Daily
Portland
Friday, September 26th, 2025
Good morning, Portland. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 26th of September.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Press Herald Toy Fund volunteers are sorting boxes of toys at the South Portland office as they prepare to give gifts to about 4,000 kids this holiday season – applications for gifts will open Oct. 1, and pickups will happen in counties like York and Cumberland. Portland Press Herald
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Mills announced that the Maine Technology Institute will create a new Maine Life Sciences Center to connect research institutes, businesses and workforce programs—boosting Maine’s life sciences sector. The governor’s office said that a $2.7 million grant will fund a shared lab in Portland, set to be completed by end of 2026. Portland Press Herald
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Graduate student workers from Maine’s public universities are rallying today at 1:30 p.m. at MLK Plaza in Orono—demanding a union contract with higher wages and better health care after nearly 700 days of negotiations as political candidates and state legislators prepare to join the event. Portland Press Herald
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ The U.S. Drought Monitor update from Sept. 25 showed that extreme drought in Maine has more than doubled from 6% to 13%, affecting western areas through the Lakes Region and Penobscot Bay while moderate drought rose from 63% to 72%. Forecasts indicate no rain over the coming weekend — river levels are at record lows and well water remains scarce. WMTW
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ A new Property Tax Relief Task Force met for the first time to study rising property taxes that are straining Maine families and seniors, and it will deliver an interim report by January with final recommendations by December — the panel may propose direct relief measures and changes to local tax rules — as lawmakers work to ease the burden. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ New federal changes will raise costs and tighten rules for Medicare, Medicaid and food assistance in Maine. The Department of Health and Human Services said the reconciliation law signed on July 4 will require work documentation for 90,000 MaineCare enrollees — food stamp benefits will drop by about $26 a month this fall and up to 31,000 people may lose coverage due to documentation challenges. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ The new law improving Maine's right to food is now in effect; it stops local governments from banning vegetable gardens on private property—expanding opportunities for food-producing plants in public spaces as the state works to end hunger by 2030. WGME
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Northern Light Health said it will drop Anthem coverage for non-hospital care if a new contract with higher reimbursements is not reached by October 1, and Anthem warned that meeting the demands could raise premiums—leaving patients unsure about their care options. FOX23
- ➤ Sprout Organics expanded its voluntary recall on Sept. 23 of 3.5-ounce Sweet Potato Apple and Spinach baby food pouches sold in Maine due to signs of high lead levels found during routine testing; consumers who bought the recalled product at Walgreens, online or from independent stores should return the pouches with lot codes (4212, 4213, 4282, 4310) for a full refund. WMTW
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The 502s Concert
6:00 – 9:30 PM — State Theatre — Ticket prices starting at $51 — Catch the energetic vibes of The 502s live in Portland!
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Alexandra Kay Concert
7:00-9:30 p.m. — State Theatre — $57/ticket — Catch an exciting live performance by Alexandra Kay in Portland's State Theatre.
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An Evening With David Byrne
8:00 – 9:30 p.m. — Merrill Auditorium — Tickets Available — Experience the legendary sounds of David Byrne live in concert.
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