Call center closure / ‘Forever chemical’ fight / Coastal flooding

Today is Thursday. Temperatures will be in the high 50s to low 40s from north to south, with increasing clouds throughout the state. Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.

The latest on the coronavirus in Maine

Nine more Mainers have died and another 3,556 coronavirus cases reported across the state, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. That brings the statewide death toll to 1,858. Check out our tracker for more information.

It was the second day in a row when the agency reported elevated cases as it grapples with a large backlog of positive tests. As of Wednesday, that backlog still numbered more than 30,000 cases.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 hospitalizations have fallen to 249, the lowest level since Nov. 14 and down 43 percent from the pandemic high set a month ago.

State health officials will revisit their recommendation that students wear masks in school after next week’s February break, but Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah stopped short of saying that state health officials plan to drop that.

Maine plans to close call center, threatening jobs it brought back

Franklin County lawmakers are questioning the state’s decision to close a Wilton call center that has been doing COVID-19 contact tracing.

Unity farmers want Maine to take action after finding PFAS on their property

Adam Nordell and Johanna Davis were among the first Maine organic farmers to come forward about PFAS contamination. Now, instead of preparing for the spring planting, they are propelling themselves into advocacy work.

Janet Mills wants to put millions more toward fighting ‘forever chemicals’

More than a third of that $9 million will go toward improved testing for “forever chemicals.”

New England expected to see some of the worst coastal floods in US by 2050

Just one foot of sea level rise means areas that flooded three or four times per year over the past decade will flood 10 to 15 times more frequently. Adding the sea level rise to a storm surge will compound potential damage.

Aroostook Democrats chair quits after allegedly stealing from and trashing ex’s house

Lillie Lavado, 39, of Presque Isle is facing three felony charges.

Bangor is months behind in its effort to hire new city manager

Cathy Conlow left the city manager post last August after serving the city for 11 years. The original goal was to hire a successor by October.

Hampden’s $1M, 100-foot ladder truck is the first new model it’s bought since the 1940s

Using the ladder truck will be safer for firefighters, in part because they won’t have to rely on ground ladders placed on uneven ground or snow.

3 special elections could alter Portland school board’s future decisions

The Portland school board shrunk from nine to six members last year after Jeff Irish resigned and Roberto Rodriguez and Anna Trevorrow won election to the City Council.

Belfast winter festival to have state’s 1st ice carving championship

When organizers of the Belfast Ice Festival wanted to make the event a little more special by giving it a signature event, they decided to go big.

Bar Harbor to remove parts of old ferry terminal pier in anticipation of Cat’s return

The work is being done at the request of Bay Ferries, which has a lease with the town that will allow it to dock The Cat ferry along the north side of the 66 year-old pier.

In other Maine news …

Even a pandemic couldn’t hamper Unified basketball’s growing popularity

Curling being revived in Aroostook after 40 years

Maine funeral home worker who stole wedding ring from woman after her death gets 3 months in jail

Paul LePage hands in petitions to run for governor, while criticizing Janet Mills’ budget surplus plan

Maine GOP votes down another Democratic equal-rights amendment

Rockland counselor’s license suspended after being accused of sexually assaulting client

Shrinking winters pose an existential challenge for Maine snowmobilers

Man arrested in Portland slaying

Maine trooper injured after cruiser was hit in construction zone

CMP will trim 4,600 miles of trees to reduce outages

Maine’s Clare Egan finishes 11th with US biathlon relay team

Top-ranked Husson will host the NAC men’s basketball playoffs