Morning update: What you need to know in Maine today

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The six hours in that basket that night were the happiest moments in my whole life.”

— Bert Padelt, pilot and builder of Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer, an airship he hoped would be the first open-basket hydrogen balloon to cross the Atlantic into Europe. The balloon took off from Presque Isle on Saturday, but weather forced a landing in New Brunswick soon after.

TODAY’S TOP MAINE STORIES

Joseph Eaton received four life sentences for killing his mother, father and their two family friends . Eaton pleaded guilty to the 2023 shooting rampage in Bowdoin and Yarmouth, though in interviews he claimed he didn’t understand why he did it.

Political organizations are fraudulently raising millions from donors and funneling the money into a shadowy web of companies . One such “scam PAC” continues to use U.S. Rep. Jared Golden’s image and veteran status two years after he condemned it.

Maine’s new home sharing program opened Monday . Amid Maine’s serious housing crisis, Nesterly allows homeowners to list extra rooms online.

Rockport is planning to cut ties with its longtime EMS provider . The split between the town and North East Mobile Health highlights a growing tension in Maine communities.

Downtown Bangor is getting a new juice and smoothie spot . The menu of the new business at 34 Main St. will also include wellness shots, salads, acai bowls, matcha and flatbreads.

MAINE IN PICTURES

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

• Meteorologists are in Maine looking for signs that tornadoes touched down on Sunday
• Conservative news site sues Janet Mills for her December storm schedule
• There’s a form to help Mainers in crisis. Most don’t know it exists.
• Ombudsman ‘not aware’ of the high number of wanderings from Maine assisted living facilities
• Car catches fire at Brewer Lowe’s burning nearby pickup truck
• Photos: James Taylor returns to the Bangor waterfront
• After premature landing balloonists ponder whether to try again
• Weight restriction to be lifted on new international bridge in August
• Former golf course condos to house Acadia bus drivers
• Driver allegedly flees after crashing car in front of Bar Harbor police station
• Rockland may relocate City Hall to downtown
• Suspect in Maine hit-and-run dies in rollover crash
• Mainer allegedly was making bomb after threatening his ex and court official
• Portland man sentenced for shooting before Naples fireworks
• Man seriously injured in Maine crash
• New Maine Maritime women’s soccer coach has been there before
• Former UMaine assistant coach embraces challenge of replacing USM baseball legend

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

“A visit with a health care provider should always be a place you feel comfortable and safe.”

Opinion: There’s still a lot of work to do to protect LGBTQ+ health care

LIFE IN MAINE

Are you getting overrun with hornworms, potato beetles and other pests but don’t want to use toxic chemicals? Here are some tips on how to identify and stop the problem before your garden is destroyed by unwanted guests.

“Some of us have been waiting for more than 20 years for that lucky draw. When it happens, it is almost as good as winning the Powerball, if not better ,” outdoors columnist V. Paul Reynolds writes. He attended his first moose lottery drawing in person this year.

Spending lots of time outside this summer? Here are sunburn remedies to soothe your skin after lazing by the pool.