1. President Joe Biden vowed to show the world that the U.S. stands in solidarity with Israelis during his visit there Wednesday. He also suggested that the deadly explosion at a Gaza strip hospital was not carried out by the Israeli military. (WGME)

2. Recently released annual crime data from the FBI shows Maine had the nation’s lowest rate of violent crime in 2022. Although the number of violent crimes was the lowest on record for Maine, there was a year-over-year increase in homicides. (WMTW)

3. The Lewiston City Council Tuesday voted to remove council President Linda Scott from that position by a 4-3 vote after she had accused four council members of holding illegal meetings at a local bar. The accused members made up the four votes to remove Scott as president. Scott will remain on the council. (WMTW)

4. Gas prices continue to fall nationwide, with unleaded gas dropping by an average of three cents on Friday. One Gas Buddy rep said as long as violence doesn’t spread further throughout the middle east, “I believe the national average still has some 15 to 35 cents of declining to do.” (USA)

5. Elon Musk’s X, previously known as Twitter, has started charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines a $1 annual fee just to use the platform. Existing users would not be affected by the trial, the platform said. (BI)

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