Daily
Portland
Wednesday, October 1st, 2025
Good morning, Portland. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 1st of October.
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ Southern Maine Community College in South Portland was placed on lockdown on September 30 when police ordered everyone to shelter in place due to a law enforcement situation — the order has now been lifted and officials confirm all are safe. WGME
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ A National Park Service study found that Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument boosted the local economy by $3.4 million—showing that the site has an important role in driving local spending. FOX23
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ A state report found that more than 500 Maine schools built in the 1950s to 1970s need upgrades and fixes as safety and functionality issues have grown, and it estimated the cost to be $11 billion over the next 20 years. Officials say rising construction costs and fewer students mean that under the current funding rules fewer than 10 projects will be approved—forcing many districts to delay repairs or seek local taxpayer help. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Southern Maine Community College in South Portland was locked down Tuesday due to a law enforcement situation—but officials confirmed campus safety and lifted the order soon after. FOX23
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ City staff plan to open a new winter warming shelter at 166 Riverside in Riverton with about 60 beds funded with over $400,000 — they made this choice after calls to social service providers failed to secure a downtown site. The City Council will vote Monday on the plan while some homeless residents worry that the farther location may make it hard to get help in extreme cold. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ A judge ruled that retired businessman David Vickrey from Cape Elizabeth is not liable for libel after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not present enough evidence to support his claim; Vickrey said he was glad about the decision regarding his social media comments about Kennedy’s vaccine views. WGME
- ➤ Betsey Grant, a day care owner in Trenton, filed a federal lawsuit against the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for alleged retaliation after reporting child abuse—she claims the state defamed her, withheld about $30,000 in payments, and harmed her ability to maintain her license. WMTW
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (Maine's largest insurer) and Northern Light Health did not reach a new contract before the deadline at the end of September and blamed each other, raising concerns that thousands of Mainers could lose coverage. FOX23
- ➤ After a local viewer asked if Maine is seeing brown recluse spiders, Charles Armstrong from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension said that Maine’s cold winters stop them from establishing here and noted the only confirmed specimen (a hitchhiker found in July 2024) was not active while bites are more likely caused by common local species. WGME
- ➤ A viewer’s report of a suspected brown recluse bite led Maine experts to confirm that these dangerous spiders are nearly absent from the state, as one dead specimen was found on a shipment last year—most sightings turn out to be harmless local brown spiders misidentified. FOX23
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Fiction Workshop
10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. — 105 St James St, Portland, ME — Cost not specified — Connect with fellow writers and enhance your fiction writing skills in this engaging workshop.
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Scenic Train Ride
10 a.m. — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — $0 to $23.50 — Enjoy a scenic 40-minute train ride with beautiful views of Casco Bay and learn about Maine's narrow gauge railroading history.
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The California Honeydrops Concert
7-9 p.m. — State Theatre — Ticket information available — Experience the vibrant sound of The California Honeydrops on their Redwood Highway Tour.
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Scenic Train Ride
11 a.m. — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — $0 to $23.50 — Experience a charming 40-minute train ride along the stunning Casco Bay while uncovering the history of narrow gauge railroading.
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Scenic Train Ride in Casco Bay
10 a.m. — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — $0 to $23.50 — Experience a nostalgic 40-minute train ride with stunning waterside views and rich history.
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Mainebiz Portland 60 Ideas in 60 Minutes Forum 2025
7:30-10:30 a.m. — DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland — Ticket prices vary — Gain 60 actionable business ideas from Maine CEOs to inspire your career.
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Scenic Train Ride
10 a.m. — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — $0 to $23.50 — Experience a 40-minute scenic train ride along Casco Bay while learning about Maine's rich railroading history.
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Fall Foliage Wine Sail in Portland, Maine
3-5 p.m. — Maine State Pier — $150 — Experience a scenic sail through Casco Bay while enjoying exquisite European wines and autumn vistas.
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LYRES! Concert with Mal Thursday and Tiger Bomb
7-11 p.m. — Veterans of Foreign Wars — Tickets available — Experience Boston's garage revival legends LYRES live in Portland alongside local acts Mal Thursday and Tiger Bomb.
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Fall Foliage Champagne and Oysters Sail
3-5 p.m. — Maine State Pier — $195 — Sail through scenic Casco Bay while enjoying exquisite Champagnes and fresh oysters.
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
If the path ahead of you is clear, you're probably on someone else's.
~ Joseph Campbell
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