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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“It’s a horrible place to be. There’s zero islands to shelter behind.”
— Chris Beal, a fisherman, on the unforgiving stretch of coast between Lubec and Cutler where father-and-son fishermen Chester and Aaron Barrett went missing over the weekend.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES
Donald Trump’s inauguration had a veneer of calm, but beneath that were warning signs for U.S. democracy. The head-spinning developments of his first day back in power suggest there will be no lack of controversy during his second term.
Trump pardoned 1,500 people charged in Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The sweeping move is expected to apply to 15 people with Maine ties, including two in federal prison.
Janet Mills pardoned a man she defended in a sexual assault case. Aaron Nichols, then 20, was charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl and having unlawful sexual contact with another teen in fall 2001.
Two missing fishermen braved “wild” weather trying to get their boat back home. The loss of their boat, which may have been located on the sea floor, underscores the dangers of fishing in general and the hazards that draggers in particular can face.
A founder of the Owls Head Transportation Museum has died. James Rockefeller started the midcoast institution with Steve Lang and IBM CEO Tom Watson Jr., reportedly as an excuse to fly old airplanes.
A bitter cold is descending on Maine. And here are the places that got the most snow during Sunday’s storm.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
- Angus King sees a stark difference in Donald Trump’s new nominees
- Angus King and Susan Collins still want TikTok banned or sold
- Armed robbery suspect allegedly robs the same Bangor store again
- Bangor seeks input on search for new city manager
- Man went airborne for 100 feet before crashing into woods near East Millinocket
- Metal mining company sells land north of Penobscot County project
- Conservancy adds nearly 3,000 acres to Hancock County forest preserve
- Pedestrian injured in Maine hit-and-run
- Man shot during November confrontation with Maine deputies has been arrested
- Man dies in Maine house fire
- Analysis: Lack of scoring punch has hurt UMaine hockey in recent stretch
MAINE IN PICTURES

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

“Trump promised in his inaugural address on Monday to usher in a new ‘golden age’ for America. We wish him luck in that worthy aim, as long as that means a golden age for everyone, not just a select few.”
LIFE IN MAINE
Reality TV’s Cabin Masters remade the beloved Pine Tree Camp. The changes upgraded space for music, art and theater programming serving the more than 1,600 campers who visit throughout the year.
Don’t miss these ice fishing opportunities. “I am taking stock of Maine’s numerous statewide ice fishing derbies and making plans. You may want to as well,” Outdoors contributor V. Paul Reynolds writes.
Ever wonder how birds survive the cold Maine winter? As Bob Duchesne explains, they use a number of strategies, including the obvious first choice: leave.