1. Portland city council approved a new ordinance to fine owners of vacant storefronts. Owners will have three months to find a tenant or face a $250 fine, rising to $1,000 after a year, with a max penalty of $7,500. The ordinance takes effect in January. (WGME)

2. It’s back-to-school week in Portland, and a King Middle School parent says her son isn’t walking because of safety concerns. She says last year he was harassed and threatened by unhoused individuals on his way home. Police say they’re stepping up patrols and urging kids to walk in groups and stick to safe routes. (WGME)

3. US Marshals say two people, including a juvenile, were arrested during a “high risk” warrant in Gorham Tuesday that put nearby schools on lockdown. The juvenile was wanted in connection with a Westbrook shooting, while 21-year-old Kaleb Danner was arrested on OUI and theft charges. (WGME)

4. Customs officers in Seattle seized more than 11,000 counterfeit Labubu dolls worth over $500,000 at Sea-Tac Airport. The shipment, mislabeled as LED lights from South Korea, has sparked an urgent safety warning for the fake toys, which could pose risks to children. (NBC)

5. Saturday night’s Powerball drawing will be worth at least $1.7 billion. No one got all six numbers on Wednesday night, so the jackpot keeps going up. If someone wins on Saturday, they can take the annuity or the lump sum cash prize of $770.3 million. The prize would rank in the top three all-time lottery jackpots in U.S. history. (NBC)

Made Hot in Maine by the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein. Accidents happen… to be their specialty. 207-CALL-JOE or online at: joebornstein.com.