1. Congress lopsidedly approved a border security compromise Thursday that would avert a second painful government shutdown, but a new confrontation was ignited — this time over President Donald Trump’s plan to bypass lawmakers and declare a national emergency to siphon billions from other federal coffers for his wall on the Mexican boundary. In an unusual joint statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said such a declaration would be “a lawless act, a gross abuse of the power of the presidency and a desperate attempt to distract” from Trump’s failure to force Mexico to pay for the wall, as he’s promised for years. (WMTW)
2. United Airlines is adding weekend flights between Portland and Denver this summer, providing a link to the airline’s western hub. The airline said the Saturday and Sunday flights will begin June 8 and run through Labor Day. The seasonal service will provide a link to travelers going to Colorado or looking to connect to United flights to the West Coast. (Press Herald)
3. Many schools have stopped teaching cursive handwriting. But one Maine lawmaker wants to halt the trend by requiring it be instructed in classrooms. A bill introduced to the Maine Legislature would do just that — order the state Education Department to implement curriculum introducing students to the technique in third grade and necessitate competence by fifth grade. (NewsCenterMaine)
4. The town of Skowhegan has set a world record for the most people calling for moose at the same time. Last summer, 1,054 people simultaneously belted out their best moose calls at the 2018 Skowhegan Moose Festival, and on Wednesday, Feb. 13, Guinness World Records announced that the record had been confirmed. Skowhegan is celebrating the world record today From 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The public will be able to take pictures with the official Guinness World Record certificate at 48 Court Street in Skowhegan. It took Guinness World Records eight months to verify the exact number of people who were calling in the grandstand of the Skowhegan Fairgrounds. (NewsCenterMaine)
5. Singles Awareness Day. This humorous holiday asks people to celebrate being single by sending presents or flowers to yourself or other single friends.
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