5 Things You Need to Know
1. A federal appeals court has ruled that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady must serve a four-game Deflategate suspension imposed by the NFL, overturning a lower judge and siding with the league in a battle with the NFL Players Association. (ESPN)
2. Starting on Wednesday, State Street will be closed daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. to all traffic between Cumberland Avenue and Congress Street in downtown Portland. The daily closures are expected to last about three weeks. It will be closed to allow for the installation of new utilities across State Street at Deering Street, including sewer lines, storm drains, a water main and a gas main. (PH)
3. A proposal to increase the minimum age to buy tobacco products in Portland took a step forward Monday. The City Council voted to direct its Health and Human Services Committee to work on an ordinance that would increase the minimum age from 18 to 21. Once drafted, the ordinance will return to the council for a public hearing and vote. Portland would become the first community in Maine to raise the legal age for buying tobacco. (PH)
4. Portland city councilors approved a ban of all non-essential city travel to Mississippi and North Carolina in the wake of state laws that discriminate against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Non-essential travel means, for instance, that a city employee won’t be allowed to use city funds to go to a conference in those states. (WMTW)
5. The first ever Varsity Maine Awards will be held tomorrow at USM’s Costello Sports Complex in Gorham. The ultimate Maine high school sports awards ceremony will be hosted by Spose and Erin Ovalle w/ music provided by our very own DJ Mijo. For more details and to purchase tickets visit pressherald.com/vmea
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