Daily
Portland
Friday, May 1st, 2026
Good morning, Portland. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 1st of May.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Y%F Coffee, at the corner of High + Congress streets, is set to reopen today after resolving code violations involving licensing and HVAC issues. City officials confirmed the shop met all requirements following its earlier closure. WMTW
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ The South Portland Board of Education voted 5 to 1 on April 30 to delay the reconfiguration plan for Kaler Elementary, pushing the schedule back by a year while a new steering committee prepares a revised proposal for November — community pressure spurred the move amid a board member’s resignation. FOX23
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ At Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, nearly half of 1,000 visitors voted to name the new bobcat Moxie, beating out Juniper and Acadia, and the park invites guests to learn about bobcats and Maine’s ecosystem during their visits. FOX23
- ➤ Maine Wildlife Park in Gray chose the name Moxie for its new bobcat after nearly half of 1,000 visitors voted for it. The park plans to use Moxie to help guests learn about native bobcats and their role in the local ecosystem. WGME
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Maine's paid family and medical leave program starts today, letting employees take up to 12 weeks off for family or medical needs while receiving partial wage replacement (over 2,000 Mainers have pre-applied for the benefit, including a Portland couple expecting a baby). Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Maine Sen. King pressed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum during a committee hearing on Wednesday to expand renewable energy options amid a surge in oil prices. He said wind and solar are the lowest cost energy resources and called for swift approval of submitted project requests. WGME
- ➤ Sen. Collins urged fellow senators yesterday to support her Insulin Act, which would cap insulin costs at $35 a month for both insured and uninsured patients. The legislation, inspired by her meeting with a young diabetic, aims to help over 130,000 Mainers with diabetes. FOX23
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ New England Donor Services held an event at Bernie & Phyl's Furniture in South Portland on Thursday to honor organ and tissue donors and recipients, with Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows joining efforts to encourage donor registration. The event featured testimonials from local business leaders impacted by organ donation. WGME
- ➤ A Maine nonprofit won a national Purple Ribbon Award for its Finding Our Smiles dental program that provided nearly $400,000 in donated care to 64 women survivors since 2022 across nine counties, and officials say the program will expand services in 2026. Portland Press Herald
-
John Legend Concert
6:59 AM – 1:59 PM — Merrill Auditorium — Last-minute tickets available — Don't miss the chance to see John Legend perform live in Portland.
-
Paint Outdoors in Portland, Maine
9-10 a.m. — Fort Williams Park — Cost info not available — Experience the beauty of outdoor painting in a picturesque setting.
-
The Laugh Track
May 6 – 31 — Portland Stage — Tickets on sale March 24th — Discover the world premiere of a play about the female writers behind I Love Lucy.
-
Chase Shanahan Comedy Night
8:30 PM - 12:30 AM — Lincolns — Tickets $10 at the door — Enjoy a night of laughs with comedian Chase Shanahan at the Laugh Shack.
-
Paint Outdoors in Portland, Maine
9-10 a.m. — Fort Williams Park — Ticketed event — Enjoy a morning of creativity surrounded by the beauty of nature.
-
Album Release Show: Thin Lear and Friends
8 PM - 12 AM — Blue Portland Maine — Tickets TBA — Celebrate the release of Thin Lear's 'Many Disappeared' with supporting acts including Sagittarius Rising and The Womps.
-
Paint Outdoors in Portland, Maine
9-10 a.m. — Fort Williams Park — Buy tickets online — Enjoy a morning of painting in the scenic beauty of Fort Williams Park.
-
Paint Outdoors in Portland, Maine
9-10 a.m. — Fort Williams Park — Ticketed event — Enjoy a morning of outdoor painting in the picturesque setting of Fort Williams Park.
-
Paint Outdoors in Portland, Maine
9-10 a.m. — Fort Williams Park — Ticketed event — Unleash your creativity in a picturesque outdoor setting and enjoy painting among nature.
-
All Roads Music Festival - Day 2
12:00 – 11:59 PM — One Longfellow Square — Ticket prices vary — Experience Savoir Faire's jazz-infused music that connects modern themes to a nostalgic sound.
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
Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege.
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