Author: Andrew Rogers

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that a temple will be built in Portland, Maine — the first in the state. The announcement came Sunday evening, Dec. 14, during a stake Christmas fireside for the Portland, Maine, Stake. Elder Allen D. Haynie, General Authority Seventy and president of the U.S. Northeast Area, read a statement from the First Presidency confirming the temple construction. The exact location and timing will be shared later. “This is a reason for all of us to rejoice and thank God for such a significant blessing — one that will allow more frequent…

Maine’s lakes and ponds are once again filled with the haunting calls of loons as the state’s iconic waterbirds show signs of recovery. Conservationists report higher numbers of both adult loons and chicks compared with last year. Maine Audubon’s annual survey estimates about 3,174 adult loons and 568 chicks in southern Maine, the largest East Coast population. These numbers are more than double those recorded when monitoring began in 1983, with adult populations up 13 percent over the past decade. “We’re cautiously optimistic after seeing chick numbers increase for two consecutive years,” said Tracy Hart, a wildlife ecologist with Maine…

Two Iowa National Guard soldiers, Edgar Torres and Nate Howard, were killed in an attack in Syria, officials confirmed. Three other Guard members were injured in the incident. Meskwaki Police Chief Jeffrey Bunn, Howard’s father, shared his grief on Facebook, saying his son “loved what he was doing and would be the first in and last out.” Howard’s dedication and bravery have been widely remembered by fellow soldiers. Iowa Guardsman David Hernandez spoke about Torres, recalling the strong bond formed during deployments. Torres was described as family-oriented, positive, and always willing to take on missions. He embodied the values of…

One person was killed after a U-Haul truck exploded in a parking lot in Lewiston, Idaho, officials said. The blast caused damage to nearby businesses, including a Courtyard Marriott hotel and an Old Navy store. Authorities reported that the vehicle was carrying stored materials, including flammable items such as gasoline and propane tanks. Despite the explosion, no fire occurred after the incident. Lewiston Fire Marshal Julian Sorrell stated, “At this time, there is no indication the incident is criminal in nature.” The Lewiston Fire Department and the City of Lewiston Police Department confirmed the explosion caused significant damage within the…

A federal official from Idaho is working to stop a long-standing practice in which states collect Social Security benefits meant for foster youth to pay for their care. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced Thursday that it has notified governors in the 39 states that have not yet ended this practice. Many foster youth across the U.S. have had their survivor benefits diverted, sometimes without their knowledge. ACF Assistant Secretary Alex Adams, who previously led Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare, first learned that the state was keeping foster children’s Social Security survivor benefits when he assumed his…

A former Bank of Hawaii teller, 24-year-old Alohi K. Kaupu-Grace, pleaded not guilty Friday to multiple charges of theft and computer fraud. She is accused of embezzling more than $44,000 from bank customers, including two elderly account holders. Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto scheduled Kaupu-Grace’s trial for 8:30 a.m. on April 21, 2026, before Third Circuit Chief Judge Wendy DeWeese in Kona. Kaupu-Grace, who provided a Pahala address at the time of her arrest Thursday, faces three counts each of first-degree computer fraud and first-degree theft, along with two counts each of second-degree computer fraud and second-degree theft. Prosecutors allege…

Hawaii County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd died unexpectedly early Sunday morning at the age of 45. Todd had served the Hawaii Fire Department for 21 years and was appointed chief in 2021. His mother, Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd, described him as an inspiration. “I’m lucky I had him as my son. He made me a better person every day of his life,” she said. She added that the family has been touched by stories of how Todd helped and cared for others. The cause of death has not been confirmed, but Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said it was from natural…

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Kansas is facing criticism from other tribal groups after its economic development subsidiary secured a $29.9 million federal contract from the Department of Homeland Security to design potential ICE detention facilities. The contract, signed in October, has drawn backlash for its perceived connection to historical forced relocations, as the tribe was moved from the Great Lakes region to Kansas in the 1830s. Tribal chair Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick confirmed in a video statement Friday that KPB Services, a subsidiary of Prairie Band LLC, signed the contract. Rupnick apologized for the “concern, frustration, and confusion” the…

A man has been arrested in connection with the killing of a taxi driver from Danbury, Connecticut, whose body was discovered in a New York reservoir earlier this month. Santos Vasquez Ramirez, 28, of Pawling, New York, has been charged with Second Degree Murder and First Degree Robbery, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities say Vasquez Ramirez confessed to strangling and killing 66-year-old Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez over the fare. Zhunio-Orbez was last seen on December 1 picking up a customer at the Metro-North train station in Brewster, New York. His taxi was later found abandoned in the parking lot…

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill on Friday legalizing medical aid in dying for certain terminally ill adults, with the law set to take effect in September 2026. The delayed rollout will allow the Illinois Department of Public Health and healthcare systems to establish strict safeguards. Known as Senate Bill 1950 or “Deb’s Law,” the legislation sets a narrowly defined process. Eligible patients must be adults with a terminal illness expected to cause death within six months, verified by two physicians. The request must come directly from the patient, who must have the mental capacity to make medical decisions.…