1. Retrieving El Faro’s data recorder could take months. The ship’s data recorder was found Tuesday in about 15,000 feet of water, but recovering it will require special equipment and a separate voyage, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. (PH)
2. Gov. Paul LePage said he will no longer attend some public events after students protested him at the University of Maine in Farmington. “For more than five years, the media has flocked to events where I have been asked to speak, not to cover any good news about the events, but to disparage me over issues totally unrelated to the events. Since I am such a distraction to the media, I will no longer attend some of these public events. I sincerely hope the media will continue to attend these events and report on the good people of Maine and the many positive things they are doing for our state.” (WMTW)
3. Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap says supporters of a referendum proposal to legalize marijuana have cleared the hurdle to appear on the November ballot. Dunlap said Wednesday election officials have certified an additional 11,305 signatures. That brings the number over the threshold of 61,123 valid signatures. Now the referendum initiative will go to lawmakers, who can either enact the proposal into law or send it to voters. (WMTW)
4. Two veterans of the New York City fashion scene have turned to a manufacturing plant in Kennebunk to make their new line of women’s sandals. The company named Soak has designed a sandal which they describe as comfortable enough for the beach at the same time fashionable enough for the boardroom. They turned to Maine in large part because of the state’s rich history in shoe making. (WMTW)
5. Tinder announced Wednesday that it is adding a new feature that allows users to see which of their friends are on the dating app. Tinder Social, as it’s being called, shows a list of your Facebook friends that use the app. (NY)
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