AGP Executive Report

Trade and Elections: The Trump administration will exempt some Canadian paper, packaging, machinery and agricultural products from 50% tariffs starting Oct. 30, while adding duties on other goods. Sen. Susan Collins says she secured relief for Maine producers; the move comes as she faces a close race against Troy Jackson. Fishing Costs: Maine lobster captain Steve Train says diesel at $6.49 a gallon and rising bait costs are squeezing the industry, with fuel prices becoming a campaign issue. Environmental Accountability: A federal judge allowed most of a Conservation Law Foundation lawsuit against salmon producer Cooke Aquaculture to proceed, including claims over pollution at its Maine sites. Local Decisions: Buxton voters approved a 180-day pause on data center development, joining other southern Maine communities weighing the projects. State Police: Maine agreed to pay $54,000 to settle a woman’s excessive-force lawsuit; the troopers named in the case did not admit liability.

Canada Trade: The Trump administration is lifting tariffs on some Canadian farm and forestry goods, including products and equipment used by Maine blueberry, potato, apple and seaweed producers. Sen. Susan Collins says she helped secure the exemptions; reports say the move may also help her re-election bid. Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson are tied at 49% in a new poll. Election Watch: Early voting is up more than 30% in Maine compared with the same point in 2022, as voters focus on prices and the Nov. 3 midterms. Heating Costs: Maine heating oil has hit a record statewide average of $6.04 per gallon, adding to concerns about winter bills. Jobs: Maine received $5.6 million in federal funding to train 500 workers for jobs in shipbuilding, manufacturing, construction and skilled trades. Local Growth: Buxton voters approved a six-month data center moratorium, joining other southern Maine communities pausing projects while they review local rules.

Senate Race: Susan Collins and Troy Jackson are tied at 49% among likely voters in a new Fox News poll, as the candidates enter the final stretch before Nov. 3. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez drew hundreds to a Portland rally for Jackson, while Collins condemned a Republican-backed attack ad against him. Heating Costs: Maine heating oil has hit a record average of $6.04 a gallon. The federal government plans to loan oil from the Northeast reserve to ease prices, though the relief for households remains uncertain. Energy: The Pentagon cleared proposed wind projects in Maine after national security reviews stalled them, a step that could help advance a broader permitting overhaul. Rural Health: A Maine health provider warns that consolidation is squeezing independent practices and rural facilities, threatening access to care and patient choice.

Maine Senate Race: Susan Collins called for a radio ad attacking Troy Jackson and his family to be pulled, distancing herself from the spot as Jackson’s partner criticized the campaign’s personal attacks. Heating Costs: The federal government will lend up to 315,000 barrels of heating oil from a reserve that includes South Portland, aiming to ease winter supply pressures as fuel costs rise. Data Centers: Scarborough residents spoke overwhelmingly in favor of banning data centers; the city will hold another hearing Nov. 4. Border Economy: Northern Maine residents say Trump’s trade fight with Canada is hurting cross-border business and relationships, and may shape voters’ views of Collins. Island Ferries: Maine’s state ferry system costs about $15.8 million a year to run, while fares cover only half; state law treats the boats as the sole vehicle link to six islands.

Heating Costs: The federal government will loan up to 315,000 barrels from the Northeast heating-oil reserve to ease prices before winter. About half of Maine homes use heating oil, but how much the temporary supply will lower bills remains unclear. Senate Race: Susan Collins is campaigning with former senator Joe Manchin as she faces Troy Jackson in a tight race. The Maine Women’s Lobby endorsed Jackson, while political ads and outside spending draw growing criticism. Turnout and Polling: Early voting in Maine is more than 30% ahead of the same point in 2022. A polling firm admitted it fabricated surveys, including one on the Maine race, prompting fresh questions about misleading election data. Health Care: The Maine Hospital Association and partner hospitals are challenging a federal 340B drug rebate plan, arguing it could add major costs and divert resources from patient care. Penobscot River: A remediation trust outlined plans to address mercury contamination linked to the former Mallinckrodt facility, which has hurt local fishing livelihoods.

Heating Costs: The federal government plans to loan up to 315,000 barrels from the Northeast heating-oil reserve as prices surge. About half of Maine households heat with oil; Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King pressed for the release. Senate Race: Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson are locked in a high-stakes contest. Former Sen. Joe Manchin campaigned with Collins in Lewiston, while acknowledging that voters may hold the Trump administration responsible for the economy. A polling firm also admitted fabricating surveys that included Maine’s race, raising questions about poll reliability. Rural Economy: Maine farmers and fishermen can seek one-time federal payments to offset rising fuel costs, with payment rates expected in November. Schools: RSU 9 and MSAD 58 are joining a nationwide lawsuit accusing social media companies of harming students and shifting the costs onto schools.

Senate Race: Maine’s contest drew $208 million in general-election ad spending. Rep. Chellie Pingree said Troy Jackson’s “shut up” remark to Susan Collins came in the heat of debate; a Passamaquoddy citizen at Sipayik also disputed reports that the tribe endorsed Collins. Heating Help: MaineHousing sent nearly $4 million in early heating assistance to fuel vendors, helping about 4,400 vulnerable households as oil prices climb; the state is still awaiting its federal grant. Health Coverage: About 980 Mainers lost full MaineCare coverage after federal eligibility changes took effect Oct. 1, leaving providers concerned about how patients will pay for care. Court Backlog: Candidates for district attorney in Hancock and Washington counties differ on how to address roughly 1,600 pending cases, with as many as 300 more arriving monthly. Tribal Lands: The Penobscot Nation has regained 11,000 ancestral acres in the first phase of a planned 30,000-acre return.

Senate Race: Former Sen. Joe Manchin plans to campaign Wednesday with Republican Susan Collins in Maine’s closely watched Senate contest against Democrat Troy Jackson. Gun Law: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Maine’s 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases, leaving the law in force. Bangor Mall: A redevelopment group says its lead investor has backed out and it needs $4 million to $6 million to keep its purchase and housing project alive. Local Business: Hannaford’s website and app are back after a weeklong outage tied to a cybersecurity issue at its parent company. Development: Maine regulators approved environmental permits for Amazon’s proposed Gorham warehouse, while Portland officials are weighing tighter rules for data centers. Education: Augusta Spanish teacher Gretchen Livingston was named Maine’s 2027 Teacher of the Year.

Senate Race: Negative ads made up 88% of TV spending in the week ending Sunday as Susan Collins and Troy Jackson’s campaign grew more combative, with attacks focusing on character, health care and energy costs. Energy and Development: A proposed 800-megawatt wind farm could become one of the East Coast’s largest, spanning timberland in Southern Aroostook and connecting to the regional grid. Portland is seeking recommendations on data-center rules, while Westbrook is weighing a moratorium amid concerns about noise, siting and environmental effects. Gun Law: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Maine’s 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases. The law remains in effect as the lawsuit continues in federal court. Bucksport Renewal: Maine Maritime Academy’s training center at the former paper mill is bringing new activity to the site and expanding courses beyond mariners, though it is far smaller than the mill’s lost workforce.

Gun Law: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Maine’s 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases, leaving the law in place. It was enacted after the 2023 Lewiston mass shooting. Senate Race: Democrat Troy Jackson says he won’t apologize for telling Sen. Susan Collins to “shut up” during their final debate. The clash adds to an increasingly heated contest, with tribal endorsements emerging as another point of contrast. Threats to Public Offices: Rep. Chellie Pingree’s Portland office received a suspicious letter, three days after a similar letter arrived at Collins’ office. Police, firefighters and the FBI responded; Pingree said public servants shouldn’t face threats for doing their jobs. Forest Economy: Maine’s forests support an estimated $8.3 billion forest-products industry and $3.4 billion in outdoor recreation, but logging and trucking businesses face rising costs, shrinking markets and worker shortages.

Senate Race: Democrat Troy Jackson says he won’t apologize for telling Sen. Susan Collins to “shut up” during their final debate, after she linked a protester to his campaign. The clash is adding to an already heated race. Local Taxes: Maine voters will face local ballot questions on school mergers, fire-truck spending and other choices that could shape property-tax bills for years. Property Fraud: A scammer impersonating a Mount Desert Island landowner nearly sold the family’s property, highlighting a growing deed-fraud risk that state lawmakers have yet to address with new rules. Trade Dispute: A U.S. trade restriction blocked liquor deliveries through Maine to Campobello Island, disrupting a key supply route for residents and businesses. Rockland Economy: A study estimates cruise passengers and lines brought $1.7 million in spending to the area in 2025, supporting 20 full-time-equivalent jobs.

Coastal Economy: Cruise visitors and operators spent an estimated $1.7 million in Rockland in 2025, supporting 20 jobs and generating about $115,000 in state tax revenue, a new study found. Senate Race: Democrat Troy Jackson says he does not regret telling Sen. Susan Collins to “shut up” during their final debate after she blamed a data-center protester on his campaign; the protest group said the demonstrator was one of its members. Education: SAD 4 and SAD 46 are nearing completion of an application for state funding to build a regional high school combining academics, career training and college courses. Ferry Service: The Yarmouth-to-Bar Harbor route is set to return in 2027 after carrying 44,000 passengers this year, a 10% increase from 2025. Local Projects: Sangerville plans to seek a $500,000 state grant to restore its vacant, historic town hall; fundraising has raised nearly $80,000 toward the project.

Senate Race: Troy Jackson disclosed donations from at least four billionaires days after saying none were funding him, intensifying his campaign’s clash with Sen. Susan Collins over money and credibility. Sen. Elizabeth Warren joined Jackson and gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree at a Portland rally urging Mainers to vote early. Data Center Debate: Bucksport approved a six-month pause on data center development, giving officials time to weigh the risks of facing a powerful industry. Wabanaki Land: The Penobscot Nation has received 11,000 ancestral acres in the first phase of a 30,000-acre return. North’s Economy: Northern Maine is slated to receive $37 million in federal freight-rail upgrades, while rising heating-oil costs are putting added pressure on households. Bar Harbor Lawsuit: A former Terramor resort employee has sued, alleging racial and gender discrimination and retaliation.

Health Care: The Maine Hospital Association and four safety-net hospitals are suing to block a federal 340B drug rebate pilot, saying it could cost hospitals more than $1 billion a year in added administration; federal officials estimate $537 million. Maine Economy: A University of Maine report says the Maine Savings Amphitheater generated more than $600 million for the Bangor-area economy from 2010 to 2025. Northern Maine: The state will receive more than $37 million in federal funds to upgrade about 90 miles of rail, supporting freight links for forestry and agriculture. Wabanaki Land: The Penobscot Nation is getting 11,000 ancestral acres in the first phase of a planned 30,000-acre return, with the Nation set to guide stewardship. Election Security: Sen. Susan Collins’ offices were among those targeted by suspicious mailings to lawmakers; initial tests found no hazardous substances, and federal agencies are investigating.

Senate Race: Susan Collins and Troy Jackson clashed in their final debate, where Jackson told Collins to “shut up” after she linked a heckler protesting data centers to his campaign. The candidates also sparred over Trump, campaign money and political independence. Campaign Cash: Jackson raised $20.4 million in the third quarter to Collins’ $5.2 million, even as billionaire Elon Musk poured money into Republican efforts nationally. Election Security: Collins’ offices were among political offices nationwide sent suspicious mail this week; authorities are investigating, with no injuries reported. Ratepayer Refunds: A $130 million refund to Maine electric customers remains in limbo as utilities appeal regulators’ order to cut profits. Lobster Fishery: A UMaine study found sharp declines in Midcoast baby, young and adult lobsters, though some lobstermen question the findings. Water and Ferries: A new PFAS treatment system is operating near the Kennebec River, and Nova Scotia extended the Bar Harbor ferry service for another year while seeking a longer-term deal.

Senate Race: The final Susan Collins–Troy Jackson debate turned personal after a climate activist disrupted the event. Jackson denied knowing the protester and said he doesn’t regret telling Collins to “shut up.” His campaign reported raising $20.4 million in its first three months—about four times Collins’ haul. Congressional Race: Paul LePage said he spends winters in Florida but has never lived there year-round, responding to renewed questions about his Maine residency as he faces Matt Dunlap in the 2nd District race. Lobster Fishery: A University of Maine study found Midcoast baby lobster numbers fell 80% from 2010 to 2022, alongside a 50% drop in adult lobsters since 2015. Researchers point to warming waters and shifting habitat. Business and Services: A cyber incident at Hannaford parent company Ahold Delhaize disrupted online services at the Maine-based grocery chain and other U.S. brands, though stores stayed open. Hannaford also faces a class-action lawsuit alleging its “sustainable” salmon claims mislead shoppers. Schools: Farmington-area school board RSU 9 voted to join national litigation alleging social media platforms harm students and drive costs for schools; the district says it pays no upfront legal fees.