1. Authorities are investigating after 27-year-old Portland man Declan Perry was found dead in a car outside a Massachusetts hospital. His body was wrapped in blankets and duct tape. Perry was head chef at Portland’s Grill Room restaurant. A person of interest has been identified, but no arrests have been made. (WMTW)
2. Mount Desert Island Hospital has launched a $55 million campaign to modernize its campus, boosted by a $10 million gift from TV producer Dick Wolf — the creator of Law & Order, Chicago, and FBI. The donation is the largest in the hospital’s history and will help fund a new ER, surgical suites, and a Main Street entrance. (WMTW)
3. Governor Janet Mills says she’s still weighing a 2026 run for U.S. Senate. Asked if her delay could hurt Democrats, Mills brushed it off, saying, “It’s August 27th. It’s still summer in Maine. I rest my case.” She plans to decide by mid-November. (WMTW)
4. With students back in class, AAA is urging drivers to slow down. Their “School’s Open – Drive Carefully” campaign highlights rising pedestrian deaths in Maine and reminds drivers that slower speeds save lives, especially around school zones and bus stops. (WGME)
5. Spirit Halloween is back, with 1,500 stores opening nationwide. The Auburn and Biddeford locations reopen today, while the Maine Mall store in Portland opens in September. Check for a location near you or apply for a seasonal job at Stores.SpiritHalloween.com. (BL)
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.
