#WabanakiAlliance: Spring 2026 Update

by #MaulianBryant, #PenobscotNation Citizen
March 27, 2026

"We want to share some of the powerful stories highlighting our work since January. From the halls of the State House to #Maliseet homelands in #HoultonME, the movement for #Wabanaki #sovereignty is growing stronger every day.

Advocacy in Action
We recently held a Lobby Day focused on two critical pieces of legislation:

#LD785: Restoring tribal self-government.
#LD395: Ensuring #WabanakiNations have access to future federal laws.

The bills have since been amended and, while they do not represent the original form, the Chiefs agreed the amendment from the governor’s office provided for incremental but important movement forward.

[...]

We remain committed to ensuring that people across our homelands now called Maine understand why it is vital that Wabanaki Nations are no longer treated differently than the other 570+ federally recognized tribes."

Read more:
https://mailchi.mp/wabanakialliance/wabanaki-alliance-newsletter-11040921?e=7e7095a76c

#IndigenousSovereignty #Dawnland #MainePol #NativeAmericanNews #MaineLegislation #MaineSettlementAct #TribalSovereignty #LandBack

No surprise. #ChelliePingree voted against HR556, #JaredGolden voted for it.

Protect #Wildlife from Toxic #LeadAmmunition [and #FishingTackle]

"#HR556, a bill to prevent federal agencies from prohibiting or regulating the use of toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle on certain public lands and waters, passed the House of Representatives on March 18. However, we are not done fighting this bill! Lead ammunition is a well-documented threat, leading to illness and death for millions of birds and other wild animals each year. Since there is no safe level for lead exposure, hunters, anglers, and their families can also be harmed. Please contact your US representative about their vote on H.R. 556 and urge your senators to oppose this bill."

https://awionline.org/action-center#/535

Bill Status and details:

H.R.556 — 119th Congress (2025-2026)

Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025

"This bill bars the Fish and Wildlife Service (#FWS), the Bureau of Land Management (#BLM), and the Forest Service from prohibiting or regulating the use of lead ammunition or tackle on federal land or water. The bill makes exceptions for specified existing regulations and where the FWS, the BLM, or the Forest Service determines that a decline in wildlife population at the specific unit of federal land or water is primarily caused by the use of lead in ammunition or tackle, based on the field data from such unit, and the state approves the regulations."

House Roll Call Vote 93 119th Congress - 2nd Session (2026)

Passed - Yea: 215 | Nay: 202
(R 208-1 Pres=0 NV=9, D 7-201 Pres=0 NV=6, I 0-0 Pres=0 NV=0)

Full voting roster:
https://www.congress.gov/votes/house/119-2/93

#USPol #MainePol #ProtectWildlife #ProtectNature #LeadPoisoning #WaterIsLife #SoilIsLife #NatureIsLife

Vote on #LD307 is today... #DataCenterMoratorium #Maine

#MainePol #DataCenters

No more #Maine #DataCenters for now, lawmakers say

Lawmakers advanced a measure that drew attention last month when one senator said it could kill a previously unannounced project in Sanford.

by Daniel Kool, Posted March 5, Updated March 6, 2026

"Maine lawmakers voted Thursday to advance a bill that would stop the development of new data centers in the state for more than a year.

"The bill, #LD307, would create a temporary limitation on data centers with electric loads of at least 20 megawatts by preventing the state, local governments and quasi-governmental agencies from issuing permits or other approvals until 90 days after the first session of the 133rd Legislature adjourns.

"That will likely be around October 2027, the bill’s sponsor, said Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport.

"That would give a new “Data Center Coordination Council,” also created by the bill, time to study and review the potential impacts of building the centers in Maine. The Department of Energy Resources would be responsible for convening the body.

"Sachs has said the restriction is designed to address future growth without impeding projects that are already well underway, such as one pegged for the former Loring Air Force Base.

"Members of the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee have debated the bill for weeks.

"On Thursday, they voted 8-5 in favor of passing the bill with amendments, sending it to the broader Legislature. The committee vote fell along party lines, with Democrats supporting the measure."

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/03/05/no-more-maine-data-centers-for-now-lawmakers-say/

#SanfordME #JayME #LewistonME #WiscassetME #AWS #NoDatacenters #NoAI #MainePol #UnrestrictedGrowth #WaterIsLife #NoisePollution

#JuniperRidge Landfill can expand, state says again after judge orders reconsideration

by Marie Weidmayer, March 23, 2026

Excerpt: "The Juniper Ridge Landfill can expand, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection decided for a second time — but a judge must sign off first.

"A new public benefit determination allows the #OldTown landfill to expand, the #ConservationLawFoundation said Monday. The foundation and #PenobscotNation sued the #MaineDEP in November 2024 over the proposed expansion.

"The department had to reconsider allowing the expansion after a judge ruled in January that the Maine DEP did not complete 'critical' fact finding during the public benefit determination. The Maine DEP decided Oct. 2, 2024, there is a public benefit to the expansion and expanding the landfill is not inconsistent with #EnvironmentalJustice.

"Penobscot County Superior Court Judge Bruce Mallonee will reconsider the application because the case is still pending, Maine DEP spokesperson David Madore said. The department can resume processing the expansion application and will have a public hearing, he said.

" 'This decision does not reflect the lived reality of our people,' Penobscot Nation Chief #KirkFrancis said. “Our voices and our knowledge of this place must be meaningfully considered when those in power make decisions that will impact our land and community.'

"The lawsuit is still pending in Penobscot County Superior Court. The foundation and Penobscot Nation are determining next steps."

Read more:
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/03/23/penobscot/penobscot-police-courts/landfill-expansion-juniper-ridge/

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/8dI8S

#MainePol #CasellaWasteSystems #WaterIsLife #SoilIsLife #PFAS #MaineFirstNations #Pollution #ForeverChemicals

Just saw this story on the local news. Let me guess... The deceased went to the #WinterWarmingShelter to find it closed, then froze to death. Also, allegedly the shelter has 37 employees. You mean to tell me all of them called in sick when there was #WinterWeather? NO EXCUSE!

Human remains found behind #Homeless Services Center in #PortlandME

NEWS CENTER Maine Staff
Thu, March 19, 2026

"Decomposed human remains were discovered Thursday morning in a wooded area behind the Homeless Services Center in Portland, police said.

"Officers were called to 654 Riverside Ave. at about 8:42 a.m. on March 19 after receiving a report of the remains, which were found behind the building, according to a press release from the Portland Police Department.

"Police said the remains appeared to have been there for a 'significant amount of time.'

"Officials said at this time, the death does not appear suspicious.

"The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is still determining the cause and manner of death. Police are working to identify the deceased, according to the release."

Source:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/human-remains-found-behind-homeless-152307345.html

@bob @newsbot

#MainePol #Unhoused #Houseless #Maine #PortlandMaine #EmergencyShelters #WarmingShelters #StaffingIssues

😡 FFS! So, now the city has decided to close the shelter?!! Will they open it in a more central location? Or just let unhoused folks freeze to death!!! Way to go, #Maine's biggest city!!! Oh, and the asylum seekers are too afraid to stay there! #FuckICE!!!

'Numbers have certainly declined': #PortlandME to close shelter for #AsylumSeekers [and homeless people who need shelter during freezing temperatures]

by Max Williams, WGME
Wed, March 18, 2026

Excerpt: "The city also needs to develop a gameplan for a #WarmingShelter by next winter, as this location served as the city’s only #OvernightShelter.

"Allicia Santamore has been living on the streets of Portland for eight years and considers the shelter to be a lifeline.

" 'The warming shelter is awesome for people to sit when its six o'clock in the morning and you got no place to go. You can't stay in your tent no more, it’s f------ freezing,' Santamore said.

"The city says they are talking with Maine DHHS about what to do, but they say it all comes down to funding."

Full article:
https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-housing-crisis-numbers-have-certainly-declined-portland-to-close-shelter-for-asylum-seekers-immigration-warming-homelessness

cc: @bob , @sr_rss

#Homeless #MainePol #Houseless #ICESucks #DefundICE

Boy, #SanfordME seems to be the target of #Greenwashing #SnakeOilSalesmen! First an Amazon #Datacenter, now they want to truck all the #PFAS to a plant that may or may not work!

Residents pack Sanford forum on #biosolids plant, asking questions and voicing concerns

#AriesCleanTechnologies saw a major turnout at the open house it held to explain its proposal, and some attendees were left frustrated by a lack of answers.

by Penelope Overton and Abigail Driscoll
Posted February 25, 2026

Excerpt: "According to the official Aries Technologies website, the gasification process destroys 99% of forever chemicals. [I've seen other percentages cited! 95%, 97%... Who knows exactly how much?!!]

"Some people aren’t convinced.
'We haven’t seen any third-party research that backs their claims,' said Eve Dumont-Wilson, a representative from the #SanfordCleanAirAndWaterCoalition, a group that began this month to promote transparency from Aries and share its concerns over the possible environmental impacts of the proposed treatment center.

" 'We want assurances that they will be held accountable in the event of a spill,' Dumont-Wilson explained, adding that one of the coalition’s concerns is how little research has been done into the process Aries uses." [Sneaky, sneaky! Just like the datacenters!!!]

[...]

"Despite these assurances, the developer faces a high bar in proving its #gasification technology is ready for large-scale use. Aries acknowledged its facility in #LindenNJ, has been 'temporarily idled' for equipment upgrades [and it only functioned intermittently for a year before being closed!]. The company maintains that the issues were related to dryers rather than the core technology."

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/02/25/sludge-plant-developer-tries-to-woo-sanford-2/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/fYjLK

Related article:
https://www.mainepublic.org/environment-and-outdoors/2026-02-24/sanford-could-host-sludge-processing-plant

#MainePol #MEPol #ForeverChemicals

#Warmonger Sen. Collins defends decision to vote against war powers resolution

March 4, 2026

"Maine’s two U.S. Senators were split on a resolution aimed at blocking further military action in Iran without Congressional authorization that failed in the Senate on Wednesday.

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins voted against the procedural measure, while Independent Sen. Angus King voted in favor.

The measure failed along party lines in a 52-48 vote in the Republican-led chamber."

https://wgan.com/news/074470-sen-collins-defends-decision-to-vote-against-war-powers-resolution/

USPol #MainePol #NoWar #UselessSusanCollins #VoteHerOut

Hmmmm... Sounds like the FBI has been investigating a MAGA house a few towns over. Real "Domestic Terrorism" going on? (As opposed to folks who don't want the planet trashed or genocide to continue.)

#USPol #MainePol