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Maine should focus on spending rather than on voting | Opinion

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Maine should focus on spending rather than on voting | Opinion


As a fervent believer in the importance of reliable local news and a longtime subscriber to the paper, I have watched with interest the changes being made recently. Welcome to Steve Collins, with his thoughtful and well-written columns. I’m particularly concerned about the decision to give opinion submissions and letters to the editor relating to Maine “first preference,” presumably over those more closely related to national issues. That begs the question of when pertinent Maine issues would be unrelated to national issues.

Mr. Collins’ April 15 column is a case in point. He makes a strong case for electing by popular vote, rather than selection by the Legislature, of Maine’s attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor. The rationale for this is that it would be more democratic even if the voters sometimes fail to choose wisely, or well.

The Republican leader of Maine’s Legislature opines that this would “enhance legitimacy” and ensure a state government that voters “are more likely to trust.” An analyst from the Maine Policy Institute opines this change would improve transparency and accountability. While this seems to be an example of a Maine issue, it is in fact closely related to current national issues related to the state of our democracy.

The Maine Policy Institute, formerly known as the Maine Heritage Institute, is the state branch of the national Heritage Policy Institute that has created Project 2025, under which the Trump administration is rampaging through our federal government agencies with a clear intent to destroy government functioning as we have known it since the end of WWII.

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Its intent is to do away with a government focused on protecting people and providing infrastructure and a social safety net and replace it with one focused on the benefit of business, with minimal taxation and minimal regulation. In the process, it has created unimaginable chaos and a threat to our democracy.

Any changes to state government, particularly ones serious enough to require a constitutional amendment, should be deeply and thoughtfully considered for both their intended and their unintended consequences. Consider, for instance, what might occur if some billionaire decided to spend $25 million to influence the election of the attorney general so that that individual, being beholden, wouldn’t challenge attempts at national policies.

What if another oligarch wanted to donate a half million dollars to a Republican-sponsored voter suppression referendum so they could “shape” the electorate who would be choosing these officers?

In my opinion, if we are looking at ways to protect, preserve and expand our democracy, a far more important first step would be to require full disclosure of who is spending, and how much they are spending, to influence our elections. Ever since our corrupt Supreme Court, several of them bought and paid for by Leonard Leo, et al.’s Federalist Society, decided in Citizens United, among other misguided decisions, that money was a form of political “speech.”

Democracy has all too often been co-opted by wealthy operatives so that government can be shaped to serve their needs regardless of the needs of the citizenry. So let’s see what can be done to ensure honesty and integrity regarding who is “speaking” before we worry about increasing the voice of the people.

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We need to know that the ability to exercise the right to vote isn’t being impeded by voter suppression efforts and that the will of the people isn’t being subjected to undue influence from unknown actors. Then we can feel we’ve actually worked on a functioning democracy.



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Veterans of USS Samuel B Roberts 1988 mine strike reunite in Maine

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Veterans of USS Samuel B Roberts 1988 mine strike reunite in Maine


Veterans of USS Samuel B Roberts 1988 mine strike reunite in Maine

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STUFF DONE. GO DOWN THERE AND KICK BUTT.” THE MAINE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE NINTH. VETERANS OF THE 1988 PERSIAN GULF MINE STRIKE ARE NOW REUNITING HERE IN MAINE. THE BATH IRON WORKS BUILT SHIP SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE AFTER HITTING AN IRANIAN MINE ON APRIL 14 1988. TONIGHT CATE MCCUSKER SHARES THE HEROIC ACTIONS OF THE CREW AND THE BROTHERHOOD THAT REMAINS TODAY. TUESDAY MARKS 38 YEARS SINCE A SHIP BUILT BY BATH IRON WORKS DEFIED ALL ODDS – AND SURVIVED A DANGEROUS STRIKE IN THE PERSUAN GULF…THANKS TO THE BRAVE EFFORTS OF ITS CREW. “ON OUR WAY BACK THAT WAY FROM THE MINEFIELD, AND WE HIT ONE OF THE MINES.” WHILE ON A MISSION IN THE PERSIAN GULF – DURING THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR – THE USS SAMUEL B ROBERTS STRUCK AN IRANIAN MINE “I WAS FREAKING OUT, YOU KNOW, I’M 19. NEVER GOING TO GET MARRIED, NEVER GOING TO SEE MY FAMILY AGAIN.” THE DAMAGE WAS DRASTIC – LEAVING A MASSIVE HOLE IN THE HULL OF THE SHIP – BUT THE CREW JUMPED INTO ACTION… “OUR TRAINING KICKED IN AND EVERYBODY DID WHAT THEY HAD TO DO, WHATEVER THEIR JOB WAS. FOR ME PERSONALLY, I ONLY KIND OF HESITATED AT ONE TIME, WONDERING WHAT MY WIFE WAS THINKING AT THE TIME, AND I PUSHED THAT ASIDE AND THEN WENT TO WORK. MIRACULOUSLY – EVERYONE ON BOARD SURVIVED – AND ONLY TEN PEOPLE WERE INJURED… WE FOUGHT FIRES AND FLOODING FOR ABOUT FIVE HOURS OR BETTER. THE MINE BLAST HIT US ON THE PORT SIDE, BROKE THE KEEL OF THE SHIP AND CRACKED THE SUPERSTRUCTURE ALL THE WAY AROUND. YEARS LATER – THE GROUP FREQUENTLY REUNITES… FOREVER BONDED BY THE TRAUMA AND BROTHERHOOD OF THAT MOMENT. THIS TIME THEY’VE RETURNED TO BATH – WHERE THE USS SAMUEL ROBERTS WAS BUILT… ” EACH SHIP HAS A MOTTO. OURS WAS NO HIGHER HONOR.” THIS SHIP MEANS SO MUCH TO US. AND AS THE US IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A WAR WITH IRAN – WHERE MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY ARE ALSO ENCOUNTERING DANGEROUS SITUATIONS IN THAT AREA OF THE WORLD… VETERANS OF THE 1988 PERSIAN GULF MINE STRIKE SAY…

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Veterans of USS Samuel B Roberts 1988 mine strike reunite in Maine

Updated: 10:31 PM EDT Apr 10, 2026

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Veterans of the USS Samuel B Roberts are reuniting in Maine this weekend.Tuesday marks 38 years since the ship struck an Iranian mine in the Persian Gulf.“Our training kicked in, and everybody did what they had to do,” crewmember Brad Gutcher said. “We fought fires and flooding for about five hours. The mine blast hit us on the port side, broke the keel of the ship, and cracked the structure all the way around.”Everyone on board survived, and they now meet every few years for remembrance and camaraderie. This year, the reunion is held in Bath, as the USS Samuel B Roberts was built by Bath Iron Works.“Each ship has a motto. Ours was no higher honor,” crewmember Shane Deitert said. “This ship means so much to us.”

Veterans of the USS Samuel B Roberts are reuniting in Maine this weekend.

Tuesday marks 38 years since the ship struck an Iranian mine in the Persian Gulf.

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“Our training kicked in, and everybody did what they had to do,” crewmember Brad Gutcher said. “We fought fires and flooding for about five hours. The mine blast hit us on the port side, broke the keel of the ship, and cracked the structure all the way around.”

Everyone on board survived, and they now meet every few years for remembrance and camaraderie. This year, the reunion is held in Bath, as the USS Samuel B Roberts was built by Bath Iron Works.

“Each ship has a motto. Ours was no higher honor,” crewmember Shane Deitert said. “This ship means so much to us.”

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Ailing Hearts of Pine return to Maine eager for home opener at raucous Fitzy

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Ailing Hearts of Pine return to Maine eager for home opener at raucous Fitzy


The Portland Hearts of Pine men’s pro soccer team practices at Fitzpatrick Stadium on Tuesday as they prepare for their home opener on Saturday. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)

When the Portland Hearts of Pine play their 2026 USL League One home opener Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium, it will be 28 days since they last scored a goal.

Maine’s professional men’s soccer team is in need of a boost from its fans, who came out in record-setting droves last season. Portland drew about 5,800 fans per match in 2025, tops in the USL League One. Hearts of Pine management expects to bring in over 6,000 per game in 2026 by expanding the standing-room-only sections.

“I’m really excited for the home opener. The whole atmosphere is spot-on,” said second-year midfielder Michel Poon-Angeron. “It feels like maybe 20,000 people at times.”

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The Hearts are 1-1-1 in USL1 play and 11th in the 17-team league with four points after three matches. For the second consecutive season, their home opener (6 p.m., ESPN+) opponent is One Knoxville SC, the defending league champion. Knoxville (3-1-1) is in a first-place tie with FC Naples and Spokane Velocity, each with 10 points after five matches.

Starting with its 1-0 loss to amateur club Vermont Green in the U.S. Open Cup, Portland has been shut out in three consecutive matches.

A 0-0 tie across the country at AV Alta FC in California was an acceptable result, considering it was Portland’s third match in eight days.

A 1-0 loss without a shot on goal a week later at expansion side Sarasota Paradise?

Suffice to say it’s not the start the second-year franchise was imagining, particularly since it returned 13 players who had combined to score 34 of the team’s 51 goals in its inaugural 12-8-12 USL1 season.

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Midfielder Ollie Wright, who led Portland with 13 overall goals (11 in league play) in 2025, said it’s far too soon to panic.

“We’re in a good place to kick on. Luckily, no one in the league has gotten off to a great start,” Wright said. “We (had) a weekend off to prepare and get guys back to 100% fitness, myself included. Goals have been a little bit hard to come by, but we were in a similar position last year and we found our form. So I think it’s just a matter of one or two going in and the floodgates will open.”

Portland Hearts of Pine coach Bobby Murphy gives directions to players during a drill at Fitzpatrick Stadium. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer)

Nagging injuries to some players have limited coach Bobby Murphy’s ability to build a consistent lineup card. Twenty-two of Portland’s 26 players have made at least one start. Only five players have seen action in all four games — regular starting center back Kemali Green, returning midfield standouts Masashi Wada and Poon-Angeron, new left back Adam Armour, and new attacking midfielder Matteo Kidd.

Wright (hamstring) was one of five regular participants who did not make the trip to Sarasota. Center back Brecc Evans hasn’t played since the season opener. Midfielder Mikey Lopez was out with a one-game red-card suspension, and back Mo Mohamed (Somalia) and midfielder JayTee Kamara (Sierra Leone) — two key players who can generate offensive thrust from the right side — were away on international duties.

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Poon-Angeron said the fervor and support at Fitzy also comes with a responsibility to perform. It’s something the 13 newcomers are learning. For many of them, the opportunity to play in front of massive crowds influenced their decision to sign with Portland. But they haven’t experienced it. Yet.

“What this group will learn, and a lot of the new guys will learn, is what it means to play for this club,” Poon-Angeron said. “It’s a huge honor. It’s a huge privilege. As you know this atmosphere is electric and you’ve got to represent.”

The Hearts started the season well, winning the season opener 3-1 against the New York Cosmos with goals from Wada, a returning all-USL1 first-team pick, and pro rookies Konstantinos Goergallides and Aboubacar Camara.

Murphy welcomed a two-week break between games. After a preseason schedule that included stints in Bermuda and South Carolina, coupled with three road league games, the club hadn’t been in Portland for longer than five days in two months, he said.

The additional training days at home provided the club an opportunity to regroup, heal up, and for Murphy to reinforce what his preferred attacking, pressuring style of play demands.

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“We’ve struggled with just getting everybody together, and new guys really coming to terms with what it means to play for this club, the effort that’s required,” he said. “So I think that’s where we’re lacking a little bit. But we’ve had good days of training so hopefully we’ll be further down that path.”



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Maine officials issue warning about scam involving roof replacement program

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Maine officials issue warning about scam involving roof replacement program


Maine Bureau of Insurance issues warning about scam involving roof replacement program

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MOVE TO THE NEW LOCATION AT RIVERFRONT PLAZA IN WESTBROOK. AND A NEW SCAM TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON — THE BUREAU OF INSURANCE — ALERTING MAINERS TO BE AWARE OF FAKE WEBSITES CLAIMING TO BE THE NEW “FORTIFY MAINE HOMES” ROOF REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. YOU SHOULDN’T CLICK ON OR TRUST ANY WEBSITES NOT HOSTED BY MAINE DOT GOV THAT OFFER TO CHECK YOUR HOME’S ELIGIBILITY OR OFFER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT. APPLICATIONS FOR THE áREAL PROGRAM AREN’T BEI

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Maine Bureau of Insurance issues warning about scam involving roof replacement program

Updated: 7:25 PM EDT Apr 9, 2026

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The Maine Bureau of Insurance is warning people about fake websites that claim to represent its new Fortify Maine Homes roof replacement program.Officials said Mainers should avoid any websites not hosted by www.maine.gov that offer to check eligibility or provide information about the Fortify Maine Homes Program because they are not affiliated with the program or the Bureau of Insurance.The Bureau of Insurance said its website, www.maine.gov/insurance/home, is the only website where Maine consumers can access information about the Fortify Maine Homes Program. People can click the “Fortify Maine Homes Program” button at the top of the Bureau of Insurance homepage or click here to find that information.Officials said applications for the Fortify Maine Homes Program are not currently being accepted. People can check the Fortify Maine Homes website for updates on the program and the application process.

The Maine Bureau of Insurance is warning people about fake websites that claim to represent its new Fortify Maine Homes roof replacement program.

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Officials said Mainers should avoid any websites not hosted by www.maine.gov that offer to check eligibility or provide information about the Fortify Maine Homes Program because they are not affiliated with the program or the Bureau of Insurance.

The Bureau of Insurance said its website, www.maine.gov/insurance/home, is the only website where Maine consumers can access information about the Fortify Maine Homes Program. People can click the “Fortify Maine Homes Program” button at the top of the Bureau of Insurance homepage or click here to find that information.

Officials said applications for the Fortify Maine Homes Program are not currently being accepted. People can check the Fortify Maine Homes website for updates on the program and the application process.

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function refreshWeatherIframe(containerId) {
var iframeId = ‘weather-iframe-‘ + containerId;
var iframe = document.getElementById(iframeId);
if (iframe && iframe.src) {
var originalSrc = iframe.src;
iframe.src = originalSrc + (originalSrc.indexOf(‘?’) > -1 ? ‘&’ : ‘?’) + ‘t=” + Date.now();
}
}

function initializeWeatherBox(container) {
var containerId = container.getAttribute(“data-container-id’);
var isWeatherBoxV2 = containerId === ‘home-weather-v2’;

function switchWeatherTab(tabName, clickedElement) {
container.querySelectorAll(‘[data-tab-id]’).forEach(function(tab) {
tab.classList.remove(‘open’);
tab.setAttribute(‘aria-selected’, ‘false’);
});

clickedElement.classList.add(‘open’);
clickedElement.setAttribute(‘aria-selected’, ‘true’);

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container.querySelectorAll(‘[data-content-id]’).forEach(function(content) {
content.style.display = ‘none’;
content.setAttribute(‘hidden’, ‘true’);
});

var targetContent = container.querySelector(‘[data-content-id=”‘ + tabName + ‘”]’);
if (targetContent) {
targetContent.style.display = ‘block’;
targetContent.removeAttribute(‘hidden’);
}
}

function loadWeatherData() {
// If weather data is already being loaded, wait for it
if (window.weatherDataPromise) {
window.weatherDataPromise.then(function(data) {
if (data && data.data) {
var weatherContainer = container.closest(‘.weather-box-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
weatherContainer.style.display = ‘flex’;
updateCurrentWeather(data.data);
updateForecastTabs(data.data);
updateWeatherAlertsBar(data.data);
}
}
});
return;
}

var location = { zip: window.DEFAULT_ZIPCODE };

try {
var storedLocations = localStorage.getItem(‘hrst.zip.history’);
if (storedLocations) {
var locations = JSON.parse(storedLocations);
if (locations && locations.length > 0) {
location = locations[0];
}
}
} catch (e) {}

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var apiUrl = (window.DEWY_HOSTNAME || ”) + ‘/api/v1/weather/full/’ + location.zip;

if (window.fetch) {
window.weatherDataPromise = fetch(apiUrl)
.then(function(response) { return response.json(); })
.then(function(data) {
if (data && data.data) {
var article = container.closest(‘.article–wrapper’);
var weatherContainer = container.closest(‘.weather-box-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
weatherContainer.style.display = ‘flex’;
updateCurrentWeather(data.data);
updateForecastTabs(data.data);
updateWeatherAlertsBar(data.data);
}
return data;
}
})
.catch(function(error) {
console.error(‘Error loading weather:’, error);
// Reset to unknown background on error
updateWeatherBackground(‘unknown’);
});
}
}

function updateWeatherAlertsBar(weatherData) {
var weatherWatchHeader = container.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-header’);
if (!weatherWatchHeader) return;

var weatherWatchText = weatherWatchHeader.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-text’);
var weatherWatchLink = weatherWatchHeader.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-link’);

if (weatherData.alerts_count > 0) {
weatherWatchHeader.className=”weather-watch-header has-alerts”;
if (weatherWatchText) {
weatherWatchText.textContent = `Weather Alerts (${weatherData.alerts_count})`;
}
if (weatherWatchLink) {
if (!weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-href’)) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘data-initial-href’, weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘href’));
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘data-initial-onclick’, weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘onclick’) || ”);
}
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘href’, “https://www.wmtw.com/alerts”);
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘onclick’, “return handleWeatherLinkClick(event, ‘click_alerts’, ‘click’, ‘mobile-weather’, “https://www.wmtw.com/alerts”);”);
}
} else {
weatherWatchHeader.className=”weather-watch-header”;
if (weatherWatchText) {
weatherWatchText.textContent = containerId === ‘home-weather-v2’ ? ‘Watch Latest Forecast’ : ‘Latest Forecast’;
}
if (weatherWatchLink) {
var initialHref = weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-href’);
var initialOnclick = weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-onclick’);
if (initialHref) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘href’, initialHref);
}
if (initialOnclick) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘onclick’, initialOnclick);
}
}
}
}

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function updateCurrentWeather(weatherData) {
if (weatherData.current) {
var tempValue = weatherData.current.temp_f || ”;
var skyValue = weatherData.current.sky || ”;
var feelsLikeValue = weatherData.current.feels_like_f || weatherData.current.temp_f || ”;

var tempEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–current-temp-value’);
if (tempEl) {
tempEl.textContent = tempValue;
tempEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, tempValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit’);
}

var iconEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–current-icon’);
if (iconEl && weatherData.current.icon_name) {
iconEl.className=”weather-grid–current-icon weather-current-icon icon icon-weather-” + weatherData.current.icon_name;
}

var skyEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–sky’);
if (skyEl) {
skyEl.textContent = skyValue;
skyEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, ‘Current condition: ‘ + skyValue);
}

var feelsEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–feels’);
if (feelsEl) {
feelsEl.textContent = feelsLikeValue + ‘°F’;
feelsEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, feelsLikeValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit’);
}

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var weatherContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-temp-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
var summary = ‘Current temperature ‘ + tempValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit, ‘ +
skyValue + ‘, feels like ‘ + feelsLikeValue + ‘ degrees’;
weatherContainer.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, summary);
}

updateWeatherBackground(weatherData.current.icon_name);
}
}

function updateWeatherBackground(iconName) {
try {
var bgPath = weatherImages.backgrounds[iconName] || weatherImages.backgrounds.unknown;
container.style.backgroundImage=”url(” + bgPath + ‘)’;
} catch (e) {
console.log(‘Error updating weather background:’, e);
}
}

function updateForecastTabs(weatherData) {
var visibleItems = isWeatherBoxV2 ? 6 : 5;

if (weatherData.hourly) {
var hourlyContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-hourly-forecast’);
if (hourlyContainer) {
var html=””;
var maxHours = Math.min(visibleItems, weatherData.hourly.length);

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for (var i = 0; i 0 ? currentIndex – 1 : tabs.length – 1;
tabs[prevIndex].focus();
break;
case ‘ArrowRight’:
e.preventDefault();
var nextIndex = currentIndex

`;
}

function refreshWeatherIframe(containerId) {
var iframeId = ‘weather-iframe-‘ + containerId;
var iframe = document.getElementById(iframeId);
if (iframe && iframe.src) {
var originalSrc = iframe.src;
iframe.src = originalSrc + (originalSrc.indexOf(‘?’) > -1 ? ‘&’ : ‘?’) + ‘t=” + Date.now();
}
}

function initializeWeatherBox(container) {
var containerId = container.getAttribute(“data-container-id’);
var isWeatherBoxV2 = containerId === ‘home-weather-v2’;

function switchWeatherTab(tabName, clickedElement) {
container.querySelectorAll(‘[data-tab-id]’).forEach(function(tab) {
tab.classList.remove(‘open’);
tab.setAttribute(‘aria-selected’, ‘false’);
});

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clickedElement.classList.add(‘open’);
clickedElement.setAttribute(‘aria-selected’, ‘true’);

container.querySelectorAll(‘[data-content-id]’).forEach(function(content) {
content.style.display = ‘none’;
content.setAttribute(‘hidden’, ‘true’);
});

var targetContent = container.querySelector(‘[data-content-id=”‘ + tabName + ‘”]’);
if (targetContent) {
targetContent.style.display = ‘block’;
targetContent.removeAttribute(‘hidden’);
}
}

function loadWeatherData() {
// If weather data is already being loaded, wait for it
if (window.weatherDataPromise) {
window.weatherDataPromise.then(function(data) {
if (data && data.data) {
var weatherContainer = container.closest(‘.weather-box-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
weatherContainer.style.display = ‘flex’;
updateCurrentWeather(data.data);
updateForecastTabs(data.data);
updateWeatherAlertsBar(data.data);
}
}
});
return;
}

var location = { zip: window.DEFAULT_ZIPCODE };

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try {
var storedLocations = localStorage.getItem(‘hrst.zip.history’);
if (storedLocations) {
var locations = JSON.parse(storedLocations);
if (locations && locations.length > 0) {
location = locations[0];
}
}
} catch (e) {}

var apiUrl = (window.DEWY_HOSTNAME || ”) + ‘/api/v1/weather/full/’ + location.zip;

if (window.fetch) {
window.weatherDataPromise = fetch(apiUrl)
.then(function(response) { return response.json(); })
.then(function(data) {
if (data && data.data) {
var article = container.closest(‘.article–wrapper’);
var weatherContainer = container.closest(‘.weather-box-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
weatherContainer.style.display = ‘flex’;
updateCurrentWeather(data.data);
updateForecastTabs(data.data);
updateWeatherAlertsBar(data.data);
}
return data;
}
})
.catch(function(error) {
console.error(‘Error loading weather:’, error);
// Reset to unknown background on error
updateWeatherBackground(‘unknown’);
});
}
}

function updateWeatherAlertsBar(weatherData) {
var weatherWatchHeader = container.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-header’);
if (!weatherWatchHeader) return;

var weatherWatchText = weatherWatchHeader.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-text’);
var weatherWatchLink = weatherWatchHeader.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-link’);

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if (weatherData.alerts_count > 0) {
weatherWatchHeader.className=”weather-watch-header has-alerts”;
if (weatherWatchText) {
weatherWatchText.textContent = `Weather Alerts (${weatherData.alerts_count})`;
}
if (weatherWatchLink) {
if (!weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-href’)) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘data-initial-href’, weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘href’));
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘data-initial-onclick’, weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘onclick’) || ”);
}
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘href’, “https://www.wmtw.com/alerts”);
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘onclick’, “return handleWeatherLinkClick(event, ‘click_alerts’, ‘click’, ‘sidelist-weather’, “https://www.wmtw.com/alerts”);”);
}
} else {
weatherWatchHeader.className=”weather-watch-header”;
if (weatherWatchText) {
weatherWatchText.textContent = containerId === ‘home-weather-v2’ ? ‘Watch Latest Forecast’ : ‘Latest Forecast’;
}
if (weatherWatchLink) {
var initialHref = weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-href’);
var initialOnclick = weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-onclick’);
if (initialHref) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘href’, initialHref);
}
if (initialOnclick) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘onclick’, initialOnclick);
}
}
}
}

function updateCurrentWeather(weatherData) {
if (weatherData.current) {
var tempValue = weatherData.current.temp_f || ”;
var skyValue = weatherData.current.sky || ”;
var feelsLikeValue = weatherData.current.feels_like_f || weatherData.current.temp_f || ”;

var tempEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–current-temp-value’);
if (tempEl) {
tempEl.textContent = tempValue;
tempEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, tempValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit’);
}

var iconEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–current-icon’);
if (iconEl && weatherData.current.icon_name) {
iconEl.className=”weather-grid–current-icon weather-current-icon icon icon-weather-” + weatherData.current.icon_name;
}

var skyEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–sky’);
if (skyEl) {
skyEl.textContent = skyValue;
skyEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, ‘Current condition: ‘ + skyValue);
}

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var feelsEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–feels’);
if (feelsEl) {
feelsEl.textContent = feelsLikeValue + ‘°F’;
feelsEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, feelsLikeValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit’);
}

var weatherContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-temp-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
var summary = ‘Current temperature ‘ + tempValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit, ‘ +
skyValue + ‘, feels like ‘ + feelsLikeValue + ‘ degrees’;
weatherContainer.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, summary);
}

updateWeatherBackground(weatherData.current.icon_name);
}
}

function updateWeatherBackground(iconName) {
try {
var bgPath = weatherImages.backgrounds[iconName] || weatherImages.backgrounds.unknown;
container.style.backgroundImage=”url(” + bgPath + ‘)’;
} catch (e) {
console.log(‘Error updating weather background:’, e);
}
}

function updateForecastTabs(weatherData) {
var visibleItems = isWeatherBoxV2 ? 6 : 5;

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if (weatherData.hourly) {
var hourlyContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-hourly-forecast’);
if (hourlyContainer) {
var html=””;
var maxHours = Math.min(visibleItems, weatherData.hourly.length);

for (var i = 0; i 0 ? currentIndex – 1 : tabs.length – 1;
tabs[prevIndex].focus();
break;
case ‘ArrowRight’:
e.preventDefault();
var nextIndex = currentIndex

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