Good morning, Bangor.

UMaine administrators have reduced a $19M shortfall to about $3M through consolidation (vacant positions and contract cuts saved roughly $6M) and plan further revenue and expense cuts, possibly including layoffs, to close the gap at a January meeting.

A Penobscot County judge ruled that the state’s plan to expand Juniper Ridge Landfill is in the public interest, clearing the way for Casella to apply for a license as the landfill nears capacity in 2028.

Tribal leaders and environmental advocates challenged the decision, citing concerns over local pollution.

Penobscot County Superior Court allowed Cassella Waste Systems to expand the Juniper Ridge Landfill by 12 million cubic yards — a ruling that follows an appeal from the Penobscot Nation and Conservation Law Foundation and comes a day after the hearing, setting the stage for meeting Maine’s waste needs.

Today in Bucksport, the Penobscot Estuary Remediation Trust held a meeting at the Alamo Theatre to share cleanup plans for mercury contamination traced to a Mallinckrodt facility in Orrington; the trust aims to protect the river for future generations & revive local fishing careers.

The Department of Energy will release 315,000 barrels of heating oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to help lower winter costs in New England, as announced by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King (the oil will be allocated through a company bidding process).

Maine farmers and fishermen can get one-time federal aid from the USDA’s $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief program to offset rising diesel costs, with payment rates set for November + they can submit fuel cost details to [email protected].

More than 49,000 Mainers have Medicare Advantage plans set to be discontinued next year, with open enrollment just started and Area Agencies on Aging already full of Medicare counseling appointments, according to SeniorPlus in Lewiston.

On Oct. 1, changes in Medicaid rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act led 980 Mainers to lose full MaineCare coverage — local health providers now face rising unpaid bills and increased emergency room use.

In October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month highlights tips for women to stay healthy in Bangor; experts from Northern Light Primary Care advise maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol, and they recommend a first mammogram by age 40 when changes are noticed.

Jackson Laboratory’s Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative marks 10 years by making advanced tumor testing available in rural Maine, helping over 4,000 patients access targeted therapies close to home without long trips to major centers.

The successful program is now being modeled in 16 other rural locations nationwide.