Maine
Secretary of State announces order of fall ballot questions
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on Tuesday announced the order of the five ballot questions that Maine voters will consider this fall.
Question 1 proposes a $5,000 cap on contributions to political action committees that make so-called “independent expenditures” to support or oppose candidates in Maine. The ballot measure is regarded as a potential federal test case on limits to campaign contributions.
The next three questions are all general obligation bond measures put forward by the Maine Legislature.
Question 2 proposes $25 million in borrowing for research, development and commercialization for both private and public institutions in the life sciences, biomedical technology, environmental and renewable energy technology, information technology, advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, aquaculture and marine technology, composites and advanced materials and precision manufacturing.
Question 3 proposes $10 million in borrowing “to restore historic buildings owned by governmental and nonprofit organizations” with an obligation that the receive match at least 25% of the funds.
Question 4, which is a first for Maine, proposes $30 million in state borrowing to design, build and maintain trails for outdoor recreation and “active transportation.” The trails could be for non-motorized or motorized recreation.
The fifth and final ballot measure ask voters whether they want to replace Maine’s current state flag with a version featuring a pine tree and a blue star. The so-called Pine Tree flag was Maine’s official state flag for less than a decade at the beginning of the 20th Century but was replaced in 1909 by the blue flag displaying the state seal.
The pine tree flag has become extremely popular in Maine in recent years. But with so many variations out there, the secretary of state’s office solicited design proposals from the public featuring a pine tree and a blue, five-pointed star against a buff background. More than 300 entries were received and Bellows plans to announce a finalist in August before her office publishes a voter guide ahead of the referendum.
“We’re 98 days away from election day,” Bellows said during an event where the order of the ballot questions was established. “Get ready, check your voter registration, register to vote now, don’t wait and get ready to vote in November.”
Opponents of electing the president by popular vote, rather than through the Electoral College, had been collecting signatures to block a new state law that would add Maine to the National Popular Vote interstate compact. But the campaign did not submit petition signatures in time to qualify for the November ballot.
Maine
Lawmakers advance bill to provide death benefits after two DOT workers killed on the job
Maine
Maine man accused of lighting bed on fire after fight with girlfriend
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.
Maine
Celebrate Maine Maple Weekend at Williams Family Farm
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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