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1. The U.S. tops 27.8 million covid-19 cases with over 493,000 deaths The Maine CDC reported one new death and 218 new cases on Thursday bringing Maine’s death toll to 655 with 89 Mainers currently hospitalized. The Portland Expo will open as a mass vaccination center on March 2. (WMTW)
2. Nestle is selling its bottled-water brands, including Poland Springs, in North America for $4.3 billion to a pair of private-equity firms. Expected to close this spring, the deal will create one of the largest beverage companies in the U.S. In Maine there’s concern the new owners will backtrack on agreements with local communities. (PRESS HERALD)
3. Twenty Six high schoolers in the Portland-based Young Writers and Leaders (YWL) program got to Zoom with best-selling author, President Barack Obama. (WMTW)
4. NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars Thursday afternoon. It’s first pictures show a landscape dotted with rocks. NASA will gather soil samples to return to Earth by 2030. You can check out a map tracking Perseverance at mars.nasa.gov. (CNN)
5. The Sea Dogs 120 game 2021 season was announced yesterday with the Hadlock opener set for May 4. The team is working with the state of Maine to finalize a plan to allow fans inside the stadium at a reduced capacity. (WMTW)
