1. A group of nine religious leaders protesting Sen. Susan Collins’ support of the tax reform effort were arrested by Portland police officers shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday. Police waited inside Collins’ office at One Canal Plaza, Suite 802, while the group prayed and streamed their protest live on Facebook. (Press Herald)
2. Republican Maine Gov. Paul LePage says renewed speculation about him running for Senate is “fake news.” LePage used the term “fake news” repeatedly when asked by reporters Thursday in Lewiston about a newspaper report that Republican President Donald Trump is pressuring him to run against independent Sen. Angus King. LePage told reporters, “I’m a doer” and that “they don’t do anything in the Senate.” (WCSH)
3. The owners of Scarborough Downs have agreed to sell a sprawling parcel that includes the struggling harness racetrack to a local company that is planning a major redevelopment of the property. The potential owners envision a long-term redevelopment of the property into a town center with housing, shopping, dining, offices, an interconnected road network, trails, recreation facilities and more. The buildout could take 15 to 30 years. (Press Herald)
4. The wife of Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward caused a stir Wednesday by posting a seemingly harmless Instagram video that revealed her husband wasn’t wearing his walking boot. Does that mean Hayward is fully recovered from his gruesome ankle injury?! No, of course not. But Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge gave a positive update on the All-Star forward Thursday morning when asked about that Instagram video. “He’s progressing along, He can take the boot off for short periods of time, but yeah, he’s doing really well. (NESN)
5. This time of year, you’re liable to see a pooch wearing a sweater while being walked by its doting owner on a chilly day. But according to Dr. Richard Goldstein, most dogs don’t really need winter coats, regardless of temperature. “It would be hard to imagine a larger dog that would need a jacket,” he tells The New York Times. “You’re doing it more for the owner and the cuteness than for the dog.” He does concede that an extra layer can help poodles or chihuahuas on an ultra-chilly day because they have hair that’s “not anywhere near as protective or thick as fur.” (NY Times)
