Maine Energy & Utilities: The Maine Public Utilities Commission approved Versant Power management reforms after a prior audit found problems, including a multipoint performance improvement plan and a $400,000 contribution for low-income customers. Maine Lobster Policy: NOAA Fisheries opened a scoping period for potential changes to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan, with Maine’s DMR urging stakeholders to weigh in by Oct. 16 as the lobster fishery’s socio-economic stakes stay front and center. Maine Manufacturing & Defense: UMaine launched a 30-foot, high-performance 3D-printed boat, 3Dirigo X, aimed at moving maritime manufacturing from demo to practical production for commercial and defense use. Maine Construction & Infrastructure: Bangor’s Cumberland Street sewer, storm drain and water main project will trigger timed road shutdowns starting after Labor Day, with Harlow and Cumberland closures affecting downtown traffic through early December. Local Governance: Rangeley voters approved full funding for planning and code enforcement after an earlier rejection, keeping staffing in place while adjusting the department structure. Business & Community: Rockland set its 2026 cruise schedule, with nine ships and about 13,672 passengers expected to support harbor tourism revenue. Health & Research: A UMaine Ph.D. student won an NIH fellowship to study mitochondrial dysfunction after heart attack and stroke, targeting drug approaches to reduce organ-failure risk. Arts & Culture: Mayo Street Arts awarded $16,000 in grants to traditional artists across Maine, supporting cultural preservation and community arts practices. Tech/Policy Watch: A federal judge blocked New York’s “climate Superfund” law, a potential signal for other states considering similar fossil-fuel cost-recovery efforts.