1+ day, 35+ min ago (187+ words) Lifted pickup trucks are not illegal in Maine, but they must meet strict requirements to be street legal. Maine law sets the maximum allowable length, height and width of vehicles. Frame height restrictions are based on the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating for each model. For example, the frame end of a vehicle weighing 4,500 pounds or less must not exceed 24 inches in the front and 26 inches in the rear. Inspectors measure from the frame's lowest point to the ground at both ends. Suspension and body lifts are allowed if they're aftermarket kits designed for that make and model and installed exactly as the manufacturer recommends. An illegally lifted truck should fail a state inspection, and driving a vehicle that doesn't meet standards is typically a traffic infraction. Extreme violations can be charged as a Class E crime, punishable by a…...

3+ day, 7+ hour ago (187+ words) The University of Maine fell behind by three goals in the second period then gave up four goals in the third period and lost 7-3 to Boston College in a men's Hockey East game on Friday in Boston. The Eagles (7-4-1, 5-2 Hockey East) took a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Dean Letourneau and James Hagen. Landan Resendes made it 3-0 in the second before Owen Fowler got Maine (7-5-1, 4-3) on the board with just over seven minute left in the period. The Black Bears, who have lost two straight, pulled within a goal twice in the third on goals by Charlie Russell and Justin Poirer, but Hagen added his second goal, Ryan Commy scored twice and Teddy Stiga added a goal as Boston College pulled away. Albin Boija made 21 saves for Maine, while Louka Cloutier stopped 35 shots for BC. Boston College…...

4+ day, 6+ hour ago (388+ words) Maine lawmakers won't take up a Portland lawmaker's bill to prohibit federal immigration officers from wearing identity-concealing masks during interactions with the public. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Grayson Lookner, was rejected 6-3 by legislative leaders during a meeting Thursday, meaning it won't advance to a public hearing, work session or consideration by the full Legislature in the upcoming session that starts in January. The bill was proposed in response to recent incidents involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that have prompted concern, including the September arrest of a parent outside the Gerald E. Talbot Community School in Portland, Lookner told legislative leaders during Thursday's meeting. Immigration enforcement practices have come under scrutiny nationwide in recent months as the Trump administration carries out an aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration and has ramped up arrests and deportations. Similar legislation has been introduced in…...

4+ day, 21+ hour ago (234+ words) U.S. Border Patrol agents in Maine apprehended 725 people in fiscal 2025 who were in the country illegally, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. That number exceeds the previous record of 685 apprehensions in 2001 by agents of Houlton Sector Maine, which encompasses the entire state and its 5,525-mile border with Canada. The people arrested from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30 came from 46 countries, according to an email statement from the federal agency. Despite the increase in apprehensions, sector officials emphasized that border security remains strong. Sector headquarters are in Hodgdon, with stations in Calais, Houlton, Fort Fairfield, Van Buren, Jackman and Rangeley. "The sector has reported an 80% decrease in illegal crossings along the United States-Canada border in Maine and has had no known "got-aways" since January," the statement said. "This success highlights the dedication of Border Patrol agents and the agency"s effectiveness in securing the…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (189+ words) Erik Pratt scored 19 points and Richard Goods had 12 points and 10 rebounds as Stony Brook earned a 71-60 win over Maine in an America East men's basketball game Saturday in Stony Brook, New York. You are able to gift 5 more articles this month. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Learn more. With a The Portland Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. - Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Erik Pratt scored 19 points and Richard Goods had 12 points and 10 rebounds as Stony Brook earned a 71-60 win over Maine in an America East men's basketball game Saturday in Stony Brook, New York. Ryan Mabrey led Maine (0-2, 0-1 America East) with 14 points. Bashir N'Galang…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (484+ words) A Maine Border Patrol agent who shot a woman accused of crashing into his vehicle in Chicago sent profane text messages to his colleagues bragging about the shooting, according to court documents. "Cool. I'm up for another round of (expletive) around and find out," the agent allegedly wrote in a text one day after the shooting. In another message, he boasts of his shooting skills, noting that he wounded the woman seven times with five shots. The agent, identified by defense attorneys and multiple media outlets as Charles Exum, testified Wednesday in an Illinois federal courtroom. While court documents don't identify the person who sent the messages, a defense attorney said Exum had written them. Christopher Parente, who represents the woman facing charges in connection with the crash, said the messages are "telling" and alarming. "This is a guy that's…...

2+ week, 6+ day ago (155+ words) Thornton Academy again is the unanimous No. 1 team in the Varsity Maine football top 10 after posting its third win against a top-five opponent, 27-14 over Noble. Thornton, whose only loss was against New Hampshire powerhouse Bedford, now has victories over No. 2 Bonny Eagle, No. 4 Portland and No. 5 Noble. Portland and Noble swapped positions in this week's poll after Noble's loss and Portland's triumph over South Portland. Cony, the only undefeated team in Class B, remained in third place. The only new team in the top 10 is Falmouth, which is now ninth. Bangor dropped out after losing to unranked Oxford Hills. The Varsity Maine football poll is based on games played before Oct. 28, 2025. The top 10 teams are voted on by the Varsity Maine staff, with first-place votes in parentheses, followed by total points. Poll compiled by Assistant Sports Editor Bob Aube....

2+ week, 6+ day ago (186+ words) Over 20,000 households in Maine were without power Tuesday afternoon as high winds swept the state. Central Maine Power reported just over 17,000 customers without power as of 2:30 p.m. Over 5,600 of those customers are in York County, with an additional 3,600 in Oxford County and over 1,400 in Androscoggin County. At one point on Tuesday afternoon, CMP reported as many as 5,100 outages in Cumberland County, but that had dropped to about 4,800 by 2:30 p.m. CMP posted an alert at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday announcing that high winds would likely cause outages and that extra crews have been deployed across the state. It also notes that crews cannot go up in bucket trucks to repair lines when winds exceed 30 miles per hour. Nearly 3,200 Versant Power customers were without power as of 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to an alert by the company. Penobscot County had been hit the hardest with almost 3,200 customers…...

2+ week, 6+ day ago (223+ words) Cheney, who died Monday, visited Maine multiple times, including on the campaign trail in 2000 and again as vice president in 2002. You are able to gift 5 more articles this month. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Learn more. With a The Portland Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. - Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Dick Cheney, considered one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents, died Monday at the age of 84. Besides serving as vice president for President George W. Bush, he also served as White House Chief of Staff, as a congressman from Wyoming and as U.S. Secretary of Defense under President George H.W. Bush. Cheney spent much of…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (400+ words) The funky Dr. Gasp performs at last year's (2024) Haunted Ragtime Halloween at the Chocolate Church Art Center. (Courtesy of the Chocolate Church Arts Center) " data-image-caption="The funky Dr. Gasp performs at last year's Haunted Ragtime Halloween at the Chocolate Church Art Center. (Courtesy of the Chocolate Church Arts Center) " data-medium-file="https://www.pressherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/10/TR-Dr-Gasp-103125.jpeg?w=300" data-large-file="https://www.pressherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/10/TR-Dr-Gasp-103125.jpeg?w=780" />The Chocolate Church Arts Center's second annual Haunted Ragtime Halloween is for all ages. You are able to gift 5 more articles this month. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Learn more. With a The Portland Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. - Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email I don't want to stir up controversy,…...