Connect with us

Maine

Maine’s Border Patrol unit places ‘rapid’ order for cold-weather gear

Published

on

Maine’s Border Patrol unit places ‘rapid’ order for cold-weather gear


This story appears as part of a collaboration between The Maine Monitor and Maine Focus, the investigative team of the Bangor Daily News, a partnership to strengthen investigative journalism in Maine. You can show your support for this effort with a donation to The Monitor. Read more about the partnership.

Federal law enforcement officers overseeing the Maine border recently placed rush orders for cold weather gear, mirroring similar moves in Minnesota as cities here brace for a large operation expected here next week.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Houlton Sector, which oversees border security for the entire state, filed a federal notice Thursday seeking a contract with Crye Precision LLC, a Brooklyn-based tactical gear and apparel company, for the “rapid” acquisition of “cold weather apparel.” It did not specify a dollar amount or quantity.

The purchase order is a potential sign of an impending federal raid planned for Maine because it mirrors similar steps taken by immigration authorities ahead of a massive ongoing operation in the Minneapolis area that began in late December. Portland and Lewiston have been quiet but anxious as residents prepare for a potential surge in arrests.

Neither a Houlton sector spokesperson nor Crye Precision responded to messages seeking comment. The company sells items ranging from tactical clothing to bulletproof vests.

Advertisement

Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed two orders for parkas for special agents “to support an urgent enforcement mission” in St. Paul, one of the two major cities where their activity has focused, according to federal records. ICE also placed two more orders for cold-weather gear this month, but it did not specify where those jackets would be going.

At least 2,000 federal agents were sent to support the operation earlier this month, and 1,000 more were sent this week in what President Donald Trump’s administration has called the largest operation in the history of the Department of Homeland Security.

The Minnesota raid came after federal prosecutors there charged nearly 100 people in November for welfare and Medicaid fraud schemes centered on a large Somali community there. An immigration agent shot and killed a woman in her car last week as massive protests broke out against Trump’s policies.

Maine has drawn scrutiny after state officials paused MaineCare payments to an immigrant health care provider after identifying a credible allegation of fraud just before Christmas.

Two interpreters connected to another provider are facing federal tax fraud charges for an interpreter fraud scheme that a federal law enforcement official warned several years ago could be widespread.

Advertisement

On Tuesday, Trump mentioned those fraud allegations in Maine that have so far been focused on the state’s Somali population.

“They’re scammers. They always will be, and we’re getting them out,” he said. “In Maine, it’s really crooked as hell, too.”

Sawyer Loftus, Bangor Daily News

Sawyer Loftus is an investigative reporter at the Bangor Daily News and was named the state’s journalist of the year by the Maine Press Association in 2024.

Sawyer previously worked for Vermont Public Radio, The Burlington Free Press and VTDigger. He was also the editor-in-chief of the Vermont Cynic, the University of Vermont’s independent student newspaper. He is based in Bangor.

Contact Sawyer via email: moc.s1768592083wenyl1768592083iadro1768592083gnab@1768592083sutfo1768592083ls1768592083

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Maine

This Maine Restaurant’s Lobster Roll Is 3 Feet Long… Yes, Really!

Published

on

This Maine Restaurant’s Lobster Roll Is 3 Feet Long… Yes, Really!


This iconic spot is a “road-trip-worthy” Maine destination, but can you handle their newest addition?

Spring has sprung, which means plenty of people will take a well-deserved break from the daily grind and hit the open road. If you’re heading out to explore some cool Maine traditions—and you love lobster rolls—we’ve found the perfect stop.

The Taste of Maine restaurant has been serving up delicious seafood since 1978. They’re famous for a few things: a giant inflatable lobster that covers about 75% of the roof, and their claim to fame—the “World’s Largest Lobster Roll.”

These legendary lobster rolls are 22 inches long, and over the years, many customers have taken on the dare of finishing one. If you succeed, you earn membership in the “Clean Plate Club”—no easy feat given the size of this lobster roll.

Advertisement

But this year, Taste of Maine has gone even bigger. Introducing the “Monster” Lobster Roll: 3 feet long, packed with 2½ pounds of fresh Maine lobster meat—tail, claw, and knuckle—all on a 6-inch roll. This colossal creation carries a price tag of $259.99.

Read More: Maine Amusement Park Reveals New Family Attraction For 2026

Located at 161 Main Street in Woolwich, Maine, Taste of Maine is now open for its 48th season.

One of the best things about Taste of Maine is watching people take on these enormous lobster rolls. Guests love filming themselves attempting to finish them, including a Guinness World Records titleholder for “World’s Largest Mouth Gape.”

Spring Hours:

Advertisement

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM

To see just how long Taste of Maine has been a local favorite, check out this classic TV commercial from the 1980s!

New Arcade in Brewer, Maine Opens This Month

Game on, Brewer! The arcade of your dreams is almost here. Get ready to press start!

Gallery Credit: Arlen Jameson

12 New Restaurants That Opened in Maine in February 2026

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Maine

Maine lawmakers should prioritize childcare

Published

on

Maine lawmakers should prioritize childcare



To the Editor;

Access to affordable child care plays a direct role in whether Maine families can work, pursue education, and maintain stability. The Child Care Affordability Program helps keep child care costs within reach for working families.

To the Editor;

Access to affordable child care plays a direct role in whether Maine families can work, pursue education, and maintain stability. The Child Care Affordability Program helps keep child care costs within reach for working families.

Advertisement

At Penquis, we serve 270 children from 266 families across dozens of communities through our child development programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care. We see firsthand how access to child care determines whether parents can work, pursue education and build long-term stability for their families, particularly in communities facing workforce shortages and rising cost of living. 

Child care availability alone is not enough. We can have programs and facilities in place, but if care is not affordable, it remains out of reach for families who are already struggling.

Without it, the cost of child care places an unsustainable burden on Maine families, consuming as much as 29% to 39% of income for single-parent households and 10% to 13% for two-parent families. CCAP is one of the few tools that effectively addresses this challenge by ensuring child care costs are affordable, capping costs at 7% of income for those with the lowest incomes, and expanding access for many more families.

Investing in CCAP supports children’s healthy development, enables parents to participate in the workforce, and strengthens Maine’s economy. We urge state leaders to prioritize this $15 million investment in the supplemental budget and ensure that affordable child care is accessible to the families who need it most.

Kara Hay
president and chief executive officer

Advertisement

Penquis

Bangor

Thank you for reading your4 free articles this month. To continue
reading, and support local, rural journalism, please subscribe.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Maine

Wife dead, husband in serious condition after fire at Maine home

Published

on

Wife dead, husband in serious condition after fire at Maine home


A woman is dead, and her husband is in serious condition after a fire broke out at their home in Readfield, Maine, Friday night.

The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office tells NBC10 Boston affiliate News Center Maine that the Readfield Fire Department responded to the house on Plains Road around 9:51 p.m. and found a large fire.

Jerrold Wentworth, 74, had escaped from a second-floor window and told crews that his wife was still on the second floor of the home, officials said, but firefighters were unable to go inside to rescue 75-year-old Carolyn Wentworth due to the fiery conditions.

A photo shared by the fire marshal’s office shows the fire destroyed the home.

Advertisement

Carolyn Wentworth’s body was found in the debris around 1:45 a.m. Saturday, near where she had been sleeping, fire officials tell News Center Maine. An autopsy will be conducted to determine her cause of death.

Jerrold Wentworth was taken to Maine General Medical Center where he’s in serious condition, officials added.

Investigators from the state fire marshal’s office responded to the scene and are working to determine the cause of the deadly fire.

An investigation remains ongoing.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending