Morning update: What you need to know in Maine today

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“For a small town, we have a lot of drama.”

— Earl Bierman, Sorrento resident, former state representative and father of Myles Bierman, who lost a bid for a seat on the Sorrento Select Board despite his name being the only one printed on the ballot. Some residents said confusion over when the vote would be held could have influenced the outcome.

TODAY’S TOP MAINE STORIES

Maine Republicans want a voter ID law, and they might be able to get it . A poll last year found popular support for the idea, even among Democrats.

Maine officials are refusing to answer questions about their plan for the juvenile justice system . The plan is required under legislation passed in 2023 to ensure the state government would not ignore chronic problems in the system.

Confusion over a local election has reignited political turmoil in a small Hancock County town . The only candidate whose name was printed on the ballot in Monday’s Select Board election was surprised to find out he’d lost.

A hunk of rock off Maine’s coast remains disputed territory with Canada . The beloved Atlantic puffin also lives there and on four other islands that are definitely part of the United States.

MAINE IN PICTURES

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

• Gun safety advocates hopeful after Supreme Court upholds law protecting domestic violence victims
• Wine Spectator’s best restaurants list includes 16 in Maine
• Glenburn man killed by collapsed retaining wall has been identified
• Bangor’s new loitering ban will ‘disproportionately silence’ homeless people, Maine ACLU says
• Why it’s as hard to rent in Bangor as in southern Maine
• Bangor pools are opening for the summer
• Post Malone is playing at Bangor’s waterfront this summer
• This ‘very sweet’ dog got stuck on an Old Town roof
• Madawaska hires director and deputy director to run public works
• Ferry workers union criticizes state’s plan to hire out-of-state help
• A dead whale is floating off the coast of Maine
• Crashed plane recovered from Androscoggin River
• Man found in Union died of natural causes
• Woman and toddler killed in Maine crash
• Mainer pleads guilty for his role in major New England meth trafficking ring
• Motorcyclist critically injured in Maine hit-and-run
• 3 Mainers fail to qualify for Olympics, one yet to compete in trials
• Gatorade award caps historic season for Scarborough track star

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Independence Day is just eight days away, meaning peak summer has nearly arrived. We’ve put together a list of places in Maine to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July this year. We want to know from you: Which town has got the best Fourth of July fireworks display in the state? Is it here in Bangor? Is it somewhere in Aroostook County? Do you prefer to watch them explode over the ocean, or a lake? Send us an email at news@bangordailynews.com , and let us know why you think your favorite place to go is the best.

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

“The bar for Thursday’s debate is pathetically low.”

Editorial: Presidential debate should feature positive ideas to move America forward

LIFE IN MAINE

Growing conditions have been favorable this year, thus far. But Maine has cycled between drought and heavy rains in past years. If you have crops that need to be irrigated, there are a number of ways you can store water on the land itself .

Maine towns, including Trenton and Lamoine, have signed a national pledge to help monarch butterflies by planting pollinator gardens. Your town can, too, BDN Outdoors contributor Lauren Landers writes.

We published a piece about catch-and-release fishing, and you responded .