Good morning. Temperatures will be in the mid-40s, with mostly cloudy skies and a chance for afternoon rain throughout the state.
Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.
A Bangor jail guard sent obscene photos to inmates, staff and a city councilor. It stayed a secret for years.
–For more than a decade, Bangor jail guard Corporal Steven Buzzell exploited his position of authority over female inmates for sexual purposes, according to guards and inmates who knew him. It was also widely known among jail staff that Buzzell sent women, including his female colleagues, unsolicited obscene photos.
–The BDN spoke with four former inmates, four current and former jail employees, and one jail volunteer — now City Councilor Clare Davitt — who said they received or saw explicit images from Buzzell.
–Buzzell’s alleged behavior went unreported for years because people feared the potential consequences. Female inmates were too afraid to report him and lose his goodwill. Guards described not wanting to be ostracized at work, especially because they depend on their colleagues for their safety.
–Want to know more about how the BDN reported this story over the past four months? Go behind the scenes and read about it here.
Lawmaker seeks to limit childhood vaccination exemptions
–Some Mainers are gearing up for a fight over the future of the state’s philosophical exemption for childhood vaccinations, a battle that is expected to play out during the upcoming legislative session. That’s because many Maine families are choosing against vaccinating their children, and some lawmakers would like to change that. Nationally, nearly 2 percent of parents chose not to immunize their kindergartners for non-medical reasons last year. In Maine, 5 percent of parents of public and private school children decided against immunization, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
UMaine defeats Jacksonville State for historic playoff win
–It was a historic day for the University of Maine football program on Saturday.
The 14th-ranked Black Bears won their first-ever home playoff game and did so in record-setting style. Sophomore quarterback Chris Ferguson threw five touchdown passes to lead UMaine past No. 9 Jacksonville State of Alabama 55-27 on Morse Field at Alfond Stadium.
Lost your dog, or come upon someone else’s lost dog? Follow these tips
–Marvin the dog has been at large for more than a week ever since he escaped from his owner’s car on I-95 following an accident. There have been sightings of the greyhound-German shepherd mix, but he’s continued to run away. Experts in finding locating lost dogs have these tips for tracking down lost canines.
How Maine shaped the life and presidency of George H.W. Bush
–Although he was born in Massachusetts and began his political career in Texas, the 41st president is, arguably, as close as the United States has come to having a Mainer run the White House.
The life and presidency of George H.W. Bush, who died Friday at his Houston home at age 94, was deeply shaped by his time on Maine’s rocky coastline.
Spose tried hard to make it big in the national rap scene
–He got really close, too, signing a record deal in his early 20s, filming a pilot for a proposed MTV program and planning for a move to New York City.
But many of those plans fizzled. And now a 33-year-old father of four, the Wells native is sort of glad he never really got huge.
He just released a new album and children’s book that, in different ways, tell the stories of his 20s and how he decided to settle down.
Do this: Pair your oysters with Maine-made horseradish vodka
–The Damariscotta River boasts a rich diversity of oysters, from the meaty, briny Norumbega to the fine, flinty European Flat. As aspiring distillers, Topher Mallory and Matt Page preferred their oysters as shooters: slurped down with vodka poured directly into the half shell.
Even though the scheduled opening day for Split Rock Distilling was only months away, the pair decided to try and make their own horseradish vodka.
In other news …
Maine
Canadian brothers charged over incident that shut down Maine border crossing
Feds want changes at Ellsworth dams linked to fish die-offs and drained mudflats
‘Maine has lost a friend’: Tributes to George H.W. Bush pour in from throughout the state
Bangor
Bangor’s Festival of Lights parade sparkles its way through downtown
Bangor, Augusta, Millinocket on pace to have coldest Novembers on record
Bangor adds construction jobs in past year, while Portland loses them, trade group says
Business
High-tech filter maker opening new factory at Bangor Innovation Center
The surprisingly high number of Americans getting absolutely no raises
The IRS will usher in the new year with higher tax brackets
Politics
Mainers use ‘math’ to test ranked-choice process in 2nd District race
In limited deal, Trump cancels tariff increases after meeting with China’s Xi
Collins says memo that sank judicial nomination requires ‘further research’
Opinion
Our jails shouldn’t be de facto mental health facilities
Americans need to hold our Saudi allies accountable for their atrocities in Yemen
Collins, GOP senators give leader great power
Sports
Freshman running back shines for UMaine in FCS playoff win
West Forks boxer loses in Skowhegan bout
Portland native captures bronze in World Cup women’s luge event
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