Patrick Whittle

A 19-year-old, Camron Harris of Henrico, Virginia, was arrested after police found him hiding in a dormitory closet at Virginia State University. He faces eight felony warrants, including malicious wounding and using a firearm in the commission of a felony, following an overnight shooting that wounded five people aged 17 to 23; one victim was critically injured and another was later released. Authorities have not disclosed a motive or confirmed whether additional suspects remain under investigation. The campus lockdown was lifted after police determined there was no immediate threat, while federal and local agencies assisted the investigation and the university arranged further safety information and support services.

A federal appeals court is signaling that a defamation lawsuit brought by New England lobster businesses and trade groups against the Monterey Bay Aquarium may be barred by First Amendment protections. The plaintiffs argue that Seafood Watch’s 2022 placement of American and Canadian lobster on its do-not-eat red list falsely portrayed the industry as a threat to endangered North Atlantic right whales and caused economic losses. The aquarium maintains that the report did not directly identify the plaintiffs, while conservation groups and government agencies recognize fishing-gear entanglement as a major threat to whales. The case follows a lower-court ruling allowing the lawsuit to proceed, and its outcome could affect the ability of organizations to publish broad environmental and sustainability assessments.

Two Massachusetts brothers caught and released a five-foot juvenile tiger shark off Falmouth, more than 1,500 miles north of its usual tropical habitat. Scientists say increasingly warm Atlantic waters may be making northern New England more suitable for tiger sharks, potentially even as a nursery area. The sighting is part of a broader northward shift among marine species, including great white sharks and black sea bass, as ocean temperatures rise.

Fishermen Nate and Nelson Rouette caught a five-foot juvenile tiger shark off Cape Cod in late July, an unusual occurrence because the species generally inhabits warmer southern waters. Scientists, including New England Aquarium researcher John Chisholm, link the sighting to warming ocean temperatures driven by climate change. The increasing presence of juvenile tiger sharks and other species farther north suggests that New England waters may be becoming important habitat as marine ecosystems shift.

Troy Jackson, a former Maine state lawmaker and logger, won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate after Graham Platner withdrew amid a sexual assault allegation that he denies. More than 600 Democratic delegates selected Jackson at an unprecedented party convention in Bangor, where he emerged as the clear favorite after most other potential candidates dropped out. A progressive who supports Medicare for All and dismantling Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Jackson will face five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins in a race Democrats view as a key opportunity to gain Senate control. Collins has a fundraising advantage, and Jackson has less than four months to campaign before the election.

A House committee vote advanced a proposal to extend a moratorium on new protections for North Atlantic right whales from 2028 to 2035, a move supported by fishing and lobster industries but strongly criticized by environmental groups who warn of dire consequences for the species’ survival. Lawmakers backing the delay argue more time is needed to gather data on effective protections, while conservationists stress that whales continue to die from fishing gear entanglements and ship strikes. The measure is expected to pass the Republican-controlled Congress, prolonging regulatory inaction as the whale population remains critically low.

Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, a 26-year-old Colombian man, was fatally shot by an immigration officer during an attempted vehicle stop in Biddeford, Maine. DHS initially said he tried to use his vehicle as a weapon, then described the vehicle as attempting to flee, leaving key facts unresolved. The shooting is the ninth death linked to immigration operations since the Trump administration began its mass-deportation campaign, and at least four involved vehicles. Experts warn that firing at moving cars can cause them to become uncontrollable threats, while the absence of body-camera footage has complicated investigations. Officials and witnesses have also disputed the account of a recent Houston shooting, prompting calls for greater transparency, restrictions on vehicle stops and an investigation by Maine authorities.

An ICE officer fatally shot a 26-year-old Colombian driver during an immigration enforcement operation in Biddeford, Maine. Homeland Security said the vehicle attempted to flee and posed a threat to agents, while Maine officials said preliminary information indicated the driver was moving toward the officer. The absence of body cameras and unclear details about the vehicle’s distance, warnings and alleged threat have prompted calls for answers from immigrant-rights groups. The Maine attorney general’s office, DHS inspector general and FBI are investigating, and the officer has been placed on leave. The shooting is the second fatal ICE use-of-force incident in a week amid the Trump administration’s intensified deportation campaign.

A powerful heat dome is expected to bring temperatures 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit above normal across as much as two-thirds of the continental United States. Triple-digit temperatures are forecast in the Southwest and Great Plains before the heat spreads eastward, with more than 90 local records potentially tied or broken and dangerously warm nights in several Southern cities. Meteorologists warn residents to hydrate and seek cool spaces, while dry conditions could increase wildfire risk. Scientists say climate change is making heat waves more intense, widespread and persistent, and a strengthening El Niño may further elevate global temperatures later in the year.

Graham Platner is expected to withdraw from Maine’s Democratic Senate race after a sexual assault allegation that he denies, forcing the party to choose a replacement by July 27. The nominee will have less than four months to campaign against Republican Senator Susan Collins in a race that could affect control of the narrowly divided Senate. Former state Senate President Troy Jackson, former Maine CDC director Nirav Shah, Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and several other candidates have entered or shown interest in the contest, while Governor Janet Mills has not said whether she will return.

New York resident David Streever sued U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and other officials, alleging that federal agents violated his First Amendment rights after he emailed former acting ICE director Todd Lyons with harsh criticism. Agents delivered a warning to Streever’s home and later tried to confront him at a New York City hotel. The lawsuit, filed by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, argues that the email constituted protected political speech. The case follows a similar federal confrontation involving upstate New York poll worker Paigelynne Gonyea over a social media post criticizing ICE officer Jonathan Ross, who was identified in connection with the fatal shooting of Renee Good.

Federal officers issued a warning to Rochester resident David Streever over an angry email criticizing ICE leadership after an officer fatally shot Minneapolis resident Renee Good during an anti-ICE protest. His attorney, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, argues the message was protected political speech rather than a true threat. The case follows Syracuse poll worker Paigelynne Gonyea's account of being questioned over social-media posts about the same shooting, although Homeland Security says its inquiry concerned an allegedly doxxing post. Civil-liberties groups warn that federal visits over political expression could intimidate critics, while ICE says it investigates credible threats; no criminal charges have been announced.

The Titanic was launched from Southampton in 1912, struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, and sank with about 1,500 deaths. Researchers located the wreck in 1985, and subsequent salvage expeditions recovered thousands of artifacts, prompting disputes over ownership, preservation and commercial display. U.S. courts granted RMS Titanic Inc. extensive salvage rights while imposing conditions to keep the collection intact, and federal law and an international agreement later required authorization for activities disturbing the wreck. After the 2023 Titan submersible disaster and a 2024 expedition, the U.S. dropped litigation against RMS Titanic in January 2025. The company subsequently proposed auctioning 100 lots of artifacts recovered in 1987, but unsealed court filings show that the U.S. government and NOAA oppose the sale.

RMS Titanic Inc. plans to auction more than 100 artifacts recovered from the Titanic, including personal belongings and decorative objects, while also displaying them on a global exhibition tour. The U.S. government, represented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, argues that the sale would breach legal obligations and past agreements requiring the artifacts to be preserved and displayed publicly. The company maintains that court approval is unnecessary and that the proposed auction would not violate existing orders. Previous efforts to sell recovered items were opposed by courts, preservation groups, and victims’ relatives, while experts argue that Titanic artifacts should be recovered archaeologically and kept accessible to the public.

RMS Titanic Inc.’s plan to auction more than 100 artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreck has drawn opposition from the U.S. government. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration argues that the sale could violate agreements tied to the company’s exclusive salvage rights, while the company maintains that existing court orders do not prohibit the auction. The proposed sale includes personal belongings, decorative objects and other historically significant items, with proceeds reportedly intended to support future exploration and the company’s finances. Preservation advocates and relatives of victims have previously opposed similar sales, arguing that the artifacts should remain available for public education rather than private ownership.

Searsmont Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Woodbury, 76, died from injuries sustained in a May 15 fire and explosion at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine. He was the second firefighter to die in the incident, after Andrew Cross, 27, of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department. Authorities said the accidental fire began at the base of a silo, where combustible particulate material rapidly ignited, causing an explosion, structural collapse and a widespread fire. More than 10 people were injured, and the investigation remains ongoing.

U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner denied former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield’s allegations that he engaged in physically intimidating behavior, including grabbing her, pulling her from a cab and restraining her during an argument. He also denied that he knew his skull tattoo was a Nazi Totenkopf symbol, contradicting Fifield’s account that he joked about its meaning. Platner acknowledged a past period involving undiagnosed PTSD, alcohol misuse and poor behavior but called the more serious allegations false and politically motivated. The controversy follows revelations about explicit messages sent to women while he was married and offensive Reddit posts for which he apologized. Despite the allegations, Bernie Sanders and other prominent supporters continued backing Platner, while Ro Khanna condemned the reported conduct but said Platner had acknowledged it and sought redemption. Platner is favored in Maine’s Democratic primary and is expected to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins.

The Justice Department sued Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington over policies restricting undercover license plates for federal civil immigration enforcement, arguing that the states are obstructing federal authority and violating the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. The administration says identifiable vehicles could expose ICE and other federal agents to harassment and danger. State officials defend the restrictions as public-safety measures intended to prevent unidentified agents from conducting abusive or unconstitutional immigration operations. Oregon has paused new plate issuances while reviewing its policy, while the other states are preparing to defend their rules in court.

Investigators determined that the fatal fire and explosion at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine, was accidental and began at the base of a silo when combustible particulate material rapidly ignited. The explosion lifted the silo from its concrete base, released sawdust, and caused a surrounding fire that killed Morrill firefighter Andrew Cross and injured about a dozen people. The silo’s fire-suppression system did not activate because temperatures near the top did not reach its threshold. State and federal investigators will conduct a more detailed examination, while officials and the lumber industry highlighted the incident’s impact on the community and the importance of Maine’s wood-products sector.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows removed a proposed ballot initiative restricting transgender students' access to school bathrooms and sports after determining that more than 12,000 petition signatures were invalid. The shortfall left organizers several hundred signatures below the 67,682 required for ballot access. Protect Girls Sports in Maine has 10 days to appeal and may pursue the measure in a future election, while opponents supported Bellows' decision. The ruling comes amid a broader national campaign, backed by President Donald Trump, to restrict transgender participation in school sports and facilities.

An explosion followed by a large fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine, injured at least five people, including one patient reported in critical condition. Waldo County declared the incident a potential mass-casualty event and deployed emergency resources, while Maine State Police and fire marshals began responding and investigating the cause. Governor Janet Mills urged residents to stay away and follow law-enforcement instructions. The incident occurred at a major employer in Maine's economically significant forest-products industry.

Vice President JD Vance visited Maine to promote the Trump administration’s anti-fraud efforts and support Republican candidates ahead of the state’s primary elections. His focus on government-program fraud came as rising gas, heating-oil and food prices created pressure on Trump’s economic message following the Iran war. Vance promoted former Governor Paul LePage and praised Senator Susan Collins, while Democrats criticized the visit and highlighted the cost of living. The races include a competitive Senate contest, an open gubernatorial field and a Republican effort to reclaim Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

Sen. Susan Collins disclosed that she has lived with benign essential tremor for decades, causing shaking in her hands, head and voice but not interfering with her work. The Maine Republican said the non-neurodegenerative condition affects millions of people over 40 and has sometimes prompted cruel online comments. Her health disclosure comes as she seeks reelection in a competitive Senate race, likely against Democrat Graham Platner, following Janet Mills’s withdrawal. The article also discusses age and health scrutiny involving other national candidates and explains the causes and symptoms of essential tremor.

A Maine judge ruled that 18-year-old Deven Young is competent to stand trial in the killing of 48-year-old paddleboarder Sunshine “Sunny” Stewart. Prosecutors are seeking to charge Young as an adult; he was 17 when Stewart died. Police said Stewart died from strangulation and blunt force trauma, but authorities have not disclosed a motive. Young is due back in court on May 7, while reports have highlighted his prior violent behavior and mental-health challenges.

A rare lobster with a brown-and-orange split coloration was caught off Cape Cod and rescued from being cooked after the Wellfleet Shellfish Company donated it to the Woods Hole Science Aquarium. The animal is temporarily being housed at the Marine Biological Laboratory and is expected to go on public display when the aquarium reopens. Scientists say its unusual appearance may result from a genetic mutation or the fusion of two lobster eggs.

A rare lobster with a brown shell on one side and orange on the other was caught off Cape Cod on 16 April and spared from being cooked. Wellfleet Shellfish Company donated it to the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, where it is being held at the Marine Biological Laboratory during construction and is expected to go on public display when the aquarium reopens. Marine scientists suggest that such two-tone coloration may result from the fusion of two lobster eggs, although the exact rarity of the phenomenon is uncertain.

A ewe at Clover & Bee Farm in Underhill, Vermont, gave birth to six lambs despite a veterinary examination indicating she was carrying only two. The mother and all six partially Finnsheep lambs are thriving, and the Vermont Sheep & Goat Association said such prolific births are exceptionally rare. The farm plans to keep the four female lambs and rehome the two males while continuing to raise sheep for wool.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill that would have created the nation’s first statewide moratorium on large data centers, arguing that it failed to exempt a proposed project in Jay that could bring jobs after a local mill closure. She plans to establish a similar review council through executive order. Bill sponsor Melanie Sachs criticized the veto over potential impacts on electricity rates, the power grid, the environment and Maine’s energy future. The dispute reflects growing resistance to data centers’ substantial power demands despite strong support from the Trump administration and governors who view them as vital to economic growth, national security and competition with China in artificial intelligence.

Maine lawmakers approved a bill sending Gov. Janet Mills a measure that would impose the nation’s first statewide moratorium on large data centers for more than a year and establish a council to help communities review projects. Supporters cite concerns over electricity demand, potential blackouts, water use, ratepayer costs and inadequate local transparency, while industry groups and business advocates warn the freeze could deter investment, jobs and related economic development. The vote reflects growing opposition to data centers across the United States, where communities and lawmakers are weighing local concerns against pressure to expand artificial-intelligence infrastructure.

American woodcocks have attracted unusually large crowds to Manhattan’s Bryant Park during their annual northward migration, with visitors captivated by the birds’ bobbing walk, distinctive appearance and calls. Scientists say the behavior seen in the park is likely linked mainly to foraging, vigilance and other sensory behaviors rather than courtship, whose male display involves buzzing calls and an erratic nighttime flight. The birds are expected to continue north in mid-April, and their popularity is also drawing attention to conservation threats including building-glass collisions and light pollution, amid a broader population decline.

The Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College has expanded its support to more than 60 Jewish communities in 22 states, helping rural synagogues address declining membership, aging populations and limited access to full-time rabbis. Led by Rabbi Rachel Isaacs, the center offers rabbi mentorship, lay-leader training and board coaching. Participants in Maine, Montana and California say the programs help isolated Jewish communities build connections and sustain religious life, an especially important effort amid rising antisemitism and a long-term decline in the number of American synagogues.

Members of the Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association approved a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with Bath Iron Works, ending a weeklong strike. The workers, who perform design, testing, clerical, laboratory and engineering roles, are represented by a UAW-affiliated union. The agreement comes as Bath Iron Works builds Arleigh Burke-class destroyers for the U.S. Navy amid efforts to expand defense manufacturing and ongoing U.S. military operations involving Iran.

Cargill’s Whiskey Island salt mine beneath Lake Erie is operating overtime after unusually cold and snowy conditions depleted municipal road-salt reserves across the Northeast and Great Lakes. The mine, located 1,800 feet underground, produces 3 million to 4 million tons of salt annually and is prioritizing deliveries to areas facing the greatest shortages. Frequent storms have increased salting needs and created logistical challenges, but mine officials say substantial reserves remain for decades of continued production.

Six hundred twenty-seven designers, clerks and technicians represented by the Bath Marine Draftsmen's Association struck General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Maine after rejecting a proposed labor contract. The union says the offer fails to resolve concerns about wages, insurance coverage and retirement security, while the shipyard says it offered a 10.1% first-year raise followed by 4% annual increases and is negotiating in good faith. Bath Iron Works plans to maintain operations with salaried staff, subcontractors and other willing employees. The strike affects a major U.S. Navy shipbuilder whose workforce is involved in producing Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, though its immediate impact on production remains unclear.

Scientists identified a sound recorded off Bermuda in March 1949 as the oldest known recording of humpback whale song. Discovered on a well-preserved Gray Audograph disc during the digitization of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution archives, the recording also captures a quieter pre-modern-shipping ocean. Researchers say it can provide a historical baseline for studying how increased human-made noise affects whale communication, while offering insights into the animals’ social behavior, navigation and survival.

Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution identified the oldest known recordings of humpback whale song, captured off Bermuda in 1949 during acoustic experiments. The recordings predate Roger Payne’s widely recognized discovery of whale song by nearly 20 years and were preserved on a plastic disc. Because they document a quieter ocean, the recordings may help scientists assess how human-made noise—whose levels have increased substantially in some areas since the 1960s—affects whale communication, navigation, feeding and social behavior. Humpback whales can weigh more than 55,000 pounds, and Payne’s 1970 album Songs of the Humpback Whale sold over 100,000 copies and helped fuel opposition to commercial whaling.

A Bombardier Challenger 600 that crashed during takeoff from Bangor, Maine, on 25 January, killing six people, waited 17 minutes after de-icing began—nearly twice the nine-minute maximum cited in FAA guidance. The pilots reportedly considered a 14-to-18-minute wait standard and planned to return for additional de-icing if the delay exceeded 30 minutes. The NTSB’s preliminary report does not establish a probable cause; investigators recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, and a final report is not expected for more than a year. The jet had stopped to refuel while traveling from Houston to France amid worsening winter weather.

Maine’s lobster harvest fell to 78.8 million pounds in 2025, its fourth consecutive annual decline and the lowest total since 2008. Regulators attributed the drop to inflation, high operating costs, fewer fishing trips, tariff-related market uncertainty and a delayed peak season, while ocean warming may be pushing lobsters toward Canadian waters. The fishery’s value fell by more than $75 million to over $461 million. Scientists and regulators have warned of declining lobster abundance and overfishing, prompting environmental groups to seek tighter rules, while fishermen argue that existing conservation measures already impose significant restrictions.

Maine landed 78.8 million pounds of lobster in 2025, the lowest total since 2008 and the fourth consecutive annual decline. Regulators attributed the drop to inflation, higher fuel and gear costs, fewer fishing trips, tariff-related market uncertainty and a late start to the peak season. Scientists also warn that warming ocean temperatures may be pushing lobster populations toward Canadian waters, while fisheries regulators have cited declining abundance and overfishing in key areas. Environmental groups want tighter restrictions, but fishermen argue that existing rules already impose significant limits, including measures intended to protect endangered whales. Despite the decline, the catch remains high by historical standards, though the industry's profitability has suffered.

An explosion and fire destroyed a three-family home in Taunton, Massachusetts, severely injuring a 25-year-old mother and seriously injuring her 2-year-old child. Eight residents were displaced, two neighboring homes were also badly damaged, and the city opened a warming center. State and local fire investigators, including the state fire marshal’s office, were working to determine the explosion’s origin and cause as the area recovered from a major snowstorm.

Blu Zeke Daly, also known as Cullan Zeke Daly, was charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon after prosecutors said he fired at a Border Patrol agent near the closed Pittsburg Port of Entry in New Hampshire. The agent returned fire, injuring Daly, who remains hospitalized under guard. The agent was unharmed, and the FBI is leading the investigation.

Federal authorities are investigating a shooting near the U.S.-Canada border crossing in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. The FBI says an unidentified person opened fire on a U.S. Border Patrol agent at about 1 a.m. Sunday, prompting the agent to return fire and wound the suspect, who was hospitalized. The agent was unharmed. The FBI’s Boston field office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire are leading the investigation, while officials have declined to identify the suspect or explain what prompted the shooting. Charges may be announced if investigators determine they are warranted.

Daniel Blank, a member of the group known as the Zizians, was released from a Maryland jail after posting $15,000 bail. He must live alone and wear GPS monitoring, while Michelle Zajko and Jack “Ziz” LaSota remain jailed without bail. Maryland authorities have linked the three to investigations involving six deaths across California, Pennsylvania and Vermont, including the killings of Zajko’s parents and a U.S. border agent. The defendants face LSD, firearms, trespassing and obstruction charges in Maryland, with their trial delayed until June after Zajko changed attorneys.

Authorities are using side-scan sonar and hope to deploy a remotely operated vehicle to locate the wreck of the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean, which sank in more than 300 feet of water off Gloucester, Massachusetts, on January 30, killing all seven people aboard. The U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA and Massachusetts Environmental Police are coordinating the effort, but winter weather and rough seas have delayed operations. Families and the local fishing community seek answers and potentially the recovery of the victims’ bodies while officials caution against spreading misinformation.

Casey Wasserman, chair of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics organizing committee, has begun selling his Wasserman talent agency after the release of flirtatious 2003 emails between him and Ghislaine Maxwell. Wasserman has not been accused of wrongdoing and says his contact with Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein was limited to a humanitarian trip and several emails that he regrets. Following an internal and external legal review, LA28 said the relationship did not extend beyond what was publicly documented and backed Wasserman's continued leadership. He is stepping back from the agency because he believes he has become a distraction, while Mike Watts takes over its daily operations; clients including Chappell Roan and Abby Wambach have departed.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plans to propose industry-friendly changes to vessel speed rules protecting the fewer-than-400 North Atlantic right whales. NOAA says the changes would modernize conservation through technology and reduce unnecessary regulatory and economic burdens, while environmental groups argue that weakening speed restrictions could worsen a population already threatened by ship strikes, fishing-gear entanglement and a recent whale death off Virginia. Shipping and marine-industry interests support technology-based alternatives, while a prior Biden administration proposal to expand slow zones was withdrawn before completion.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order reopening the nearly 5,000-square-mile Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument off New England to commercial fishing. The monument was created by Barack Obama, had its protections rolled back by Trump in 2020, and was restored by Joe Biden. Fishing groups welcomed the decision as beneficial to fishermen, including Maine’s lobster industry, while environmental organizations warned that it threatens vulnerable corals and marine ecosystems and said they may challenge it in court. The order is part of Trump’s broader effort to reduce regulatory constraints on the U.S. fishing industry.

The U.S. government has asked a federal judge in Maine to dismiss a lawsuit brought by survivors and relatives of victims of the October 2023 Lewiston mass shooting. The families allege that the Army, the Defense Department and Keller Army Community Hospital failed to act on Robert Card’s deteriorating mental health, threats and warning signs. The government argues that the court lacks jurisdiction, that the claims do not meet the legal standard, and that Card was solely responsible for the killings. The families’ attorneys say an Army failure to protect the community should result in legal accountability. An independent commission and a Defense Department watchdog report identified missed opportunities and failures to report violent threats.

Three octogenarian fans—Don Crisman, Gregory Eaton and Tom Henschel—attended their 60th consecutive Super Bowl, preserving a streak that began with the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game in 1967. Crisman and Henschel, who are facing age-related mobility challenges and rising costs, believe this may be their final trip, while Eaton hopes to continue attending as long as he can. Their stories reflect decades of changing football culture, from inexpensive tickets and long train journeys to a highly commercialized $10,000 event, while emphasizing friendship, memory and devotion beyond the game itself.

Six people, including Texas entrepreneur and lawyer Tara Arnold, chef Nick Mastrascusa, sommelier Shelby Kuyawa, event planner Shawna Collins and pilots Jacob Hosmer and Jorden Reidel, were killed when a Bombardier Challenger 600 crashed during takeoff in a snowstorm at Bangor International Airport in Maine. The group was traveling from Houston to France's Champagne region to scout a luxury travel destination for Arnold's new concierge company, Beyond. The victims were remembered for their professional accomplishments and close family and community ties. Investigators have not determined the cause and are expected to examine the storm, possible wing icing and other factors.

The U.S. Coast Guard identified all seven people who died when the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank about 25 miles off Gloucester, Massachusetts. The victims included captain Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, five other fishermen and NOAA fisheries observer Jada Samitt. Search crews found debris, a body and an empty life raft but no survivors, and the search was suspended after covering roughly 1,000 square miles in severe winter conditions. The Coast Guard has opened a formal investigation into the sinking, which occurred without a mayday call, while NOAA suspended observer deployments in the Northeast temporarily. The disaster has deeply affected Gloucester’s longstanding fishing community and highlights the dangers of deep-sea fishing.

The U.S. Coast Guard launched an around-the-clock search after the 72-foot commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean issued a distress alert about 25 miles off Gloucester, Massachusetts. A debris field and one body were found, while seven people aboard remained missing. Rough seas, cold water and possible ice buildup complicated the search, which involved helicopters, boats, a cutter and a planned fixed-wing aircraft. The vessel’s captain, Gus Sanfilippo, and his crew were experienced Gloucester fishermen previously featured on the History Channel. Local officials, fishermen and relatives expressed grief while holding out hope for survivors. NOAA Fisheries confirmed that a government fishery observer was also aboard, and the tragedy renewed attention to the dangers of winter commercial fishing in New England.

The Farmers’ Almanac will continue operating after being acquired by Unofficial Networks, ending plans to close after more than 200 years. The New York-based digital publisher intends to launch a daily-content website and eventually restore a print edition, while preserving the publication’s heritage. The almanac is leaving its long-time Maine base, and longtime publisher Peter Geiger is transferring stewardship to Unofficial Networks founder Tim Konrad. Although studies have found the almanac’s long-range forecasts to be only slightly more accurate than chance, its cultural appeal and historical significance have sustained it.

Extreme snow and winter weather have slowed the federal investigation into the private jet crash that killed six people at Bangor International Airport in Maine. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration recovered the cockpit voice and data recorders, while authorities removed and identified the victims. The airport was closed pending improved conditions. The Paris-bound Bombardier Challenger 600 had stopped to refuel during deteriorating weather and had undergone deicing, but officials had not clarified the treatment time or whether its allowable holdover period had expired. Among the victims were Lakewood Church employee Shawna Collins and pilot Jacob Hosmer.

The National Transportation Safety Board has begun investigating a Bombardier Challenger 600 crash during takeoff from Bangor International Airport that killed four passengers and two crew members. The Paris-bound jet flipped over and caught fire during a winter storm, and investigators are examining weather conditions and possible wing icing alongside other factors. The victims have not yet been identified; a preliminary report is expected in about a month, while the final report could take more than a year.

ICE says its Maine operation, dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day,” detained more than 100 people who were among the state’s “worst of the worst.” Court records, however, show a mixed group that includes people with serious convictions, individuals whose charges were dismissed, and detainees with no criminal records but unresolved immigration cases. Attorneys have filed habeas petitions challenging transfers to Massachusetts and alleging that the arrests disrupted access to counsel and pending proceedings. Local officials, including Portland Mayor Mark Dion, questioned ICE’s reliance on arrests and relatively common offenses to support its public characterization of the detainees.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and Republican Sen. Susan Collins offered sharply different responses to a major ICE enforcement operation in Maine, which the agency says has targeted about 1,400 people and resulted in more than 100 arrests. Mills demanded judicial warrants, real-time arrest data and information about detainees, while Collins defended enforcement against undocumented people who commit crimes and urged protesters not to interfere, while supporting body cameras and de-escalation training for ICE agents. The operation has heightened anxiety in Portland and Lewiston, where immigrant communities report staying home, and an Ecuadorian roofer said an agent threatened to return for his family. The dispute is unfolding as Mills and oyster farmer Graham Platner compete for the Democratic nomination to challenge Collins in a closely watched Senate race.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills is demanding arrest warrants, real-time arrest figures and information about detainees’ locations as federal immigration officials conduct a major enforcement operation in the state. Federal authorities report about 50 arrests on the first day and say roughly 1,400 people are targets, but have provided limited public detail. The operation has generated fear among immigrant communities, disrupted schools and businesses, and prompted protests in Portland and Scarborough. The Department of Homeland Security and ICE say they are targeting people with serious criminal records, while Mills and community members question the operation’s scale, transparency, legal basis and impact on families.

ICE launched Operation Catch of the Day in Maine, arresting 50 people and reportedly identifying more than 1,000 targets in Portland, Lewiston and possibly other communities. Federal officials say the operation targets immigrants convicted of serious crimes, while Gov. Janet Mills, mayors, schools and community advocates argue that the surge is creating fear and undermining civil rights. Maine has declined to issue new confidential undercover license plates requested by federal authorities, intensifying tensions between state officials and the Trump administration. Schools have taken precautionary measures as immigrant families avoid work and school amid heightened anxiety.

A major winter storm expected to affect much of the United States brings risks including carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia, frostbite, frozen pipes and reduced electric-vehicle range. Experts advise staying indoors safely, using heating equipment and generators correctly, preparing for power outages, dressing appropriately, insulating exposed pipes, draining sprinkler systems and allowing faucets to drip. Cold weather slows electric-vehicle batteries and reduces range, but owners can largely maintain normal travel with advance planning.

A study by German scientists found that exposing more than 600 discarded blacktip reef shark teeth to water with projected 2300 acidity caused greater cracking, root corrosion and structural degradation. The findings suggest ocean acidification, driven by rising carbon dioxide absorption, could weaken a feature essential to sharks' predatory success, although the ecological consequences remain uncertain because teeth develop inside protected mouth tissue. Experts say sharks' evolutionary resilience may mitigate the risk, but emphasize that overfishing remains the largest immediate threat. Acidification is also expected to harm shellfish, fish scales and broader marine ecosystems.

Hunter Nadeau, 24, of Nashua, has been indicted on alternate first-degree and second-degree murder charges, attempted murder and assault charges in connection with a September shooting at Sky Meadow Country Club. Robert DeCesare Jr. was killed, while restaurant manager Steven Burtman and patron Brianna Surette were wounded during a wedding reception. Authorities have not identified a motive and said they do not believe the victims were specifically targeted. Patrons helped subdue Nadeau, who was arrested shortly after the incident; he also previously faced a simple-assault charge that was set to be dismissed if he remained on good behavior.

Snow, ice, freezing rain and slush caused dangerous driving conditions, school closures and delays across New England, despite relatively modest snow accumulations. Traffic crashes and vehicle spinouts were reported in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, while thousands of customers experienced power outages and several airports used deicing procedures. The National Weather Service warned that additional rain, freezing temperatures and possible snow later in the week could create further hazardous travel conditions.

The critically endangered North Atlantic right whale population has produced 15 calves this winter, bringing its estimated population to 384 and marking an improvement over recent years. However, conservationists say at least 50 calves annually for many years would be needed for recovery, a target made difficult by the shortage of reproductive females. Ship strikes, entanglement in commercial fishing gear, insufficient food and injuries continue to threaten the species, while a federal pause on protective rules has drawn criticism.

Brian Walshe was sentenced to life in prison without parole in Massachusetts after being convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of his wife, Ana Walshe, whose body has not been found. Prosecutors presented internet searches, surveillance footage and DNA evidence linking him to the dismemberment and disposal of her remains, while also citing a potential life-insurance motive and marital problems. His sentence will begin after he completes a 37-month federal sentence for selling counterfeit Andy Warhol paintings. Ana's family described profound grief, and the couple's three children remain in state custody.

Brian Walshe was sentenced to life in prison in Massachusetts for the first-degree murder of his wife, Ana Walshe, whose body has not been recovered. Prosecutors presented online searches, surveillance footage and forensic evidence linking him to the dismemberment and disposal of her remains. Motives discussed included financial gain from Ana’s life insurance policy and the couple’s failing marriage.

The investigation into the Brown University shooting remains unresolved more than four days after the attack, which killed students Ella Cook and Mukhammad-Aziz Umurzokov and wounded nine others. Authorities have released grainy videos of a masked, stocky person of interest but have not confirmed that the individual is the shooter, identified a motive, found a weapon or named a suspect. Investigators believe Brown University was targeted and that the attacker may have surveilled the engineering building, whose relevant wing had few or no cameras. The university has defended its emergency notification system and overall safety measures, while police continue seeking video and public information and warn against online accusations that have led to doxing.

Police renewed the search for the Brown University gunman after releasing a detained person of interest, leaving investigators without a known suspect. The attacker allegedly fired more than 40 rounds inside an engineering classroom, killing two students and wounding nine, while limited surveillance footage has complicated the investigation. Brown canceled the rest of the semester’s classes and exams, and authorities appealed to residents and businesses for video evidence. The shooting has also deeply affected student Mia Tretta, who previously survived a school shooting in California, while Providence residents gathered to honor the victims.

Maine’s common loon population is showing signs of recovery, with an annual count recording 3,174 adults and 568 chicks in southern Maine. The number of adults is more than double the 1983 count and 13% higher than a decade ago, while conservationists caution that two strong chick-producing years are not yet enough to confirm a sustained trend. Lead-fishing-tackle bans and boat-speed limits have helped protect the birds, but threats remain, including ice trapping loons during their late-fall migration to the ocean.

Fire Systems Inc. and Gabriel House owner Dennis Etzkorn are suing each other over responsibility for faulty sprinklers at the Massachusetts assisted-living facility, where a July 2025 fire killed 10 people. Fire Systems says it identified recalled sprinkler heads in September 2024, while Etzkorn claims the company repeatedly failed to properly inspect and test the system and certified the facility as free of deficiencies just five days before the fire. The blaze was the deadliest in Massachusetts in more than 40 years, and investigators have said it was unintentional, possibly caused by smoking or an electrical problem involving an oxygen machine.

The Northeast is preparing for its first major snowstorm of the season, with winter storm warnings and advisories issued across several states and snowfall of up to a foot possible in parts of northern New England and the mid-Atlantic. Pennsylvania has begun treating roads and restricting some vehicles, while New Hampshire is preparing for snow and holding its annual snowplow-naming contest. Meanwhile, snow and ice disruptions in the Midwest were easing after record November snowfall at Chicago O’Hare, although holiday travelers continued to face flight delays, cancellations and congested roads.

A winter storm caused heavy snow, dangerous roads, power outages and widespread flight delays across the Midwest after Thanksgiving, including record November snowfall at Chicago O’Hare and more than 16 inches in Fort Dodge, Iowa. As conditions began to ease around the Great Lakes, a new storm was forecast to bring up to 10 inches of snow to northern New England and parts of Pennsylvania, prompting road crews to prepare highways and impose restrictions. Forecasters expected significant snowfall for many areas but said major cities were unlikely to receive major accumulations.

Freshwater eel populations have declined sharply because of dams, pollution, habitat loss, climate change, poaching and overfishing, threatening species that are important to the global sushi industry. CITES considered extending trade protections to more than a dozen eel species, including American and Japanese eels, but member nations rejected the proposal after opposition from Japan, China, US fisheries regulators and industry groups. Conservation organizations argued that permits and species-specific monitoring would curb illegal trade and improve survival prospects, while opponents maintained that existing national and regional rules were sufficient and questioned the evidence linking international trade to the declines.

Avangrid has received Maine's final permit for the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission corridor, despite voters rejecting the project in a 2021 referendum. The 145-mile line is designed to deliver up to 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to Massachusetts and the wider New England grid, with testing expected to finish by mid-December. A 2023 jury ruling affirmed the developers' constitutional right to proceed, but opponents continue to criticize the project's environmental impact and Avangrid's relationship with Maine communities. Energy advocates warn that future projects may face stronger opposition unless they provide more direct local benefits, including shared ownership.

A roughly one-foot-long alligator spotted several times along Boston's Charles River was captured by wildlife educator Joe Kenney after attracting attention on social media. Because alligators are not native to Massachusetts and cannot tolerate the region's cold temperatures, officials are seeking a permitted facility to house it as an educational animal. Authorities believe it was probably an escaped or intentionally released pet and remind residents that keeping alligators or other crocodilians as pets is illegal in Massachusetts.

Angela Walker was sworn in as one of Bangor, Maine’s new city council members after openly discussing her 10-year prison sentence for the 2002 manslaughter of Canadian tourist Derek Rogers, for which she pleaded guilty with her brother, Benjamin Humphrey. Now a peer services coordinator focused on addiction recovery, mental health and support for unhoused people, Walker campaigned on improving social services and public transportation. Her election drew criticism from conservative commentators and some Maine Republicans, while fellow council member Susan Faloon defended her rehabilitation and commitment to helping others.

Maine voters are considering whether to allow family members to petition courts to restrict a potentially dangerous person's access to firearms, expanding the state's existing police-initiated yellow flag process. Supporters say the law could have prevented the October 2023 Lewiston shooting, which killed 18 people, while opponents—including Republicans, hunting and gun-rights groups, and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills—argue that it would create a confusing and potentially harmful system in a state with widespread gun ownership. The vote comes as victims' families sue the U.S. Army and Department of Defense, alleging that officials failed to act on warning signs surrounding reservist Robert Card; a Pentagon watchdog report also criticized failures to report violent threats by service members.

The American lobster stock in its primary New England fishing grounds off Maine and Massachusetts has declined 34% since 2018, prompting the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to declare that overfishing is occurring. Regulators may introduce new catch restrictions, but previous efforts to increase minimum harvest sizes were withdrawn after protests from fishermen. The industry, worth more than $700 million at the docks last year, also faces warming oceans, potential whale-protection rules and volatile trade markets. Maine regulators and the lobster industry say they remain committed to conservation while protecting fishermen's livelihoods.

Maine Family Planning is ending primary care services at its 18 clinics after losing approximately $1.9 million a year in Medicaid reimbursements under the Trump administration's policy blocking Medicaid funds from abortion providers. The organization served more than 600 primary care patients last year, many in poor and rural communities, and says some may struggle to find new providers. A federal judge declined to restore the funding while the network's lawsuit proceeds, but the Center for Reproductive Rights is appealing and continuing its legal challenge.

The North Atlantic right whale population has risen by eight to an estimated 384 individuals, continuing four years of modest growth after a steep decline from 2010 to 2020. Researchers attribute the improvement partly to conservation measures, including protections in Canada’s Gulf of St. Lawrence, and note that four first-time mothers contributed to a total of 11 calves this year. Despite no detected mortalities and fewer injuries, the species remains critically vulnerable to ship strikes, fishing-gear entanglements, limited reproduction and shifting ocean conditions, leaving scientists cautiously optimistic but concerned that stronger protections are still needed.

The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that faulty engineering produced a carbon-fiber pressure vessel with multiple anomalies and inadequate strength and durability, causing the Titan submersible to implode during its June 2023 descent to the Titanic wreck. All five people aboard died, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood and Suleman Dawood. The report also faulted OceanGate for inadequate testing and emergency-response practices, and recommended that the Coast Guard establish an expert panel and develop regulations for privately operated submersibles and other human-occupancy pressure vehicles. OceanGate had suspended operations and wound down after the disaster, which was also deemed preventable in an earlier Coast Guard report.

Drought affecting more than 40% of the United States has caused earlier leaf fall, browning and muted autumn colors across major leaf-peeping destinations, including New England and the Rocky Mountains. Experts say dry conditions are stressing forests and may shorten the viewing season, although New England foliage remains substantial and forests show resilience. Tourism businesses are still performing well, with domestic and international visitors offsetting a sharp decline in Canadian travelers, while heavy demand has caused congestion in parts of Colorado.

Republican lawmakers, led by Alaska Representative Nick Begich, are proposing changes to the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act that would lower population targets, narrow the definition of harmful activity, and delay protections for North Atlantic right whales until 2035. Fishing and marine-industry groups support revisions they say would reduce burdens and modernize outdated rules, while conservation organizations warn that weakened safeguards could threaten species including the North Atlantic right whale and the critically endangered Rice’s whale. The dispute also covers seafood import restrictions, with industry groups arguing that current implementation harms U.S. businesses and environmental groups warning that looser standards could encourage imports from poorly regulated fisheries.

Maine Family Planning will end primary care services for nearly 1,000 patients on October 31 after losing approximately $2 million in Medicaid reimbursements under President Donald Trump's tax and spending law, which bars certain abortion providers from receiving federal funds. The network says it will continue family-planning services while challenging the policy in court. The cuts have also affected Planned Parenthood and other providers, with some clinics closing or reducing services, raising concerns about access to healthcare in rural and low-income communities.

Researchers at Flinders University found that four bite-resistant wetsuit materials—Aqua Armour, Shark Stop, ActionTX-S and Brewster—reduced substantial and critical damage when tested with white and tiger sharks. The materials performed better than standard neoprene while offering more flexibility than traditional chainmail suits, although they cannot prevent bites or eliminate crushing and internal injuries. Experts said the technology could reduce bleeding and severe wounds for surfers, divers and spearfishers, but stressed that normal precautions around sharks remain essential.