1. Many in the Eastern part of the United States continue to deal with poor air quality because of smoke from wildfires in Canada. New York City had the worst air quality in the world yesterday. One million N95 masks will be available to New Yorkers today. The National Weather Service said metro areas like NYC, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington D.C. are “expected to experience unhealthy air quality levels for all age groups through Thursday, before winds shift. (NBC)

2. Willard Beach in South Portland will reopen to the public today, one week after the city was forced to close the popular beach following a break in the force main that carries wastewater through the neighborhood. Bacteria levels in the ocean water are now below the public safety threshold. (PH)

3. The Maine CDC is warning of increased rabies cases. There have already been 30 confirmed cases of rabies so far this year in raccoons, skunks, bats, a fox, and a woodchuck. Keep your pet’s rabies vaccination up to date. Do not feed, touch, or adopt wild animals. Wash bite or scratch wounds thoroughly with soap and water for 10-15 minutes and contact your health care provider. (WGME)

4. The House narrowly advanced a bill that would restore Maine’s original flag design. The Senate has yet to schedule a vote. Gov. Janet Mills did not respond to questions about whether she supports changing the design. (PH)

5. Lionel Messi is heading to the MLS’ Inter Miami club. Messi has played his entire professional career in Europe, winning four Champions Leagues titles, seven Spanish Cups, and 10 La Liga titles. He recently led Argentina to a World Cup title. The BBC speculates Messi chose to play in the U.S. because of lucrative brand deals with Apple and Adidas. (USAToday)

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