Governor Mills Proclaims 2026 as ‘The Year of the Woman Farmer in Maine’

Governor Janet Mills has proclaimed 2026 as the Year of the Woman Farmer in Maine, aligning the state with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

The initiative is part of a globally coordinated, non-partisan effort led internationally by the United Nations and nationally by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), with participation from organizations including the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Farmland Trust, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, private sector partners, research groups, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Governor Mills’ proclamation acknowledges the invaluable role women play in Maine’s agriculture and underscores the state’s commitment to enhancing the lives of women farmers, addressing the barriers they face, and celebrating their contributions to Maine’s rural economy and food system.

I signed the proclamation declaring 2026 as the Year of the Woman Farmer in the State of Maine to draw attention to the role women play in agriculture. Women like my grandmother, who, alongside my grandfather, raised three children while making a living as a potato farmer. I spent nearly all my summers and school vacations with them, and those experiences shaped my deep respect for the women whose hard work sustains our farms, our food system, and our rural communities.

Women contribute significantly to agricultural production worldwide, yet often face challenges related to land access, capital, technical assistance, and leadership opportunities. The United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer calls on governments and partners to spotlight these challenges while advancing solutions that strengthen food systems and rural communities.

Throughout 2026, Maine will highlight women farmers and agricultural leaders through public events, collaboration with the legislature, and national convenings. Milestones include Agriculture Day at the Legislature in March and the NASDA Annual Meeting in fall 2026, when hundreds of state and federal agriculture leaders from across the country will gather in Maine.

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Food Delivery Driver Charged with Burglary in Lisbon

43-year-old Jacob A. Koch of Sabattus, a food delivery driver, is accused of stealing from a home in Lisbon and using the victim’s credits cards.

Koch reportedly picked up the food order in Lisbon Falls and later used the stolen credit cards in Lewiston.

Koch was arrested on Wednesday at his home in Sabattus and charged with burglary, theft by unauthorized taking, misuse of identification, and violating conditions of release.

From Lisbon Chief of Police Ryan McGee: On January 14, 2026, the Lisbon Police Department arrested 43-year-old Jacob A. Koch at his residence in Sabattus in connection with a burglary investigation in Lisbon. Koch was charged with Burglary, a “Class B” Felony, as well as misdemeanor offenses of Theft by Unauthorized Taking, Misuse of Identification, and Violating Conditions of Release. The investigation began on January 10, 2026, when a Lisbon resident reported items had been taken from her residence the previous evening. During the investigation, officers learned that credit cards of the victims were used at a retail location in Lewiston after the burglary occurred. Based on the circumstances of the theft and individuals who may have had access to the residence, officers identified a food delivery driver as the suspect. Lisbon Officers obtained surveillance footage from the Lewiston retail location, and additional video was later obtained from a Lisbon Falls restaurant associated with the food delivery. After reviewing the footage, Lisbon Police detectives determined that the same individual, operating the same vehicle, picked up the food order in Lisbon Falls and later used the stolen credit card in Lewiston. During the course of the investigation, investigators were able to identify the vehicle and subsequently identify Koch as the Burglary suspect. Lisbon Police, assisted by the Sabattus Police Department, took Koch into custody at his Sabattus residence without incident.
Koch is currently being held at the Androscoggin County Jail without bail pending his initial court appearance on the new charges.

This investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Lisbon Police Department and ask to speak with a detective at 207-353-2500, extension #1.

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Death in Skowhegan Under Investigation

The Maine State Police say an investigation is underway after a female was found deceased on West Front Street in Skowhegan, Wednesday, Jan. 14.

From the Maine State Police:

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Skowhegan Police Department received a 911 call at 11:37 PM for a person not breathing at 361 West Front Street. Upon arrival officers discovered a deceased female at the residence. The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Central was called to assist. The deceased was transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for an autopsy that was conducted on Thursday January 15, 2026. Detectives and Evidence Technicians worked throughout the day conducting interviews and gathering evidence. The identity of the female as well as cause and manner of death are being withheld until positive identification and notification to family can be made. The investigation is still ongoing. There is no known danger to the public.

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Maine State Fire Marshal Investigates Intentionally Set Fire in Ellsworth

The Maine State Fire Marshal says that the Ellsworth Fire Department was called to 384 Water Street for a structure fire, Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 14.

The property, sustained minor fire damage, is a vacant single-family residence.

The Fire Marshals Office was called in to investigate the origin and cause of the fire, that is being classified as incendiary. The investigation remains ongoing.

Investigators are asking residents in the area who have security or surveillance cameras to review their footage for any activity that may be relevant to the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the State Fire Marshals Office 207-624-7076 or the Ellsworth Police Department at 207.677.2168.

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Arrest Made in Fatal School Bus Incident in Rockland

The Rockland Police Department has arrested 65-year-old Jeffery Colburn of Camden on the charge of manslaughter.

The arrest comes after a grand jury indictment and warrant for arrest was issued by the Knox County District Attorney’s Office.

Colburn was the school bus driver involved in the fatal incident that occurred on Nov. 21, 2025, that resulted in the death of a student.

From the Rockland Police Department:

Since the time of the incident, Rockland Police, including Rockland’s Criminal Investigation Division have continued to work diligently on this investigation, working hand and hand with the Knox County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation included interviews of numerous witnesses, legal process and review of relevant records, consultation with subject matter experts and assistance from the Maine State Police, Bureau of Highway Safety, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Maine Health & Environmental Testing Laboratory, Bureau of Motor Vehicles and RSU-13.

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U.S. forces seize sixth sanctioned Venezuela-linked oil tanker

U.S. forces seized a sixth oil tanker tied to Venezuelan oil shipments during a pre-dawn operation Thursday, continuing the Trump administration’s stepped-up enforcement campaign in the Caribbean. The vessel, Motor Tanker Veronica, was taken without incident as part of Operation Southern Spear, according to U.S. Southern Command and the Department of Homeland Security.

Southern Command said Marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to intercept the tanker. “Marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, launched from [the aircraft carrier] USS Gerald R. Ford and apprehended Motor/Tanker Veronica without incident,” the command said in a social media post. It added, “The Veronica is the largest tanker operating in defiance of President [Donald] Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean,” and emphasized that “The only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the operation, saying a Coast Guard tactical team carried out the boarding. “Early this morning, a Coast Guard tactical team conducted a pre-dawn boarding and seizure of Motor Tanker Veronica in the Caribbean,” Noem said, noting the ship had “previously passed through Venezuelan waters” and was operating in violation of U.S. sanctions. Video released by U.S. officials shows helicopters hovering above the vessel as troops fast-roped onto its deck.

The Veronica is the largest tanker seized so far and the latest in a series of interdictions targeting what U.S. officials describe as a “ghost fleet” used to move oil from sanctioned countries. Last week alone, U.S. forces seized three other tankers — the Russian-flagged Marinera in the North Atlantic, along with the Olina and Sophia in the Caribbean.

The seizures come amid broader U.S. efforts to control Venezuela’s oil exports and revenues. Administration officials have said the U.S. is selling the oil cargos taken from the vessels, completing an initial sale worth $500 million and planning additional transactions in the coming weeks. The White House has outlined a strategy to market tens of millions of barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil, with proceeds overseen by the U.S. government.

Officials framed Thursday’s operation as both a legal enforcement action and a warning. Noem said the repeated seizures demonstrate that “there is no outrunning or escaping American justice,” while Southern Command described the interdiction as further proof of the effectiveness of Operation Southern Spear.

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26 indicted in NCAA and Chinese basketball point-shaving scheme

Federal prosecutors have charged 26 men in a sweeping alleged point-shaving operation that authorities say compromised at least 29 college basketball games and involved players from 17 Division I programs, according to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Investigators allege more than 39 current and former college players participated in or attempted to influence games during the 2023-24, 2024-25 and current seasons. Schools named include Tulane, Buffalo, DePaul, Eastern Michigan, New Orleans, Kennesaw State, La Salle, Nicholls State, Saint Louis, Southern Miss, Abilene Christian, Alabama State, Coppin State, Fordham, North Carolina A&T, Northwestern State and Robert Morris. Additional programs were identified as being affected, including Butler, Georgetown, Kent State, Ohio and others.

At the center of the case are non-athletes Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley, who prosecutors say orchestrated the scheme alongside several co-conspirators. Both men were previously charged in a separate federal gambling case tied to the NBA. The group faces charges including bribery in sporting contests, wire fraud, conspiracy and aiding and abetting.

According to the indictment, the operation began overseas in 2022 by manipulating Chinese Basketball Association games. Former NBA player Antonio Blakeney, then with the Jiangsu Dragons, allegedly accepted bribes to underperform and helped recruit teammates. Prosecutors say the group later expanded the scheme to NCAA games, focusing largely on mid- and low-major programs and targeting first-half or full-game point spreads.

Federal authorities allege players were offered between $10,000 and $30,000 per game, often paid in cash, and that multiple players on the same team were sometimes recruited to ensure bets succeeded. Wagers were placed across numerous sportsbooks to avoid detection, though betting activity totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars on individual games quickly raised red flags.

Four active players are named in the indictment: Kennesaw State’s Simeon Cottle, Eastern Michigan’s Carlos Hart, Delaware State’s Camian Shell and Nicholls State’s Oumar Koureissi. Former New Orleans players Cedquavious Hunter and Dyquavion Short, who were previously sanctioned by the NCAA, are also among those charged.

U.S. Attorney David Metcalf described the case as an unprecedented breach of competitive integrity, stating, “This was a massive scheme that enveloped the world of college basketball,” and added that it represented “a significant and rampant corruption of college athletics.”

The NCAA said the allegations largely align with its own findings. President Charlie Baker emphasized the organization’s ongoing efforts, saying, “Protecting competition integrity is of the utmost importance for the NCAA,” and noted that many of the teams and players cited had already been under investigation. Baker said the NCAA has examined approximately 40 student-athletes from 20 schools over the past year, permanently banning 11 players and continuing to cooperate with law enforcement.

Prosecutors allege the defendants deliberately targeted players with limited NIL earning potential and teams more likely to miss betting lines, calling the scheme one of the largest gambling conspiracies ever uncovered in college sports if proven in court.

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Blake Shelton earns 31st No. 1 on country airplay chart with ‘Stay Country or Die Tryin’”

Blake Shelton had achieved his 31st #1 hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his single “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” which officially places him second on the all-time list of #1 songs on country radio (behind Kenny Chesney).   Blake scored his 30th #1 with “Texas” back in May 2025.

Stay Country or Die Tryin‘, written by Graham Barham, Beau Bailey, Drew Parker, and Sam Ellis, marks the first chart-topper for songwriters Barham and Bailey.  Blake shared of the achievement: “I’ve been around long enough to know you never take moments like this for granted, and a number one radio single is always worth celebrating. I love this song, and I’m so grateful the fans do too. There’s no better way to kick off the Vegas residency on Thursday than with ‘Stay Country or Die Tryin’’ at the top of the charts.”

Shelton is also returning to Las Vegas this month for an eight-show residency, “BLAKE SHELTON: LIVE IN LAS VEGAS,” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, following a successful run in early 2025. The eight date run of shows takes place January 15, 18, 21, 23, 24, 28, 30, and 31. Shelton shared: “This time we’re gonna do it more country, with more cocktails, and probably make a few more questionable decisions.”  Ticket info can be found: HERE.

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‘KPop Demon Hunters’ sequel officially in the works at Netflix

A sequel to Netflix’s smash hit animated musical movie ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is officially in the works at Netflix, slated to premiere in 2029.

Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans are returning to direct the follow-up to the original film, which spawned a Top 10, chart-topping soundtrack album and sing-along events in cinemas. The voice cast for the film includes Arden Cho, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo, Ahn Hyo-seop, Yunjin Kim, Joel Kim Booster, Liza Koshy, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Byung Hun Lee.

The original KPop Demon Hunters chronicles the adventures of HUNTR/X, a K-pop girl group comprised of three members who also fight monsters from the underworld.  The singers behind HUNTR/X — EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI — have been performing their chart-topping song ‘Golden’ with live performances on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, as well as performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jelly Roll and Chrissy Teigen set as judges for ‘Star Search’ reboot on Netflix

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jelly Roll and Chrissy Teigen have joined Netflix’s upcoming “Star Search” reboot as judges, with Anthony Anderson serving as host of the talent competition show.

The new iteration of the talent competition series will premiere on the streamer on Jan. 20, 2026, with episodes airing live Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The five-week event will feature real-time voting via TV remote or mobile app to help pick which contestants advance in the competition. See the teaser trailer: HERE.

Per the official logline: “Off the air for 20 years, the show returns as a nostalgic yet fresh entry in the talent competition space – ready to captivate both longtime fans and a whole new generation. The talent is bigger, the stakes are higher, and the format is more interactive than ever. Each episode will spotlight the best up-and-coming performers across numerous categories – music, dance, variety, comedy, magic and juniors – as they compete head to head for their shot at stardom. With an arced competition structure and weekly eliminations with real-time global voting, the series builds dramatic momentum, making every live episode an unmissable event.”

Jelly Roll (real name Jason DeFord) is a seven-time Grammy nominee; his recent album “Beautifully Broken” hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Gellar, best known as the star of “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer,” is next set to reprise her role as Buffy Summers in the Hulu series revival. Other recent credits include “Dexter: Original Sin,” “Wolf Pack” and the upcoming Searchlight feature “Ready or Not 2.” Teigen founded the food and lifestyle brand Cravings and is a bestselling cookbook author and TV personality.

Hosted by the late Ed McMahon, the original series was in syndication from 1983-1995 and helped launch the careers of stars such as Beyoncé, Usher, Martin Lawrence, Aaliyah, Alanis Morissette, Kevin James, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Dave Chappelle, Adam Sandler and more. It was briefly rebooted at CBS in 2003, hosted by Arsenio Hall, but was canceled after one season.

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