A large plume of black smoke was visible for miles as firefighters rushed to Robbins Lumber in Waldo County, where state Fire Marshal Shawn Esler said at an afternoon press conference “we have not even really begun a scene examination.”
Dylan Tusinski
Staff Writer
Dylan Tusinski is an investigative reporter with the Maine Trust for Local News' quick strike team, where his stories largely focus on money, drugs and government accountability. He has written about international drug trafficking rings, Maine's housing crisis, political polarization and much more. He previously worked for the Morning Sentinel in Waterville from 2023 to 2025. When he's not on the clock, Dylan can often be found at the nearest Grateful Dead cover band show or minor league hockey game.
Posted inCops & Courts, Maine, News
16 years, 17 homes: Chelsea killings show flaws in Maine’s child welfare system
Family members raised concerns about the teen’s mental health for years. The state wouldn’t, or couldn’t, help.
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Posted inHealth, Maine, News
Maine issues warning after mold in medical weed tests at 18 times recreational limit
State authorities issued an advisory for medical cannabis patients after unsafe amounts of mold and pesticides were found in 2 strains of flower cultivated and sold by a Piscataquis County grower.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News
Moldy cannabis is being treated with radiation in Maine. Growers don’t have to tell you.
As growers debate the safety of cleaning contaminated marijuana with radiation and ozone in the wake of recalls, the state isn’t enforcing a rule that treated product be labeled as such.
Posted inBusiness, Life & Culture, Maine, New England, News
Why a small mountain town became the cannabis capital of Maine
With about 1 grow or dispensary for every 200 residents, Bethel has a higher concentration of marijuana businesses than almost anywhere else in the state. The locals aren’t sure it will last.
Posted inCommunity, Maine, News
North Yarmouth man drowns while saving his children from rip current in Florida
Ryan Jennings, 46, died while holding his daughter above the water as a rip current pulled them away from the shore, according to his wife, who is pregnant with their fourth child.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Fight over mandatory cannabis testing picks up steam as bill heads to floor
Maine remains the only state in the country where all medical marijuana growers are not subject to mandatory testing for purity or contaminants. Efforts to change that have failed in past years.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News
Maine towns are sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars for addiction treatment
4 years after settlement money started arriving, some recovery centers face funding cliffs as towns and counties deliberate — or in some cases hardly pay attention to — millions in unspent funds.
Posted inMaine, News
Portland seeks residents’ feedback on potential ‘Midtown’ development
The city opened a survey and will hold informational meetings to gauge opinions on what to do with the 3.5 acres along Somerset Street, some of the only remaining undeveloped land on the peninsula.
Posted inMaine, News, Schools and Education
Facing $18M deficit, UMaine plans to increase tuition, cut costs, eliminate staff
The state’s flagship university announced it intends to raise tuition by 4% and cut more than $10 million from its budget but declined to provide details about what programs and positions are being axed.