Daily
Portland
Friday, January 2nd, 2026
Good morning, Portland. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 2nd of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Hundreds braved chilly waves at Old Orchard Beach for the 38th annual Lobster Dip fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics Maine on Thursday. The dips took place at 10:30 a.m. and noon. FOX23
- ➤ Beth Damon started Otisfield First Responders in 2009 after a neighbor waited 15 minutes for help; her team of EMT volunteers now provides local care until an ambulance arrives and supports rural emergency services despite ongoing recruitment challenges. Portland Press Herald
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Ashley Furniture is set to open a new 44,900 sqft store and outlet at Jetport Plaza on Western Avenue in early 2026. The move will add about 45 jobs and strengthen the retail corridor near the Maine Mall. WGAN
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ As of New Year’s Day, Maine raised the minimum wage to $15.10 per hour statewide and to $16.75 for non-tipped workers in Portland; more than 100,000 Mainers (per labor data) will receive raises. Local analysts and workers weighed potential benefits against small business concerns. FOX23
- ➤ MOFGA is cutting six jobs after losing over $1 million in federal funding, which will likely scale back programs like the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program and efforts to expand local food access. The group aims to reach financial stability by 2030. FOX23
- ➤ Effective New Year’s Day, the state minimum wage increased to $15.10 per hour and non-tipped wages in Portland rose to $16.75, benefitting over 100,000 Mainers with annual cost-of-living adjustments. Voters approved a plan to raise Portland’s wage to $19 over the next three years to aid local spending. WGME
- ➤ MOFGA—an organization supporting organic farmers—is cutting six positions after losing over one million dollars in federal funding last year, which may lead to scaling back key programs, including support for beginning farmers. The change aims to restore financial stability by 2030. WGME
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ As of New Year's Day, the Affordable Care Act tax credits expired and many Mainers are now paying double or triple premiums. Congresswoman Pingree (on Washington negotiations next week) said renewed discussions may allow reopening for sign-ups before another shutdown deadline. WGME
- ➤ Maine will impose new taxes and raise minimum wages—streaming services get a 5.5% sales tax on Jan. 1, cannabis tax rises from 10% to 14%, cigarette tax increases from $2 to $3.50 on Jan. 5, and Portland minimum wage goes from $15.50 to $16.75 to $19 by 2028. WMTW
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Covenant Health filed an amended breach report with the Maine Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday—expanding the exposure to over 284,000 Mainers whose personal details, including names, dates of birth, and social security numbers, were accessed at St. Mary’s in Lewiston—and is offering credit monitoring and identity theft protection. WGME
- ➤ Covenant Health, owner of St. Mary's in Lewiston, filed an amended breach report with the Maine Attorney General's Office showing over 284,000 Mainers' personal data was accessed. The breach, which exposed information of nearly 478,000 people, prompted the health system to offer credit monitoring and identity-theft protection. FOX23
- ➤ Maine’s first babies of 2026 were born early Jan. 1 at hospitals across the state (Eastern Maine Medical Center in Pittsfield, Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland, and Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston welcomed new infants); MaineHealth will share more details Thursday. WMTW
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Emily Pike from Ski and Board Report visited Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton on Jan. 1, 2026, where new snowfall and 8 new terrain features were unveiled for all riders. The resort’s 6 lifts operated as trails opened to support an early season start. WMTW
- ➤ UMaine women’s basketball rallied for a third win on Thursday in Lowell, Massachusetts after Adrianna Smith scored 37 points and Lala Woods hit back-to-back 3-pointers to break a tie and lead the Black Bears to a 73-65 victory over UMass Lowell (Woods, a freshman, scored 17 points). Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Falmouth high school hockey teams swept Greely on Thursday night at Family Ice Center in the annual Dudley Cup event — a 10-1 win in the boys contest and a tight game in the girls match upheld the New Years tradition. WMTW
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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