Daily
Portland
Tuesday, September 16th, 2025
Good morning, Portland. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 16th of September.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Cruisin' for Kibble set sail from Portland docks Sunday to raise funds for feeding over 2,000 pets and supporting veterans—organizer Nadine Malloy said donations have dropped over 50 percent, making the fundraiser key to keeping her pet food pantry open into 2026. WMTW
- ➤ Kevin Fitzpatrick stepped off the roof at Patriot Subaru in Saco last Thursday at 2 p.m. after a 192-hour challenge and raised $96,344.70 for STRIVE, a nonprofit that helps teens, tweens and young adults with intellectual disabilities—every dollar will support current programs and add new ones like the Tuesday Art Studio series. WGAN
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Singer-songwriter Janis Ian, 74, will appear for screenings and Q&A sessions for the documentary Janis Ian: Breaking Silence in Gardiner and Brownfield next week—she will sign up to three items for fans at each event. The Gardiner screening is set for Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Reehl Stage at Johnson Hall Opera House, and the Brownfield event is on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at Stone Mountain Arts Center. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Maine State Ballet will open its season with a new ballet called The Highlands and the return of The Magic Toyshop, set to play on weekends (Oct. 11-18) at Lopez Theater in Falmouth. The program will feature live dance and vivid staging that will captivate audiences of all ages. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Amadeus Florendo, a p.m. sous chef at Bar Futo, hosted Filipino pop-up dinners called Pulutan to share his heritage and learn about the challenges of running a restaurant—he sold out these events even when his menu was too complicated at first. He later simplified his menu to offer fewer dishes as he worked toward his dream of opening a Filipino restaurant. Portland Press Herald
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Maine adults returning to college face challenges with debt and adjusting to new routines. The Mitchell Institute is helping these students finish their degrees—supporting them in overcoming academic hurdles this school year. WGME
- ➤ Scarborough High School canceled regular classes Monday after the unexpected death of assistant principal Jacob Brown; the school held counseling sessions starting at 10:00 a.m. to support students, staff and community. Brown had served as an administrator and coach since 2020 — details of his death remain unclear. WMTW
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Portland taxi fares were raised for the first time since 2009 after City Council passed a change on Monday—raising the base fare from $1.90 to $4, the rate from 30 cents to 35 cents per one-tenth mile, and doubling the Jetport pickup fare from $5 to $10. Councilors said a proposal for a city-wide $10 minimum was turned down because it would hurt riders on short trips. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Maine lawmakers passed a consumer protection bill for AI chatbots and approved it unanimously without a roll-call vote. They will review other AI measures, including a deferred bill on child sexual abuse images, when they return in winter — a topic underscored by a reported 4% increase in holiday sales linked to chatbot use. WMTW
- ➤ Portland voters are urged to vote Yes on Question 1 on Nov. 4 to require voter ID and a paper trail for absentee ballots—supporters say the measure will secure elections as 36 states already use similar rules. This proposal aims to modernize our voting process to protect the integrity of Maine's elections. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Residents in Cumberland County will attend a commissioners meeting tonight to speak during the public comment period about ICE detainees held in the local jail—many say the contract lets U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detain people. Sheriff Kevin Joyce said that 59 detainees are in the county jail—past meetings drew around 150 people on the issue. WGME
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ A group of Mainers is traveling today to Sen. Susan Collins’ office to share personal stories and urge Congress to boost funding for cancer research—concerns over federal budget cuts that could slow future advances drive the effort. The American Cancer Society Action Network joins over 700 cancer patients, survivors and family members in this advocacy visit. WGME
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Maine Irish Makes: September Session
2-4 p.m. — Maine Irish Heritage Center — Free entry — Gather with local crafters for an afternoon of creativity, conversation, and community building.
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
Focus is saying no to good ideas.
~ Sam Altman
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