Down East Notes

Maine ACLU - The police carry guns, and we carry cellphones. We have settled a case against a Portland police officer, who arrested our clients after they attempted to peacefully record and observe police activity on a Portland public street. You can read about the settlement here and here and here. The most important aspect of this settlement is that the Portland Police Department has committed to using this incident as a training tool to prevent future incidents. Nobody should go through what our clients went through. This case was about making sure the police, and the public, understand and respect the first amendment right to observe and record. . . .  A man and woman from Bar Harbor who were arrested last spring after recording video of Portland police each will receive $30,000 as part of a settlement with the city, according to officials.

Working Waterfront - The distance between the Stone Wharf on Chebeague Island and the Cousins Island landing is just 1.7 miles. But over the 30 years that the Islander ferry has been making the daily runs, she has logged enough miles to take her to the moon and halfway home. On Monday, April 6, the Chebeague Transportation Company [celebrated] the 30th birthday of the Islander with free passenger rides and an all-day onboard party.
Since her launching, the 102-passenger Islander has logged 366,000 miles, almost all of them between Chebeague and Cousins Island. That is the equivalent of 61 round trips to England.

Press Herald - A former police officer turned lawmaker is launching the fourth effort this year to legalize recreational marijuana for Maine adults. Rep. Mark Dion, D-Portland, has submitted a bill that would regulate recreational marijuana sales, tax them at 15 percent and allow use by adults 21 and older.

Maine eagle population continues to grow