1. Gov. Janet Mills has signed onto a deal to support Central Maine Power’s controversial proposal to build a $950 million 145-mile transmission line to carry hydropower from Quebec to Massachusetts. Opponents are saying the project would just ruin forest and wildlife in that area and ultimately wouldn’t provide many benefits for Maine. (Press Herald)
2. Republican Sen. Susan Collins said Wednesday that she supports the lawsuit filed by 16 states – including Maine – challenging President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to build a southern border wall. According to the Press Herald Collins stated “There have been many of my colleagues on the Republican side who are very wary of the president’s actions because they don’t want a future Democratic president reallocating funds.” (Press Herald)
3. The Portland City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to enact a set of zoning regulations for retail marijuana stores. But the rules do not address one significant policy question: whether a marijuana retailer also can sell non-marijuana products. Under the rules adopted Wednesday, retail stores, dispensaries and small-scale marijuana caregivers will be allowed to operate in several business zones, including downtown, West Bayside and along the Forest Avenue corridor, as well as inner Washington Avenue and the St. John-Valley Street area, among other pockets. (Press Herald)
4. Following backlash from parents, a Wisconsin high school cheerleading team will no longer give awards to girls with the largest breasts and butts. The New York Times reports that coaches at Tremper High School in Kenosha gave out the awards each year to recognize the hardest-working cheerleaders. In at least the past two years, they also gave out gag awards–including one for the thinnest team member. Tremper principal Steve Knecht claimed that the awards “were meant to be funny” and the coaches were “just joking around.” Cheerleading coach Patti Uttech also defended the awards. “I honestly don’t feel that I need to explain myself about how we ran our banquet,” she wrote in an email. “Actually we have run it this way for years and have never had a problem.” The ACLU has stepped in and warned that it would sue if the Kenosha Unified School District “failed to take any meaningful corrective action.” As of now, Uttech is still coaching the cheerleaders. (Kenosha News)
5. Duke star Zion Williamson left Wednesday night’s game against UNC with an injury after his Nike shoe completely fell apart. The bizarre injury happened less than a minute into the game. Close-ups reveal that the sneaker’s sole was ripped and detached from the rest of the shoe. Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski termed the injury a “mild knee sprain.” To add insult to the injury, Duke also lost to UNC 88-72. Stars from Barack Obama (who attended the game) to LeBron James wished Williamson well. (AP News)
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