1. History was made Thursday as American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. The Chicago native becomes the first U.S. pope after receiving the required two-thirds vote from the conclave. White smoke from the Sistine Chapel signaled the decision. (NBC)

2. Maine heads to trial in December over a Trump lawsuit challenging transgender athletes in girls’ sports. The state denies nearly all claims, saying it follows the law—not the former president’s order. Governor Mills’ only agreement: “See you in court.” (WGME)

3. A Portland-based dog rescue is warning others after nearly falling for a fake donation scam. Little Paws Big Hearts received a $3,951 check that turned out to be part of a widespread scam targeting nonprofits. Founder Susan Gayle says red flags—including mismatched names and a suspicious sender—prompted her to investigate. Experts say these types of scams are growing more sophisticated and advise caution when handling unexpected donations. (WGME)

4. UMaine hockey’s back-to-back NCAA Tournament runs have sparked massive ticket demand, with nearly 1,700 fans now on the season ticket waitlist. The team led Hockey East in sellouts again, packing Alfond Arena for half its games last season. (BDN)

5. The World Video Game Hall of Fame just announced its 2025 class: Defender, Tamagotchi, GoldenEye 007, and Quake made the cut. Notably left out this year were Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Frogger, and Golden Tee. (AP)