1. The 21-year-old man, John E. Guy, who was behind the wheel of a Kittery Recreation Department van carrying 11 children that crashed Friday in New Hampshire has twice been convicted of driving to endanger, Maine state driving records show. It was unclear Sunday whether the town of Kittery checked Guy’s driving record before hiring him for a position that includes transportation responsibilities for children.
(Press Herald)
2. 29-year-old Chloe J. Lubin, of Portland, was one of four arrested in Charlottesville, Virginia during demonstrations commemorating the one-year anniversary of violent clashes that took place between far-right protestors and counter-protestors, which resulted in the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer. Lubin was arrested for allegedly spitting into another demonstrator’s face and then grabbing onto another after being apprehended.
(News Center Maine)
3. British transgender activists frustrated by a lack of online representation are claiming Maine’s beloved new lobster emoji as their own. The group, Lobsters Against Transphobia, launched an online petition last month to push Unicode, a nonprofit consortium that signs off on new pictograms, for a pink-and-blue flag emoji. Until they get their own flag, the group urged supporters to turn to the lobster, one of 157 new emojis that Unicode approved this year, as a substitute. Lobsters can display both male and female characteristics. “Unicode granted the lobster emoji proposal, which argued that people suffered ‘frustration and confusion’ at having to use a shrimp or crab emoji instead of a lobster. Imagine if that was your gender. Surely we deserve the same rights you have afforded crustaceans?” Trans advocates are jumping on board the online campaign by adding the lobster emoji to their Twitter handles, dressing up as lobsters during Trans Pride parades and decorating colorfully polished fingernails with lobster stickers. On Twitter, they have gathered under the single banner of #ClawsOutForTrans.
(Press Herald)
4. The U.S. Pizza Museum has officially opened in Chicago, a decision hotly contested by New Yorkers who believe their state is home to the country’s best pizza. “Are we also building the Museum of Snow in Miami and the Museum of Sushi in Oklahoma City?” one person tweeted. Another joked, “The museum is actually a plane at O’Hare that flies you somewhere with good pizza.” Even the New York Mayor’s office weighed in by tweeting, “New Yorkers may not agree on where to get the best local slice, but we do know that deep dish is not pizza. Case closed.” The museum showcases pizza-related items like menus, rare boxes, vintage ads, and toys.
(USA Today)
5. Saturday, September 1 (Labor Day Weekend) Hot 104.7 & Grass Monkey Present another #HOTSHOW starring Lil Jon at the State Theatre. Just added King Combs and Caye. Tickets are ON SALE HERE! Charge by phone at 800-745-3000, in person at the Port City Music Hall box office Wednesday-Friday 10AM-5PM or online at Hot1047Maine.com.
