Maine

Maine teen accused of attacking NYPD officers with machete on New Year’s Eve

Published

2 years ago

January 1, 2023

Maine teen accused of attacking NYPD officers with machete on New Year’s Eve

By ERIC TUCKER, MICHAEL BALSAMO and MICHAEL R. SISAK Related Press

NEW YORK – Authorities in New York Metropolis are investigating whether or not a person who attacked three cops with a machete at a New 12 months’s Eve celebration, putting two of them, was impressed by radical Islamic extremism, in accordance with a regulation enforcement official accustomed to the matter.

The assault occurred a bit of after 10 p.m. about eight blocks from Occasions Sq., simply outdoors the high-security zone the place revelers are screened for weapons. Two of the officers have been struck with the machete earlier than an officer shot the person within the shoulder. The 2 officers have been hospitalized, one with a fractured cranium and the opposite with a foul reduce, and have been anticipated to get well.

Police didn’t publicly establish the 19-year-old suspect, however the regulation enforcement official recognized him to The Related Press as Trevor Bickford, of Wells, Maine.

A machete which was used to wound 3 NY Police Officers in an assault at Occasions Sq. in New York, United States on January 01, 2023.

NYPD/Anadolu Company through Getty Photos

Investigators consider Bickford traveled to New York Metropolis earlier within the week and are inspecting whether or not he got here to New York particularly to assault cops at one of many largest New 12 months’s celebrations on the planet, the regulation enforcement official stated.

New York Metropolis police and federal officers are nonetheless making an attempt to discern a motive, and investigators have been reviewing Bickford’s on-line postings, which included some mentions of Islamic extremist views, the official stated. The official couldn’t publicly talk about particulars of the continued investigation and spoke to AP on situation of anonymity.

Bickford was anticipated to get well from the gunshot wound. No expenses towards him have been instantly introduced.

Michael Driscoll, the assistant director in command of the FBI’s New York discipline workplace, stated the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Activity Power in New York Metropolis was investigating however investigators consider the attacker acted alone.

The assault and sound of a gunshot briefly despatched some folks operating, however the festivities in Occasions Sq. continued uninterrupted.
Mayor Eric Adams stated at a information convention early Sunday that he spoke to one of many wounded officers as he was being stitched up on the hospital.

“He was in good spirits,” Adams stated. “He understood that his function saved lives of New Yorkers at this time.”

The NYPD mounts an enormous safety operation yearly to maintain the New 12 months’s Eve crowd secure. 1000’s of officers are despatched to the world, together with many new recruits. One of many injured officers simply graduated from the police academy on Friday, the mayor stated.

The blocks the place the most important crowds collect to see performances and the midnight ball drop could be accessed solely by way of checkpoints the place officers use metal-detecting wands to display for weapons. Giant baggage and coolers are banned. Boundaries are set as much as forestall automobile assaults.

The safety perimeter extends solely up to now, although. The assault occurred on eighth Avenue, which is commonly full of folks navigating across the frozen zone or looking for one of many safe entrances.
___
Tucker reported from Washington and Balsamo reported from Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.

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Maine

Maine photographer offers discounts, free services to same-sex couples who want to get married before inauguration

Published

4 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

Maine photographer offers discounts, free services to same-sex couples who want to get married before inauguration

PORTLAND, Maine (WMTW) – Many people in the LGBTQ+ community are concerned about last week’s election results, as they fear marriage equality protections may change under the new Trump administration.

As a result, a growing number of professional photographers are coming together to offer discounted or free same-sex wedding ceremony coverage.

That list includes Cassandra Fontaine of Koa & Kai Photography, who is based in Maine.

“Personally, in my family, my sister is in the LGBTQ community. My mom is,” Fontaine said. “It was more out of love and just knowing that I know how afraid they are, and I want to support them in whatever way that they can.”

The discounts and free services are being offered to those who are considering moving their wedding timelines up to between now and January.

It is important to note the Trump administration has not announced any plans to challenge marriage equality.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Maine since 2012, which is three years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage across the country.

In its Obergefell v. Hodges decision, the Supreme Court ruled that all 50 states must allow and recognize same-sex marriages under the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment.

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Maine

11 Maine legislative races headed to recounts, including one tie

Published

11 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

11 Maine legislative races headed to recounts, including one tie

Eleven races in the Maine Legislature that were contested on Nov. 5 are headed to recounts, the Maine secretary of state’s office announced Wednesday.

Ballots will be recounted in nine House races and two Senate races. Recounts will start on Friday and continue through Nov. 25.

Preliminary counts included a dead-even tie in House District 141, and three races where the margin between the apparent winner and loser was fewer than 20 votes.

The results below are unofficial preliminary counts provided by the secretary of state’s office.

House District 44

William Pluecker – 2,731

Ray Thombs – 2,369

House District 52

Sally Cluchey – 2,748

David Guilmette – 2,732

House District 58

Sharon Frost – 3,158

Daniel Newman – 3,114

House District 75

Stephan Bunker – 2,318

Randall Gauvin – 2,308

House District 81

Peter Wood – 2,835

Joan Beal – 2,816

House District 96

Michel Lajoie – 2,550

Kerryl Clement – 2,514

House District 98

Kilton Webb – 2,995

Guy Lebida – 2,941

House District 141

Patricia Kidder – 2,476

Lucas Lanigan – 2,476

House District 142

Anne-Marie Mastraccio – 1,938

Amy Bell – 1,874

Senate District 8

Leo Kenney – 10,112

Michael Tipping – 10,229

Senate District 15

Richard Bradstreet – 10,820

Raegan LaRochelle – 10,621

Maine law does not have mandatory recounts, but when the apparent margin of victory is 1 percent or less in statewide or multi-county races, or 1.5 percent or less in legislative or single county races, a candidate can request a recount free of charge.

When the margin is larger, the candidate must pay a deposit. That money is refunded if the result is overturned by the recount.

Wednesday was the last day that a candidate could request a recount in a non-ranked-choice race, according to the secretary of state’s office.

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Maine

Transgender support groups in Maine see spike in contacts after election

Published

19 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Press Room

Transgender support groups in Maine see spike in contacts after election

Transgender support groups in Maine said they are seeing a spike in contacts similar to those reported by national LGBTQ+ groups since Donald Trump’s election last week.

Bre Danvers-Kidman with the Maine Trans Net said about 100 people came to the group’s post-election support event and that many others have reached out through various platforms in the week since.

Some have expressed fears about losing their gender affirming care, the potential roll back of Title IV protections and a rise in harmful rhetoric.

Danvers-Kidman said that though there is valid concern about federal funding for care being rolled back, Maine has its own protections in place.

“We have the good laws here, we have the infrastructure to fight those battles with. And so to the extent that those battles rear their heads, Maine is going to be a place where I feel like we can fight them and we can win,” Danvers-Kidman said.

They expressed confidence that the “good laws” in Maine would remain, even if policy changed at a federal level.

“If the state offers greater protection to citizens than the federal government, the state wins. And so those greater protections that Maine offers to trans people, those will hold. I expect those to hold,” Danvers-Kidman said.

The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth, reported a 700% increase in crisis contacts the day after the election.

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