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Maine residents to vote on new state flag design

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Maine residents to vote on new state flag design


The 1901 Maine state flag flies outside Rangeley Made in Maine on Main St. in Rangeley Tuesday, August 1, 2023: (Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)

It’s not often residents get to design a new state flag, but the people of Maine will have their say in November.

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However, a proposed design must come together first. 

The state is accepting design proposals as long as it’s based on the state’s original flag, which featured a simple pine tree and blue star against an off-white background. 

The deadline is July 19.

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A modern version of that flag used from 1901 to 1909 took the state by storm during the Maine’s bicentennial in 2020, and has appeared on hats, sweatshirts and soon license plates. This popularity played a role in lawmakers’ approval of a bill last year to let Mainers vote on replacing the current flag, which features the state’s official seal, a lumberjack, a sailor and the state’s motto, Dirigo. That’s Latin for “I lead,” a reference to the north star.

The design process was without controversy until news reports of a similar-looking flag flown at the vacation home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. The flag featuring a pine tree and the words “AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN” dates to the Revolutionary War, but has recently been associated with the Christian nationalist movement and the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

Bellows brushed aside a reporter’s question about the flags’ similarities at a news conference. “This is a debate delightfully free of partisan politics, and one that every Maine voter can weigh in on at the ballot box this fall,” she said in a statement.

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The law requires Bellows to present the final design. “This duty bestowed upon me by the Legislature is not a job I can do alone. That’s why today I invite every Mainer to consider submitting a design for consideration,” she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles. 



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Maine

Off-duty officer hit by vehicle, driver arrested after fight, police say

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Off-duty officer hit by vehicle, driver arrested after fight, police say


An off-duty reserve police officer was undergoing surgery after an incident Tuesday in which he was hit by a vehicle, Maine State Police said.

Many details around the incident in Norway, Maine, involving the reserve officer for Oxford police and another man, who was arrested, weren’t immediately available. There was no danger to the public.

The off-duty officer, Joe Correia, a 31-year-old from Norway, was outside of his vehicle on Crocket Ridge Road and hit by a vehicle being driven by Michael Carleton, of Paris, Maine, about 6 p.m., police said.

That led to a fight between the two, according to police. Carleton was arrested on charges of aggravated assault and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon; it wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak to the charges.

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Correia is expected to survive his injuries, according to police, who continued to investigate what happened as of Tuesday night.



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Maine unemployment numbers continue to see positive change

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Maine unemployment numbers continue to see positive change


(WABI) – The unemployment situation in Maine continues to see little change as the year progresses.

According to a report from the Maine Department of Labor, the unemployment rate across the state remains well below long-term averages.

The preliminary 3% unemployment rate changed from 3.1% in April.

Unemployment has been below 4% for 30 months which is the second longest such period and below the U.S. average.

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The full report is listed here.



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How The New York Times thinks you should spend 36 hours in Portland, Maine

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How The New York Times thinks you should spend 36 hours in Portland, Maine


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The publication recommended places to eat and play.

Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine Office of Tourism

Travelers in Portland, Maine, a city bursting with culture, restaurants, and outdoor adventures, just received a helping hand from The New York Times.


  • 2 New England destinations made CNN’s inaugural list of best towns to visit in America

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The publication recently focused on Portland for its popular “36 Hours” series, and recommended things to do and places to eat in the coastal city over a 36-hour time period.

“From the fishing piers and wharves lined up like piano keys along Commercial Street to the ocean views and historic Queen Anne-style homes atop Munjoy Hill, Portland offers a lot for visitors to take in,” wrote the Times. “And then there is the food. Maine’s largest city has long been nationally known as a top food destination, and just this year two Portland bakers won James Beard Awards.”

When hunger strikes, travelers should check out places like Hot Suppa! or Ugly Duckling for breakfast, wrote the Times. Other spots worth dining at are Terlingua for Texas-style barbecue; Izakaya Minato for sake and shared plates; Công Tử Bột for Vietnamese food; and Luke’s Lobster for fresh lobster on Portland Pier. For drinks, head over to Oxbow, one of many local breweries, or Anoche, a Basque-inspired cider house and bistro.

For culture, visitors can wander the Portland Museum of Art and check out “Jeremy Frey: Woven” through Sept. 15, wrote the publication. Meanwhile, music lovers will love the sounds at Blue Portland Maine, One Longfellow Square, or Thompson’s Point, an outdoor stage and “Portland’s go-to venue for summer concerts by nationally touring artists.”

Outdoor activities abound in Portland, and visitors can rent bikes at places like Brad & Wyatt’s Island Bike Rental, go on kayak tours with Portland Paddle, and more. It’s also worth grabbing a ferry to Peaks Island with Casco Bay Lines, noted the Times.

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“Leave time for the 15-minute drive out to Fort Williams Park, a 90-acre park owned by the nearby town of Cape Elizabeth that has a cliff walk, a children’s garden and a panoramic view of Casco Bay,” wrote The New York Times. “It’s also home to Portland Head Light, a historic and much-photographed lighthouse.”

Read the full New York Times article for more recommendations.

Portland just made CNN’s inaugural list of best places to visit in America.





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