PENOBSCOT TRIBE-RIVER
Supreme Court denies Penobscot appeal over namesake river
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined the Penobscot Indian Nation’s appeal in its fight with Maine over ownership and regulation of the tribe’s namesake river. The outcome on Monday was a bitter defeat for the tribe that sued a decade ago, claiming the Penobscot River is part of its reservation. A federal judge previously ruled that the reservation includes islands of the river’s main stem, but not the waters. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court, without comment, declined to hear the appeals over the river. Penobscot Chief Kirk Francis said Monday he views the state’s assertion of control as a “modern day territorial removal.”
AIRPORT RUNWAY CLOSURE
Portland airport’s main runway shut down for $13.7M project
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The main runway at Portland International Jetport has closed for a $13.7 million project that involves repaving and installation of new LED lighting. The 56-day closure required flight operations to shift to a secondary runway on Monday. Officials said the airport’s instrument landing system will be offline, which could lead to flight delays or cancellations in times of low visibility. Later, between May 16 to June 13, the hours of flight operations will be reduced, with no flights after 10:30 p.m. and 5:45 a.m. Workers have begun the process of removing electrical components and runway asphalt.
SHIPYARD-COLLINS
Sen. Collins making 1st public appearance after COVID-19
BATH, Maine (AP) — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has made her first public appearance since contracting COVID-19. The Maine Republican and Democratic Rep. Jared Golden visited Navy shipbuilder Bath Iron Works with the the Navy’s top officer on Monday. The two lawmakers and Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, toured the future USS Carl Levin and visited with crew members. The visit comes little more than a week after shipyard President Dirk Lesko abruptly resigned. No reason was given for his departure.
FATAL OVERDOSE-ARRESTS
3 arrested in connection with overdose death in Conway
CONWAY, N.H. (AP) — Police in Conway, New Hampshire say three people have been arrested in connection with the overdose death of a woman in January. Police say 34-year-old Ashlie Hersom, of Conway, died of acute fentanyl intoxication. A 2 1/2-month-long investigation resulted in arrest warrants for three people from Conway, Concord, and Bartlett. All three have been charged with felony sale of a controlled drug, death resulting. One person also was charged with possession of a controlled drug, and another also was charged with falsifying physical evidence. They are in custody; it wasn’t immediately known if they all had lawyers.
MAINE TOURISM
Arrival of cruise ships could boost tourism figures
BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — The arrival of the first large cruise ship in two-and-a-half years in another signal that Maine’s tourism is getting closer to pre-pandemic normalcy. State officials said more than 15.6 million visitors came to Maine in 2021, which represented growth over the year before. But there were no large cruise ships until the arrival of the Norwegian Pearl in the waters off Bar Harbor. Cruise ships made 409 port calls and brought 450,000 passengers in 2019.
EARLY EXPULSION
Maine, home of high preschool expulsion, looks to fix that
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Maine Legislature is looking to cut down on suspensions and expulsions of students during early childhood. Maine has the second-highest rate of preschool student expulsion in the country. The Legislature is considering a bill that would expand a pilot program that’s already in use in half the state’s counties. The program makes mental health and child development consultants available to teachers, child care providers and parents. A bill before the Legislature would take it statewide. Both houses of the Legislature have approved the proposal and it faces further votes before enactment.