Seth Koenig
Portland Bureau Chief
Seth Koenig, formerly of the Brunswick Times Record, covers the Greater Portland area for the Bangor Daily News. He has been named both New England Journalist of the Year and Maine Journalist of the year.
Yarmouth man, 70, pleads not guilty to murder charge related to bee supply shop shooting
PORTLAND, Maine — A 70-year-old lobsterman accused of fatally shooting another man last month at a landmark bee farm in North Yarmouth pleaded not guilty Thursday. Merrill “Mike” Kimball of Yarmouth was released on bail of $100,000 surety after his arraignment Thursday morning at the Cumberland County courthouse in Portland. …
King takes inspiration from Starbucks in releasing compromise budget plan
PORTLAND, Maine — U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, introduced a federal spending plan Wednesday he hopes will provide the framework for a long-term solution to the country’s serial budget crises. The initial proposal — which King delivered to Congress’ budget conference committee — would dial back across-the-board spending cuts more …
VIDEO
Portland principal spends day at school reading to promote literacy
PORTLAND, Maine — As workdays go, Wednesday was pretty laid back for Stephen Rogers. The principal of Lyman Moore Middle School in Portland sat, surrounded by beach decorations, in the school lobby reading. He started before the opening bell in the morning and continued on as students were dismissed for …
Portland principal reads from the opening bell to the closing bell
Jaime Snow, language arts teacher at Lyman Moore Middle School in Portland, joins literacy specialist Kelly Wallent to explain why school Principal Stephen Rogers spent the entire school day Wednesday in beach wear reading.
Portland-Nova Scotia ferry deal signed; casino, theater amenities to be included
PORTLAND, Maine — Nova Scotia officials on Tuesday announced that a deal has been signed with a Maine company to revive ferry service from the Maritime province to Portland, reaching another important milestone as leaders on both sides of the border work toward a May start date. The ship that …
SETH AND THE CITY (blog)
The Onion joins Portland’s media scene: ‘It’s like a fairy tale.’
on Nov. 12, 2013, at 9:37 a.m.
In case you missed it, late last week, just as many of us were packing up for a long Veterans Day weekend, the satirical news publication The Onion carried a story with a Portland dateline. The story — “Woman Always Dreamed Of Opening Her Own Sparsely Attended Dance Studio” — …
SETH AND THE CITY (blog)
Portland played key role in bringing World Series trophy to New England
on Nov. 09, 2013, at 7:52 a.m.
Those of you who know me outside of the news world know I’m a big Boston sports fan, and I can get going pretty good on what I think the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins need to be doing. (Let Stephen Drew walk, do whatever it takes to sign …
Pierce Atwood adds Rhode Island law firm, expands to southern New England
PORTLAND, Maine — Portland-based Pierce Atwood, already the largest law firm in northern New England, will add a prominent Rhode Island firm to its stable next month in a move that will expand its footprint in the southern part of the region, it announced Thursday afternoon. The law firm of …
Maine students with disabilities more likely to be suspended; nonadversarial solutions needed, experts say
PORTLAND, Maine — Students with disabilities in Maine’s largest cities are much more likely to be suspended from school than their classmates without disabilities, an education expert said this week. Daniel Losen, director of University of California-Los Angeles’ Center for Civil Rights Remedies, said that trend follows national statistics and …
Kennebunk Zumba prostitute has no plans for tell-all book, lawyer says
PORTLAND, Maine — The former Kennebunk fitness instructor who secretly helped run a prostitution business out of her Zumba studio has no plans for a get-rich-quick tell-all book, her lawyer said. Alexis Wright, who is due to be released Nov. 23 after serving a little more than half her 10-month …
VIDEO
One year after gay marriage is legalized, Maine advocates warn of ‘harmful’ proposed law
PORTLAND, Maine — Gay rights advocates gathered in Portland on Wednesday to point out that there is “nothing falling from the sky” in the year since Mainers legalized same-sex marriage, and to rally opposition to a proposed state law they say could undermine years of anti-discrimination work. The legislation, LD …
Bishop of Episcopal Diocese celebrates one-year anniversary of gay marriage legalization
Bishop Stephen T. Lane, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, joins members of EqualityMaine on Wednesday at the First Parish Church in Portland to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the vote to legalize gay marriage in the state. “From the perspective of the Christian church, [gay and lesbian couples] …
Michaud is now a gay role model, whether he wants to make it a campaign issue or not, advocate says
PORTLAND, Maine — Young gay and lesbian Mainers struggling with self confidence may find Democratic gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud an inspiration, whether or not he wants to make his sexual orientation a campaign issue, a gay rights advocate said Wednesday. Michaud — who announced he is gay …
Portland police chief, Maine attorney general say Portland pot legalization vote won’t change enforcement strategies
PORTLAND, Maine — Portland Police Chief Michael Sauschuck said people celebrating the city’s groundbreaking marijuana legalization effort presented no trouble for his officers. But he said police will continue to issue citations for possession of the drug under state law when necessary. “We didn’t have any problems at all,” Sauschuck …
SETH AND THE CITY (blog)
Duson, Suslovic get re-election to Portland council, former state lawmaker Hinck to join them
on Nov. 05, 2013, at 10:32 p.m.
Incumbent Portland city councilors Jill Duson (at-large) and Ed Suslovic (District 3) claimed re-election tonight in contested races, while former state representative and U.S. Senate primary candidate Jon Hinck joined them. Hinck replaces at-large councilor John Anton, who opted not to seek re-election. This was with nearly 35 percent of …
VIDEO AND POLL
Portland voters strongly endorse pot legalization
PORTLAND, Maine — In a vote that marijuana advocates hope is a preview of a statewide campaign in 2016, Portland residents supported by a wide margin a measure that will legalize marijuana possession in Maine’s largest city. With all 12 of the city’s precincts reporting just before 10:30 p.m., the …
Residents who enjoyed empty Portland street during construction convince councilors to close it more often
PORTLAND, Maine — When long stretches of Portland’s Baxter Boulevard closed during the summer for construction, nearby residents made use of the suddenly car-less area for informal gatherings and block parties. Now, even with construction complete, those events will continue to be weekly attractions in the future. The City Council …
Portland approves new fines for people caught doctoring, using dead relatives’ handicapped parking passes
PORTLAND, Maine — The Portland City Council on Monday night approved new $200 fines for people caught misusing expired handicapped parking passes or those of dead relatives in an effort to curb what local parking officials have identified as a frustrating problem. With a shorthanded 6-0 vote, the council approved …
Portland seeing nearly $540 million development explosion, but office space vacancies still high
PORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s largest city is in the midst of a nearly $540 million development boom, and could still see an increase of more than 100,000 new visitors each year starting next summer, according to an economic development report delivered to members of the Portland City Council Monday night. …
Opponents of Portland’s controversial Congress Square Park sale claim another victory in court
PORTLAND, Maine — For the second time in less than a week, a group opposing Portland’s proposed sale of publicly owned Congress Square Park to a private developer claimed victory against the city in court. Cumberland County Superior Court Justice Joyce Wheeler ruled Monday morning that the city, which had …
Winterport lawmaker fired as Bangor Mall Santa after saying ‘I don’t give a damn’
Does acquittal in brutal home attack set ‘disturbing precedent’ for criminal responsibility?
Parts of Maine can expect half an inch of ice as freezing rain, sleet, snow descend on state
Hampden police searching for armed hotel robber
What’s unfair, volatile? A state tax structure that just won’t change
Too much health care? How a patient-doctor conversation might cut back on the excess
The year in arguments: Five Maine, national matters we haven’t seen the end of
When commencement is a second chance for 13 Maine State Prison inmates
Fundraising, budget, leadership challenges await new UMaine athletic director
Augusta’s Julia Clukey looks to the future after Olympic luge near-miss
Welcome to my world!
Bethel’s Simon Dumont continues quest for US Olympic team berth in ski halfpipe
‘Duck Dynasty’ star’s inane anti-gay comments not worth debating
Drum-playing ruffed grouse is the closest bird Maine has to a partridge in a pear tree
All I want for Christmas is a new Christmas song