Moosehead ski resort / China trade war / Home explosion settlement

Today is Tuesday. Temperatures will be in the low to high 30s from north to south, with a chance for rain and snow throughout the state. Here’s what we’re talking about in Maine today.

The latest on the coronavirus in Maine

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention will update the latest COVID-19 cases by 9:30 a.m. Check out our tracker for more information.

The Portland City Council will discuss bringing back hazard pay on Monday. That would effectively raise the minimum wage for workers in the city.

Bangor’s Ramada Inn is again housing homeless residents who test positive for COVID-19

Penobscot Community Health Care is leasing space at the Ramada Inn due to a recent surge of cases fueled by the omicron variant.

Susan Collins calls national GOP’s defense of Jan. 6 rioters ‘absurd’

She said Republicans started the year with an advantage on issues that will decide the 2022 elections and any moment relitigating their lost election “moves us further away from the goal of victory this fall.”

Moosehead ski resort developers ask that public hearing on project be denied

That would leave the Moosehead region community without much say in the first phase of the redevelopment.

PLUS: Piscataquis residents fear region could ‘become Bar Harbor’ with new Moosehead ski resort

Trade war with China shocks Maine company with $300K in new tariffs

Shayne Kemp learned last week that his family’s craft wood company must pay $300,000 in tariffs by Monday. He doesn’t have that kind of money.

Hampden is raising local post office’s rent by $52,000 a year

The Postal Service will pay the town $60,000 a year, up from the $8,000 it has paid for the past four decades.

Man shot by police after they blew up his Dixmont house settles lawsuit for $400,000

Michael Grendell, 65, sought $120 million in damages, but Maine law caps the amount a plaintiff may be awarded in a lawsuit against a “governmental entity.”

Work to replace historic Blue Hill bridge planned for later this year

The days for a beloved, yet beleaguered bridge in Hancock County are numbered.

Solar project proposed for Kennebec County could power 30,000 homes

The proposed solar array in Unity Township, Clinton and Benton would cover almost 700 acres.

Maine lawmakers could ban a controversial prison tactic

The bill marks the most aggressive step to end solitary since the state made changes several years ago to reduce its use in all but the most extreme cases.

Stearns basketball player becomes 4th sister to eclipse 1,000 career points

Alisyn Alley registered her 1,000th career point for Stearns High School against Lee Academy last week.

In other Maine news …

Popular Maine Italian restaurant chain sold to New York company

Lawmakers want to close loophole that lets out-of-state trash into Maine’s state landfill

Janet Mills plans to send $8M more to child welfare system and give watchdog more power

Janet Mills and Maine’s congressional delegation call on feds to delay lobster gear rules

Lawmakers endorse a bill that would create stiffer penalties for harassing election clerks

Waterville contractor allegedly took $115,000 from 23 victims and never did the work

Shooting of Calais man under investigation

Browntail moths so annoying they now have their own month in Maine

Rockland LGBTQ organization helping school libraries to shelve more inclusive books 

Sled dog teams brave the cold for 1st Greenville race in 2 years