Daily
Portland
Thursday, January 1st, 2026
Good morning, Portland. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 1st of January.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Maine-based music retailer Bull Moose announced its North Windham store will close at the end of January after more than 30 years in business. Employees are offered transfers or severance as the chain works through its remaining inventory. WGME
- ➤ Veteran restaurateurs Deb McCluskey and her son Michael opened Salty Spirits on Dec. 18 at 76 Wallingford Square in Kittery Foreside. The intimate venue offers a seafood-forward menu with oysters, mussels, and specialty cocktails in a 500 sqft space. Portland Press Herald
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ High demand and truck repairs have delayed fuel deliveries for some residents in Oxford + York. Customers say they prepaid for fuel but face long waits, and the Maine Attorney General’s Office is working with consumers to fix the situation. WGME
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Regional School Unit 5 superintendent Tom Gray reminded the community that bus safety is a shared duty this new year as winter roads make stops more hazardous — drivers may need extra time and families are urged to help keep kids safe. Portland Press Herald
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ MDIFW clarified that an online release claiming to change northern pike regulation is fake—its logo and tagline do not match official versions. A spokesperson noted that the agency’s policy remains unchanged and residents have been calling about the mistaken release. FOX23
- ➤ A fake online release claimed MDIFW would reclassify northern pike as protected, but a department spokesperson said its invasive species policy is unchanged. The notice used a different logo plus tagline and has prompted several public calls. WGME
- ➤ Maine astronaut Jessica Meir from Caribou will command the SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station launching no earlier than Feb. 15. She will join pilot Jack Hathaway and mission specialists Sophie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev to help prepare for future trips to the moon or Mars. WMTW
- ➤ Today the Portland Water District will raise residential rates by 7.4%, adding about $1.92 to a typical bill; commercial and industrial rates will rise by 8.4% and 9.6% with funds used for infrastructure upgrades—ensuring healthy water and reliable service. FOX23
- ➤ Effective today, Portland Water District increased water rates by about 7.4%—adding roughly $1.92 monthly to a typical $30 bill—as it raises commercial and industrial rates by 8.4% and 9.6% to help fund nearly $83 million in infrastructure upgrades. WGME
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Flu cases are rising across the country as the new subclade K variant causes high levels of illness, with the CDC reporting over half the states affected. Maine residents—especially older adults and those with chronic conditions—are urged to get a flu shot soon to help prevent severe illness. Portland Press Herald
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Maine's inaugural Lobster Pot Men's Ice Hockey Tournament kicks off Friday, Jan. 2 at the Family Ice Center in Falmouth with the No.7 Nor'easters facing Colby at 3:30 p.m. and the No.13 Bowdoin taking on USM at 7 p.m., with Saturday's consolation and championship games to follow. WGME
-
LAST CALL Comedy Showcase
9:30 PM — Empire Comedy Club — $10 — Enjoy a fast-paced showcase featuring local and visiting stand-up comics with drink specials.
-
Primal Soup (Phish Tribute) Live Performance
8-11:30 p.m. — Bayside Bowl — $15 adv, $25 door — Maine's premiere Phish tribute act returns for an all-ages show.
-
Script Club – Lend Me a Tenor
1:30-2:30 p.m. — Portland Public Library — Free entry — Engage in a lively discussion of 'Lend Me a Tenor' moderated by Portland Stage’s Literary Manager Todd Brian Backus.
-
Bess Jacques & The Strays Concert
7-8:30 p.m. — Blue Portland Maine — Tickets required — Experience a fusion of jazz, Americana, and more with Bess Jacques & The Strays.
-
Winter Concert Series: Sigrid Sibley & Shannon Allen
7-8:30 p.m. — Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village — Ticket details not provided — Experience beautiful acoustic music in support of local cultural arts.
-
Maine Mariners vs. Trois-Rivieres Lions
6-8 p.m. — Cross Insurance Arena — Bid on unique jerseys — Celebrate Portland's title as the Top Minor League Sports Market in the USA with a special game experience.
-
Burns Night Celebration
5-9 p.m. — Rí Rá Irish Pub & Restaurant — Ticketed event — Celebrate Scotland's beloved poet with traditional food, live music, and cask beer.
-
Wild Pink Live with Dead Gowns and Tremelo Fields
7:30-10:30 p.m. — SPACE Gallery — Cost info not provided — Experience the explosive rustic rock of Wild Pink alongside Portland's own Dead Gowns and Tremelo Fields.
-
Community Bake at Flatbread Company Portland
5-9 p.m. — Flatbread Company — Portion of proceeds to support MOFGA — Celebrate local food and gather educational resources while enjoying delicious flatbreads.
-
Contra Dance Night with Stomp Rocket
7-10 p.m. — Mechanics' Hall — $15-$20 admission — Experience a lively evening of contra dancing with live music to warm you up from the winter chill.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
What you seek is seeking you.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Portland
Welcome to the Daily Portland, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Portland, Maine community. If you like the Daily Portland, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Portland.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Portland and across Maine. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Portland
A free Portland community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailyportlandnews.com/sitemap