Self-employed workers and independent contractors will be able to apply for federally funded unemployment benefits starting on Friday, the Maine Department of Labor announced on Tuesday.

More than 4,700 people lost power late Monday night in Corinth and nearby communities. The outage affected Alton, Atkinson, Bradford, Charleston, Corinna, Corinth, Dexter, Exeter, Garland, Glenburn, Hudson, Kenduskeag, Levant, Newburgh and Orneville Township, according to Emera Maine.

The Center Theatre has announced that it will be hosting a live online performance of Bobby Keniston's comedic play “Waiting to be Probed: A Love Story” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 2.

Surely there is now ample evidence that the Penquis region has proven it can adhere to the appropriate guidelines without the need for a full closure of our community enterprises. 

Gov. Janet Mills suggested on Monday that she might reduce restrictions on businesses when a stay-at-home order expires at the end of April, but she told Mainers to “stay the course” on public health measures aimed at slowing the coronavirus.

Thompson Free Library will host Mary Freeman, assistant professor of history at the University of Maine, live via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 7 as the first speaker in a series celebrating Maine's Bicentennial.

While Mayo had established historical relationships with some system members, like Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, the close of the merger opened up vast new resources, Vienneau says. Leaders at Mayo are now included in daily COVID-19 incident command meetings, where they can tap the expertise of the system’s healthcare professionals all over Maine. In addition, subgroups focused on clinical and support areas including infection control, facilities management, pharmacy services and many others are meeting as needed during the week. 

There may be some good news for moose hunters next fall. Wildlife biologists have proposed an 11% increase over last year in moose hunting permits. The hunt quota figure is 3,135 permits. That’s the most since 2014! The proposal won’t be final until it has been subjected to public review and given final approval by the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council.

Bishop Robert P. Deeley has announced that  Fr. Mark Nolette, parochial vicar of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Dover-Foxcroft/Dexter will retire from full-time active ministry effective July 1 for medical reasons. For the foreseeable future, he intends to continue celebrating Mass, on a limited basis, in his current parishes where he will continue to reside.

Libraries in other parts of the state have started similar projects to document the evolving coronavirus pandemic, too. The Heart of Maine Community Stories is taking submissions for its online emergency archive, created by the Hartland Public Library, Newport Cultural Center, Pittsfield Public Library and Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft.