By Lauren McCauley | Editor
“Dobbs changed Maine because Dobbs changed America. Every woman now knows that rights once considered settled can disappear until the next election.” - Marie Follayttar, who protested outside U.S. Sen. Susan Collins office to mark four years since the federal right to abortion was overturned.
The primaries may be over, but our work isn’t slowing down. If you’ve turned to the Morning Star to stay informed during the primaries, consider making a contribution to fuel our independent reporting today.
Roughly 100 people who protested outside Sen. Susan Collins’ office in Portland on June 24, 2026 — the four year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision ending the legal right to abortion. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/ Maine Morning Star)
By Eesha Pendharkar
More than 100 abortion rights supporters gathered outside U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ Portland office Wednesday to mark four years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, arguing that the consequences of the landmark ruling continue to reverberate — even in states like Maine where abortion remains legal.
By Emma Davis
The effort to repeal recreational cannabis had seemingly gone quiet after the campaign missed the winter deadline to submit signatures to get on the November ballot. Now with about 40,000 of 67,682 signatures needed , the campaign is eyeing the November 2027 ballot.
By Kaitlyn Budion
“Every time I look at their bill, it’s more expensive, and every time I look at my check, it’s smaller,” said Crystal Ward, a 75-year-old retired teacher living on a fixed income, who was among the roughly 100 people who attended a public hearing in Lewiston on Tuesday on CMP’s latest rate case.
COMMENTARY
By Lauren McCauley
In an era where people have grown accustomed to uploading their data and having an AI bot produce near-instantaneous results, Maine’s electoral processes look downright Stone Age. But this drudgery, the line-by-line checking, the errors, the recalculations, is actually what makes our elections trustworthy.
OTHER TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
With Collins’ support, US Senate joins House in rebuke of Trump over his war in Iran | Ashley Murray, States Newsroom
Trump spikes housing bill at last minute, refusing to sign until SAVE America Act passes | Jacob Fischler and Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom
US Supreme Court rules Trump administration can end legal protections for 350,000 Haitians | Ariana Figueroa
Thanks for reading Star Weekly Digest. Did you know our daily morning newsletter is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.