Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage teased a run against his successor in the strongest terms yet so far on Wednesday, telling a radio host he will return to Maine from Florida and “challenge Janet Mills or the Democratic Party in 2022.”

The federal government is providing $75.5 million to the Guilford medical products company that is expanding production of the testing swabs that are critically needed to detect the coronavirus. Puritan Medical Products plans to add around 140 new workers to boost production of the swabs at a second location in Pittsfield, the BDN reported April 29.

In addition to Poland Spring, contributors to the fund include Experience Maine and Bissell Brothers Brewing which has a location in the founders’ hometown of Milo. The latter two companies are selling Maine-made products, a portion of the proceeds of which will be donated to the fund. Links to these products can be found on the Maine Tourism Relief Fund website. 

The federal government is providing $75.5 million to the Guilford medical products company that is expanding production of the testing swabs that are critically needed to detect the coronavirus. 

Even in the most rural of regions, the people chosen to represent us to the state prove just how much they deserve the job in times of public crisis. Clearly, this pandemic is such a time for us, and it is sadly obvious that Reps. Stearns, Foster and Higgins and Sen. Davis have no primary interest in their most important job --- keeping their constituents safe. If they did, they never would have published their joint letter "We Need to Open the Penquis Region Today."

State courts remain open to the public but hours are limited. Grand jury sessions were not held in April and have been canceled in May. Criminal and civil jury trials scheduled in April and May have been continued indefinitely.  

The Maine people recently voted as a large majority to keep the law regarding vaccinations intact. By doing so, they showed that the majority of Maine citizens believe that protecting the public’s health overrides the individual’s right to refuse vaccinations. Likewise, protecting oneself from getting infected by the covid virus protects the public’s health.

Many Dover-Foxcroft area farmers agree that one way to alleviate the threat to the food supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic is to remove some of the links.

To be perfectly frank and honest, in the early and middle stages of the state's response to COVID-19, I had very little to say in the way of criticism of Mills. However, I began to grow rather uncomfortable with that silence when more time passed. 

Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday outlined a four-stage plan for Maine to gradually reopen businesses in the state. While her plan is to extend the current stay-at-home order through May 31, certain businesses and activities will be allowed to open beginning May 1 if they follow safety protocols developed by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.