Friday, June 9, 2023
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Danielle West, a white woman, sits behind the desk of a nice but mostly empty office in Portland's City Hall in November 2022

Portland names Danielle West city manager

The Portland City Council appointed interim City Manager Danielle West to the permanent position Monday night, closing a period of roughly a year and...
A cluster of tents near the Bayside trail in April.

Portland forms task force to address encampments

Portland officials once again plan to remove the encampment on the Bayside Trail.  The city announced updated plans at the City Council’s Health and Human...

Lawmakers, advocates push for timeline to close Long Creek youth facility

The fight to close the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, which ended inconclusively in the last legislative session, continues in this...
a photo collage of attendees from the 2022 Fungi Fest depicts various people engaged in mushroom-themed costuming and other appreciation

Time for a fungi fest? Convention marks psychedelic movement taking root in Maine

The use of psychedelic mushrooms continues to grow in Maine — no pun intended — popping up in medical use and in the Legislature. The...
Rowe Elementary School students perform their 'Odyssey of the Mind' sketch and dance party in front of their technical project.

Portland elementary students prepare for national Odyssey of the Mind tournament

For a program in its first year, the Amanda C. Rowe Elementary School’s Odyssey of the Mind program has already “exceeded expectations.”  “It wasn’t even...
Portland's City Hall in March 2023. (Portland Phoenix/Colin Ellis)

Portland will open Clean Elections funding in June

Candidates considering running for mayor, city council and school board in Portland this fall can declare as soon as June 1 whether they intend...

Bipartisan bill could increase Maine governor’s pay

After a 40-year gap, Maine’s governor may finally get a pay raise to $125,000 if a bill unanimously endorsed by the State and Local...
The Pearl Mist, a cruise ship from Pearl Seas Cruises, docked on the Portland waterfront on May 6. (Portland Phoenix/Evan Edmonds)

Portland cruise ships are back — are they ready to plug in?

Anyone walking the waterfront recently may have noticed the return of cruise ships to Portland. A late April visit from Holland America’s Zaandam, a...

Falmouth and teachers union still at odds

While Falmouth officials remain mum on contract disputes, a representative from the union of teachers said the first phase of mediation has failed, meaning...
Andrew Zarro

Councilor Zarro announces mayoral bid

Portland City Councilor Andrew Zarro will run for mayor in November's election. Zarro, who is finishing his first term, planned to make his announcement Tuesday...