Maine state budget / New Aroostook potato chip plant / Downtown Bangor cleaners

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It never made sense to me how we find these uniformed workers who could solve all of Bangor’s ills for $16 or $17 an hour.”

— City Councilor Gretchen Schaefer on why she previously voted against hiring Streetplus to provide a range of cleaning, safety and hospitality services in downtown Bangor. The nonprofit Downtown Bangor Partnership is planning to ask the city to consider it again.

TODAY’S TOP MAINE STORIES

Maine Democrats pushed through an addition to the state budget again without any Republican support early Thursday morning . Lawmakers also defeated a bid to strengthen data privacy protections for Mainers , and they voted to exempt the planned Sears Island wind port from coastal sand dune protections.

A new potato chip plant coming to Aroostook County is on track for construction to start in July . The development’s backers hope it will boost efforts to revitalize the former Loring Air Force Base.

A Bangor nonprofit wants the city to hire a private company to clean and patrol the downtown . Streetplus would provide a range of services including cleaning and public safety. The city turned down the proposal once already.

Crazy costumes are a beloved tradition in the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race . The race also draws some mighty fast paddlers.

Another door closed on a long-delayed Belfast fish farm . On Tuesday, the City Council dropped one of its last remaining bids to help Nordic Aquafarms.

MAINE IN PICTURES

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

• A rare nova explosion will light up Maine’s night sky soon
• Maine’s 207 area code will last longer than previously thought
• Maine House backs tax credits for Portland Sea Dogs’ stadium
• Maine Family Planning unveils mobile medical unit as it urges boost in state funding
• Judge will rule if Bangor native who claimed to be an Irish heiress can be extradited to UK
• Free Bangor event can help you protect your catalytic converter from thieves
• 11-year-old Sangerville boy dies in ATV crash
• 2 men accused of kidnapping and threatening Penobscot County man
• Brunswick OKs purchase of controversial armored vehicle
• Deteriorating Frank J. Wood Bridge will be inspected again next week
• Lewiston woman dies days after being struck by SUV
• Man arrested during raid of illegal marijuana operation in Harmony
• Portland man accused of possessing two-thirds of a pound of fentanyl
• The Mainer who pulled a driver from fiery wreck has been identified
• Mainer escapes before flames engulfed the dump truck he was driving

FROM THE SPORTS DESK

Maine athletes and coaches have made some national news this week. We found out on Wednesday that the University of Maine’s men’s basketball team will play superstar Cooper Flagg on Nov. 4 at Duke University, where the Newport native will be starting his freshman year. Former Gorham High School star and Indiana University All-American Mackenzie Holmes was drafted in the third round of the WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm on Monday night. In hockey news, Tyler Walsh, son of legendary UMaine hockey coach Shawn Walsh, is set to coach the Gustavus Adolphus College hockey team in St. Peter, Minnesota. And former UMaine star Bradly Nadeau made his National Hockey League debut for the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

FROM THE OPINION PAGES

“If House Democrats have a chance to help avoid this absurdity, while advancing a balanced approach to critical foreign aid that has otherwise stalled, they should take it.”

Editorial: If needed, House Democrats should save Mike Johnson’s job as speaker

LIFE IN MAINE

Increased traffic is making access roads to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument impassable. The town of Patten says it doesn’t have the money to fix them .

The right fishing line can be the difference between a bust outing and a boom day. Bill Graves explains why it matters and how to choose .

Asparagus is cheap and plentiful this time of year. Here are seven delicious ways to cook it .