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1. Family, friends and fellow officers paid tribute to Deputy Luke Gross Thursday in Bangor. Gross died one week ago in the line of duty. A procession brought the deputy’s casket from his hometown of Bucksport to the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. (WGME)

2. Police arrested 20-year-old Eddie Roberts of Portland and charged him with elevated aggravated assault and reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon in connection with Tuesday’s shooting in South Portland High’s parking lot. (WMTW)

3. Maine schools reported over 2,500 cases and 108 outbreaks of COVID in the last 30 days. Schools with active outbreaks represent 15 percent of about 710 schools. Officials say that full in-person learning can continue as long as schools commit to health and safety measures. (PRESS HERALD)

4. As of today, health care workers in Maine are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The rule won’t be enforced until Oct. 29 in order to provide more time for workers to get their shots. MaineHealth said that 93% of its 23,000 staff members were vaccinated and that 69 had resigned. (WMTW)

5. Endangered New England Cottontail Rabbits were released into the wild at the Wells reserve. The species that once thrived throughout New England is now struggling due to habitat loss, with less than 300 rabbits believed to be left in Maine. (WGME)