Rare eagle seen in Maine, wowing birders, might stay a bit
GEORGETOWN, Maine (AP) — A rare species of eagle that has thrilled bird lovers and baffled scientists since arriving in Maine last month might not be in a hurry to leave. The Steller’s sea eagle arrived in Maine in late December after a brief stop in Massachusetts more than a month ago. It has stuck to Maine’s mid-coast area. It is eating fish and ducks and attracting hundreds of birdwatchers from all over the country. It’s native to Asia. Maine Audubon says the eagle is in no danger. Steller’s sea eagles have wingspans of up to 8 feet and can weigh twice as much as a bald eagle.
ROBERT INDIANA
AG settles claim over fees paid by Robert Indiana’s estate
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey has settled claims against the estate of the late artist Robert Indiana and several law firms over excessive legal fees. The settlement announced Monday totals more than $2 million, most of which was paid by the firms through refunds or credits. Indiana, who died in 2018 on Maine’s Vinalhaven island, wanted to transform his island home into a museum to celebrate his work, including his famous “LOVE” series. Frey said every excess dollar paid to attorneys during a lawsuit took money away from the effort to fulfill Indiana’s vision.
HISTORIC JAIL BUILDING
Historic jail building in Maine falling into disrepair
ELLSWORTH, Maine (AP) — A historic jail building in Maine is falling apart and the historical society that owns it hasn’t been able to come up with the money to save it. The Ellsworth Historical Society has owned the old Hancock County Jail in Ellsworth since 1998. The society’s president, Bill Fogle, said repairing the building could cost more than $700,000, but the society doesn’t have the money. The jail was built in 1886. The county built a new jail in the 1970s. The old jail has been on the National Register of Historic Places for more than a decade.
ASYLUM SEEKERS-PORTLAND
Portland struggles as asylum seekers continue to arrive
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Portland is asking for help as the growing number of asylum seekers continues to stretch resources. The city is providing shelter each night to about 1,150 people. That’s more than twice the number from 2019 when the Portland Expo became an emergency shelter amid a sudden influx of more than 400 asylum seekers. The city is currently using 10 hotels across five municipalities in addition to its two shelters to house people. The governor’s office said that in the long run immigration reform is needed to expedite both the review of asylum applications and work authorizations.
CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT
Civil rights complaint filed over racial threat in Maine
FREEPORT, Maine (AP) — A man who is due in court in Maine on a charge of threatening with a dangerous weapon now also faces a civil rights complaint. A complaint from Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey states that the 61-year-old man threatened a black man with a gun after he observed the man dining with a white companion in Freeport. The defendant is scheduled to make an initial court appearance for charges that also include criminal mischief on Feb. 22. Frey filed his complaint in Cumberland County Superior Court under the Maine Civil Rights Act.
IMMIGRATION-AFGHAN REFUGEES
Massachusetts to host 2,000 Afghans; double expected amount
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts is expecting to receive twice as many Afghan refugees as it had anticipated following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Jeff Thielman, CEO of the International Institute of New England, said Monday that some 2,000 evacuees are expected to be settled in the state by the end of next month. That’s up from the roughly 1,100 evacuees state officials anticipated in September. Massachusetts’ Afghan refugee arrivals are exceeding those seen in other New England states. The increase comes as Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law last month a supplemental budget allocating $12 million to help resettle Afghan nationals.
MOOSE HUNT-MAINE
Maine moose hunters hope for more success in 2022
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine wildlife managers will soon start accepting applications for the 2022 moose hunt, which will follow a year in which hunters had limited success. Tens of thousands of hunters typically apply for a spot in the state moose permit lottery, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says it will start accepting applications in February. The lottery typically happens in June and the hunt is in the fall. The wildlife department says 68% of hunters killed a moose in 2021. That was the third-lowest success rate in the four-decade history of the modern hunt.