5TYNK
1. A legislative committee voted unanimously to direct a watchdog agency to probe Maine’s child protective system, after the recent deaths of four children including 3-year-old Maddox Williams. Maddox’s mother has been charged with murder in the boy’s death.
2. Maine regulators approved an increase in electricity delivery rates that will push monthly bills from Central Maine Power up by 11.5 percent, starting next month. The rate hike will increase the average monthly bill for a CMP residential customer, currently about $87 a month, by $9.90 a month.
3. The National Low-Income Housing Coalition says Maine now has the nation’s ninth largest gap between what people earn and the cost of living. Average rent for a typical two-bedroom apartment in Maine costs more than $1,000 a month. To afford this, Mainers have to make more than $21 an hour, but according to the study, the average wage for renters in Maine is $12.90.
4. Twitter is closing down Fleets. It was Twitter’s attempt to copy Instagram Stories. On August 3rd, users will see Spaces at the top for Twitter’s live audio chat rooms.
5. Live events will return to Bangor’s Cross Insurance Center for the first time in 16 months on July 23 w/ the Professional Bull Riders Tour. It is one of several new concerts, comedy acts and conventions coming to the Cross center in the coming months.
