Maine Infrastructure: MaineDOT is moving ahead with the Stillwater River bridge replacement using conventional steel girders while it continues assessing the August 13 span failure, and drivers should watch for Route 1A paving delays in Brewer/Holden plus a planned up-to-28-day Seawall Road closure in Southwest Harbor for storm-resilience work. Water & Defense Demand: Drought has pushed the Kittery Water District’s reservoirs to emergency levels, with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard using more than half the district’s water and winter demand looming. Energy Affordability: Maine’s heating oil crisis is widening beyond households as schools, towns, and public facilities face budget gaps if prices stay near record highs; Gov. Mills is urging Congress to boost LIHEAP. Shipbuilding Jobs: New Navy-focused shipbuilding contracts highlight pay and benefits gains for skilled workers, with Maine included among recent union wins. Politics & Cost of Living: As midterms near, national coverage points to Democrats’ momentum and GOP cash surges, while Maine’s own congressional debate fact-checking centers on claims about Social Security/Medicare and gas-tax history. Community & Workforce: The Gavin Martin Foundation is continuing a late Edgecomb firefighter’s legacy through local giving, and SMCC’s A Light on the Point event will honor business and training leaders supporting student success.