Daily editionFriday, April 10th, 2026
Good morning, Portland.
The Daily Portland Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Friday, the 10th of April.
Community
Ryan Jennings of North Yarmouth lost his life on April 1 in Florida when he saved his children from a rip current, leaving behind his pregnant wife and three children as she shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook and set up a GoFundMe page to support the family.
WMTWRead more
Culture
Greenlight Maine returns on CBS13 today with a season that features college students competing in a televised pitch competition to bring fresh ideas to local viewers.
WGMERead more
Education
Poland Community School has been closed all week after water damage began over the weekend, and crews continue repairs as students learn remotely today while parents pick up learning packets and bagged food.
WMTWRead more
On April 8, the Gorham School Committee approved a $60.5M school plan for the fiscal year starting July 1, raising the budget by $2.9M.
Superintendent Heather Perry will deliver the plan on April 15 + a town council workshop is set for April 28.
Portland Press HeraldRead more
Cooking classes in southern and midcoast Maine offer hands-on lessons for both beginners and experienced cooks.
Bravo Maine! in Portland, Jillyanna’s Woodfired Cooking School in Kennebunkport, Maine Tasting Center in Wiscasset, and Armand’s Kitchen in Windham provide upcoming sessions—learn new techniques and recipes.
Portland Press HeraldRead more
Educators from Portland, Gorham, and others gathered yesterday at the third Eggs and Issues panel to discuss classrooms adapting to COVID impacts and AI integration.
Education Commissioner Pender Makin stressed public schools are vital to community strength (with a future policy event planned next month).
WGMERead more
Environment
New data from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that coastal York and Cumberland counties have moved out of extreme drought — most of Maine still remains dry and needs more rain.
Experts say sustained precipitation is required to help recover soil moisture.
WMTWRead more
Government
State leaders and advocates note Maine's goal to end hunger by 2030 faces challenges after federal SNAP cuts increased food insecurity.
The Legislature passed bills to boost food access, including LD 2051 + an emergency measure that creates nearly 88 million contingency fund for SNAP to support thousands of families.
Portland Press HeraldRead more
South Portland City Council approved a first reading to update its bicycle ordinance to allow Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on the Greenbelt while Class 3 e-bikes remain banned (public hearings and a second reading are planned, with approved changes taking effect 20 days after passage).
Portland Press HeraldRead more
Maine officials proposed a millionaire’s tax that will raise the state’s top rate from 7.15 percent to 9.15 percent for taxable income over $1 million for singles and married couples and over $1.5 million for heads of household (affecting about 2,400 households) as part of the supplemental budget announced Thursday.
FOX23Read more
Sports
Portland’s Hearts of Pine will host Knoxville S.C on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Stadium and the local firm Knack Factory will debut season two of its docuseries, Up the Hearts — featuring insights from Kurt Graser.
WGMERead more
Turner’s Steven Rouillard will work at the Frozen Four in Las Vegas beginning Thursday when Wisconsin plays North Dakota at 5 p.m. and Denver meets Michigan at 8:30 p.m. He will officiate one of the three games, marking his second time at the marquee event in three years.
Portland Press HeraldRead more
Portland Events
Keller Williams Concert
Saturday, April 11th, 2026 · 7-11 p.m. — State Theatre — General Admission from $55 — Enjoy a night of vibrant music featuring Keller Williams in Portland's lively atmosphere.
Curtain Call Discussion – OUR TOWN
Sunday, April 12th, 2026 · 4:30 PM — Portland Stage — Free entry — Engage in a thoughtful conversation about the production with its performers and dive into insights on rehearsal and character development.
Bess Jacques & The Strays Concert
Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 · 7-8:30 p.m. — Blue Portland Maine — Tickets available — Experience an eclectic mix of jazz, Americana, and faux-tango-pop with Bess Jacques & The Strays.
Brandy Clark Concert
Thursday, April 16th, 2026 · 8-11 p.m. — State Theatre — Tickets from $43 — Catch Brandy Clark live in concert at the beautiful State Theatre in Portland.
Film Screening of 'Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong'
Friday, April 17th, 2026 · 7-9:30 p.m. — South Portland High School — Free entry — Discover the challenges of maintaining aging wastewater systems in this captivating documentary with a Q&A featuring industry professionals.
Badfish Concert
Saturday, April 18th, 2026 · 8-11 p.m. — State Theatre — Last-minute tickets available — Experience the sounds of Badfish, a tribute to Sublime, at one of Portland's top venues.
John Butler Concert
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 · 8:00-9:30 p.m. — State Theatre — Last-minute ticket availability — Enjoy a lively performance from renowned artist John Butler at the iconic State Theatre.
Women’s MTB Workshop: Bike Setup
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 · 6-8 p.m. — Allspeed Cyclery & Snow — Pre-registration required — Discover mountain bike setup essentials and enhance your ride with fellow riders.
Celtic Woman: A New Era
Friday, April 24th, 2026 · 7:30-9:00 p.m. — State Theatre — $75-$45 reserved seating — Experience the captivating blend of Irish music and culture as Celtic Woman returns with their all-new show.
Bark in the Park
Saturday, April 25th, 2026 · 1 p.m. — Hadlock Field — Dog-friendly event — Celebrate furry friends with the Portland Sea Dogs at this fun-filled day.