Maine State News From The Associated Press 12-8-21

Amazing feeling.’ 1st Somali mayor in US shares her vision

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Deqa Dhalac is the first Somali immigrant to become the mayor of a U.S. city. The 53-year-old became mayor of South Portland, the fourth largest city in Maine, on Monday. She describes her rise in local politics as very old fashioned with her election coming after years of volunteering and building relationships in the community. Voters elected Dhalac to the South Portland City Council in 2018 and the seven-member board this year chose her to serve as the city’s mayor. Jaylani Hussein of CAIR, a Muslim civil rights organization, has tracked the rise of Somali politicians in the U.S. and confirmed Dhalac is the first Somali immigrant to become mayor of a city.

WETLAND PRESERVATION RECORD

Maine conservation program sets funding record at $5.7M

HARPSWELL, Maine (AP) — A Maine conservation program is awarding more than $5 million to two dozen projects in the state in the largest single-year funding effort in its history. The Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program has awarded $5.7 million to the projects, which are designed to enhance, restore and protect wetlands and other sensitive habitats. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection announced the funding on Tuesday. The projects include restoration of eelgrass in Brunswick and Harpswell, a dam removal in Freeport and salt marsh enhancements in Hancock, Georgetown and Wells.

NEW ENGLAND SNOW

Parts of New England to see 1st significant snowfall

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Parts of northern New England are about to get their first significant snowfall of the season. The National Weather Service said its forecast calls for snow to begin falling Wednesday afternoon, creating the potential for a slippery evening commute. Most of northern New England will see some snow, but the greatest amounts will be 2 to 4 inches along the Maine coast. Lesser amounts are expected inland, and to the west and south.

SUPREME COURT-RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS

Supreme Court takes up religious rights case from Maine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a challenge from parents in Maine who want to use a state tuition program to send their children to religious schools. The parents argue that their exclusion from the state program violates their religious rights under the Constitution. Teacher unions and school boards say a ruling for the parents would be a blow to public education. The case, being argued Wednesday, is the latest test of religious freedoms for a Supreme Court that has favored faith-based discrimination claims. The Supreme Court could use this case to resolve the extent to which religious schools may use public funding for explicitly religious activities.

FARMINGTON FATAL

Car crashes into furniture store, killing motorist

FARMINGTON, Maine (AP) — Police say a motorist was killed when his car crashed into a furniture store in Farmington, Maine. Police say the crash was discovered Tuesday morning, but it actually happened in the overnight hours. Police say 32-year-old Cameron Salisbury, of Farmington, was dead at the scene from head injuries. The vehicle struck the side of Bouffard’s Furniture and continued into the store.

ART CENTER GIFT

Foundation increases gift to Maine arts center by $1M

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A foundation has increased its gift to a Maine university to help create a new arts center in the state’s largest city. University of Southern Maine said Tuesday the Crewe Foundation has given an additional $1 million toward the construction of a new Center for the Arts on the public university’s Portland campus. The university says that brings the foundation’s total gift toward the project to $6 million. The foundation’s $5 million gift earlier this year was the largest in its history.