Maine
Trump administration threatens to withhold SNAP from Maine, other states
The Trump Administration is threatening to withhold some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds from Maine and other Democratic-led states that have refused to provide the names and immigration status of recipients to the federal government.
During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said cuts will begin next week for states that have not provided more data on SNAP recipients. The government is targeting administrative funds, not the benefits people receive, according to the Associated Press.
“We asked for all the states for the first time to turn over their data to the federal government to let the USDA partner with them to root out this fraud, to make sure that those who really need food stamps are getting them, but also to ensure that the American taxpayer is protected,” Rollins said.
Maine has refused for months to provide the information and this summer joined a lawsuit challenging the request for personal information, including Social Security numbers, birth dates and home addresses. In September, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration from disallowing SNAP funds.
Rollins said 28 states and Guam have complied with the data request, but 21 have not.
The federal government last week sent states a letter urging compliance, but the parties agreed to give the states until Dec. 8 to respond.
“We have sent Democrat States yet another request for data, and if they fail to comply, they will be provided with formal warning that USDA will pull their administrative funds,” the USDA said in a statement Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Gov. Janet Mills said Wednesday that the governor and the Maine attorney general “will stand in the way of this cruel and callous attempt by President Trump to cause Maine people to go hungry.”
The federal government funds benefits for about 42 million people, but states share the cost of running SNAP. Federal law allows the USDA to withhold some of the money states receive for administering SNAP if there’s a pattern of noncompliance with certain federal regulations.
Sen. Susan Collin, R-Maine, said in a statement Wednesday that she urged the USDA to distribute SNAP benefits during the government shutdown to support vulnerable families and is glad food aid “is currently not at risk.”
When it comes to the administrative funds, Collins said she expects any efforts to withhold them to be held up in court.
“In the meantime, I would encourage the state to be transparent with the data the administration has requested to prevent waste, fraud, or misuse of these taxpayer-funded benefits that help so many American families,” Collins said.
Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, said in a statement Wednesday that “rather than confront the very real crisis of hunger in Maine and across the country, the Trump administration is hellbent on destroying the program that 42 million Americans rely on to feed their families.”
“The historic gutting of SNAP in the Big Ugly Bill wasn’t enough for them. Now Secretary Rollins is threatening to illegally withhold federal funding from states that won’t hand over sensitive personal information on SNAP recipients — data they want for immigration enforcement despite a federal court order blocking this exact demand. We all saw how well the last data grab by DOGE went,” Pingree said in the statement.
The offices of Sen. Angus King and Rep. Jared Golden did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
SNAP was in the spotlight during the government shutdown after the administration said it would not release funding for monthly benefits. That move prompted multiple lawsuits and orders from judges to distribute SNAP. Ultimately, November benefits in Maine were distributed on schedule.
That uncertainty came weeks after the largest ever cuts to the program went into effect in October, putting heightened pressure on Maine food pantries, some of which report record numbers of people seeking assistance.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
This story will be updated.
Maine
Amtrak train strikes, kills man in Old Orchard Beach, Maine
A 51-year-old man was fatally struck by an Amtrak train in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, on Thursday afternoon, and police believe alcohol was a factor.
Old Orchard Beach Police say they responded around 2:18 p.m. to the area of the railroad tracks located off from the roadway near 133 Temple Avenue. The victim, who had been struck by a train traveling northbound, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Information obtained from witnesses suggests the man was traveling alone and walking nearby the railroad tracks moments before being struck by the train, according to police, who didn’t say why they believe alcohol was a factor in the incident.
The victim’s name is being withheld pending further investigation and notification, with police saying only that he was from Old Orchard Beach.
Amtrak said in a statement obtained by NBC10 Boston affiliate News Center Maine that the individual was trespassing when he came into contact with the train.
Amtrak urged the public in its statement to stay off railroad property and use caution around railroad tracks and grade crossings, writing, “These incidents can affect everyone involved—those who are injured or die and their families, our train crews, and our passengers.”
There were no reported injuries among the 135 passengers and crew members abord the No. 683 train that was traveling from Boston to Brunswick until the incident happened on Thursday.
The added that preventing railroad incidents and fatalities is a priority for them. Amtrak is working with local authorities investigating this latest incident.
An investigation remains ongoing by the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, Amtrak Police and Saco Police Department, which responded to assist.
Maine
High bacteria advisories reported at multiple Maine swimming spots
PORTLAND (WGME) — Wednesday afternoon, Tassel Top Park officials posted on social media, reporting the beach was temporarily closed to swimming after routine testing found elevated levels of E. coli in the water.
Anna Goodnik, a visitor at the park, says she was disappointed to learn she could not swim.
“It’s a beautiful lake. I feel so sorry, it’s too bad this happened,” Goodnik said.
She says she drove from Portland to visit the park.
“Very sad because I came from Portland, I drove 40 minutes,” Goodnik said.
Goodnik says she has been coming to Tassel Top Park for 15 years and that while the park remained open, she was hoping to get in the water.
“The water is so smooth right now, I would just like to swim in it,” Goodnik said.
Raymond Town Manager Glenn Michalowski said in a statement that the Portland Water District provides weekly test results for 18 locations around Sebago Lake. Tassel Top Beach was closed for swimming because E. coli levels exceeded state water quality standards.
Michalowski said testing indicated the presence of waterfowl in the area, which can contribute to elevated bacterial levels. The statement also noted that high E. coli counts after rain events and in areas with waterfowl activity are a normal occurrence across Maine beaches and recreational water areas.
Ben Peierls, research director at the Lakes Environmental Association, says warmer water can lead to more bacterial growth.
“When water gets warmer, there’s more growth of bacteria,” Peierls said.
Peierls says E. coli can come from animals such as birds, dogs and other wildlife, or from human waste. He says this time of year can bring rain and runoff that carries contaminants into lakes.
“This time of year, there’s lot of rain and runoff materials coming into lakes, and it’s coming from sources where there may have been that fecal material, and it gets washed into lakes and it shows up in places people could be recreating,” Peierls said.
Tassel Top is not the only location reporting elevated bacteria levels. Ferry Beach in Scarborough and East End Beach in Portland also reported results above Maine’s safety threshold for enterococci in marine waters.
Town officials say Tassel Top Beach will reopen once retesting confirms the water has returned to safe levels, and residents will be notified when the closure is lifted. Swimming can resume once weekly testing confirms water quality is back within safe limits.
To check the status of all beaches in the state, click here.
Maine
Person hospitalized after shed fire in Harpswell
HARPSWELL (WGME) — The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office says a person was hospitalized after a shed fire Wednesday night.
Firefighters were called to 23 Smokehouse Road in Harpswell for a shed fire around 7 p.m.
Crews quickly put out the fire and kept it from spreading into the woods.
An unhoused person who had been living in the shed suffered burns and smoke inhalation.
They were taken to Maine Medical Center for treatment.
Investigators believe the fire may have been electrical in nature.
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The fire remains under investigation.
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