1. Marvel Comics co-founder Stan Lee passed away Monday at the age of 95. He’d been battling pneumonia and vision issues. He created such icons of page and screen as Spider-Man, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, Iron Man, The Fantastic Four, and The Avengers. Disney bought Marvel in 2009 for $4 billion, and proceeded to turn Lee’s comics into some of the highest-grossing films ever. (Hollywood Reporter)
2. Authorities reported late Monday night more fatalities from wildfires in California, bringing the total death toll so far to more than 45 people statewide. President Donald Trump says he has approved an “expedited” major disaster declaration for California over the deadly wildfires burning at both ends of the state. (NewsCenterMaine)
3. Maine fisherman will find out later this week if the shrimp season will be canceled again. An advisory panel that reports to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is meeting on Thursday to make a recommendation about having a season in 2019. Seasons have been canceled the past 5 years, due to concerns about warming waters in the Gulf of Maine. (NewsCenterMaine)
4. Both of Maine’s largest ski mountains are scheduled to be open on a daily basis by the end of the week, while smaller ski areas across the state also are gearing up for the season. After getting 10 inches of natural snow in Carrabassett Valley over the weekend, Sugarloaf Mountain is planning to open Friday. Sunday River opened last Friday on a daily basis and will be open daily now for the season. (Press Herald)
5. Tide has unveiled a more eco-friendly design for its detergent that many people are saying looks like boxed wine. “Wonder how Franzia feels about this,” one person tweeted. Another joked, “This is going to end in tears and death.” Procter & Gamble, the parent company to Tide, responded, “To be sure people know this is detergent, we put a large picture of our Tide bottle on the side of the box.” (BuzzFeedNews)
