiston shooting has brought greater attention to the need for a continuing network of care across the state.
She noted that studies show people suffering from mental illness are far more likely to be the victims of violence than to commit violent acts.
Disclosure: NAMI Maine contributes to our fund for reporting on Mental Health, Social Justice, Youth Issues.
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.
The investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.
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.
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.
Follow the link to find out their hours for March and more.
Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.
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