Daily
Portland
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026
Good morning, Portland. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 14th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl airs on Feb. 8 with 150 dogs including Maine rescues Lobster Roll of Team Ruff and Auggie of Team Fluff. The Animal Rescue League of Greater Portland is hosting a watch party at Embassy Suites (1050 Westbrook St.) on Feb. 6. Portland Press Herald
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Portland will host the All Roads Music Festival this spring when over 30 indie bands perform on May 15 and 16 at venues including State Theatre, One Longfellow Square, and Space Gallery — the full schedule comes by end of January. Portland Press Herald
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ The NECEC transmission line will begin commercial operations Friday. The 145-mile line carries 1,200 megawatts of renewable power from a hydropower facility in Canada to a converter station in Lewiston and is expected to reduce Maine energy costs by $14–$44 million (following final testing and tree clearance in Caratunk). Portland Press Herald
- ➤ The SBA is offering low-interest disaster loans to Maine small businesses and private nonprofits that lost income from cool, wet weather in May 2025 (when rain was forecast for 12 weekends and temperatures hit the 60s only in June). Applications are due by Aug. 24. WMTW
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Sen. Jill Duson has introduced a bill — LD 2147 — to restore $309,505 in state funds to the River Valley Upward Bound program after federal funding was cut in Sept. 2025. The program supports low-income and first-generation high school students preparing for college in Androscoggin and Oxford counties. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Students are enjoying the 9th annual WinterKids Winter Games that run from Jan. 12 to Feb. 6 and offer outdoor challenges in physical activity, nutrition and winter learning to build healthy habits locally. FOX23
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Governor Janet Mills celebrated the state's Hire-A-Vet campaign reaching its self-imposed goal of 100 hires in 100 days, as Maine companies offered jobs paying over $27 an hour to veterans and military family members, and the campaign has connected over 2,200 hires with 2,000 employers since 2015. FOX23
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Phillip Niles from Bridgton said his daughter spent 21 hours in an emergency department waiting for a psychiatric bed amid long delays in Maine's mental health system for children. Experts say the state needs more local pediatric psychiatric beds and better discharge planning to support families. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Doctors warn that this intense flu season, driven by mutated subclade K (a variant of influenza A), has led to high lab positivity and more hospital visits. They say Portland residents should get a flu shot and seek early treatment to prevent severe illness. WMTW
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ High school girls basketball in Maine offers five storylines this week. Hampden leads Class A North against Mt. Ararat, while Windham challenges as a dark horse in A South; undefeated Gardiner will rematch Lawrence Saturday at 11:30 a.m., and Cape Elizabeth and D South aim for playoff spots. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Falmouth football coach Spencer Emerson stepped down on Monday after guiding the team to a Class B title over two seasons; he will join a college football program in an off-field role that lets him stay in Saco with his family (wife Phoebe and their 5-month-old daughter). Portland Press Herald
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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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Stews & Stories Potluck Supper
5:30-8:30 p.m. — Mechanics' Hall — Pay-what-you-can, suggested $20 — Enjoy a cozy evening of shared stews and storytelling that warms both body and spirit.
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