Maine in January 2026: ICE operation dominates as gambling law faces lawsuits

This month's Maine news roundup covers a widely watched ICE operation and its political fallout, new laws taking effect in Augusta, and the state's newly legalized online gambling market. It also touches on health care funding fights and a few notable local stories.

ICE operation in Maine

• Maine's secretary of state paused issuing undercover license plates after a request from border security, saying her office wants assurance the plates won't be used for lawless purposes, Central Maine reported. (Central Maine)
• Portland protest crowds doubled in size amid rumors of an ICE surge in Maine, The Portland Press Herald reported. (The Portland Press Herald)
• Gov. Mills called ICE a 'secret police' agency as it conducted an operation in Maine, WMTW reported. (WMTW)
• Sen. Susan Collins asked Homeland Security for its legal rationale behind the ICE surge into Maine, newscentermaine.com reported. (newscentermaine.com)
• Maine's governor requested a meeting with President Trump over the ICE deployment in the state, citing a shooting in Minnesota, The Hill reported. (The Hill)
• A new anti-ICE law was set to take effect in Maine as the governor faced increased criticism for allowing it amid her Senate run, Fox News reported. (Fox News)
• An ICE operation in Maine detained about 200 people as the governor sought to ask President Trump to remove the agents, Fox News reported. (Fox News)
• ICE ended its operation in Maine as the governor sought details on the roughly 200 people detained, Global News reported. (Global News)

State politics and the 2026 elections

• Republican Jonathan Bush and two Democratic candidates for Maine governor together raised $1 million, newscentermaine.com reported. (newscentermaine.com)
• Maine Republican Shawn Moody suspended his gubernatorial campaign due to health concerns, WABI reported. (WABI)
• Former Maine Senate majority leader Garrett Mason entered the race for Maine governor, Centralmaine.com reported. (Centralmaine.com)
• A polling memo showed Nirav Shah leading a crowded Democratic primary field for Maine governor, Diya TV reported. (Diya TV)
• Maine state Rep. Deqa Dhalac said she won't seek reelection to the Maine House, citing hostility and racism, WMTW reported. (WMTW)
• A Maine state lawmaker died while still in office, WMTW reported. (WMTW)

New laws from the Legislature

• Maine enacted a new law to protect minors from doxing, WGME reported. (WGME)
• A Maine bill aims to turn the Long Creek youth facility into a supportive, treatment-focused center, WGME reported. (WGME)
• Gov. Janet Mills vetoed proposed changes to Maine's right-to-repair law, Centralmaine.com reported. (Centralmaine.com)
• A bill providing cancer screenings for Maine firefighters became state law, WMTW reported. (WMTW)
• A new Maine law will turn the lights down across the state, 94.3 WCYY reported. (94.3 WCYY)
• A new law modernized Maine's Land Use Planning Commission, the Natural Resources Council of Maine reported. (Natural Resources Council of Maine)
• Maine now requires more children to wear flotation devices while boating, WMTW reported. (WMTW)

Online gambling law and its challenges

• Maine passed a bill legalizing online casino gaming, Covers.com reported. (Covers.com)
• Maine's tribal nations will be allowed to operate online gambling under the new state law, Maine Public reported. (Maine Public)
• Maine will allow its tribes to offer online sports betting, The Center Square reported. (The Center Square)
• Maine became the ninth U.S. state to legalize online poker, PokerNews reported. (PokerNews)
• A Maine casino sued the state over its online gambling law, claiming racial discrimination, WGME reported. (WGME)
• Churchill Downs sued Maine's regulator over the state's online casino law, sbcamericas.com reported. (sbcamericas.com)

Health care, social services and fraud

• A study found that opening a public medical school in Penobscot County is not feasible, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
• Maine lawmakers demanded transparency from DHHS after a 1-year-old's death in Milford, newscentermaine.com reported. (newscentermaine.com)
• Maine Medical Center nurses won a union contract including a 21% raise and new safety measures, WGME reported. (WGME)
• A bill to separate Child and Family Services from Maine's DHHS failed to pass committee, WGME reported. (WGME)
• Facing a critical worker shortage, bipartisan legislation was proposed to raise wages for Maine's direct care workers, Maine Morning Star reported. (Maine Morning Star)
• Maine made $45.6 million in improper payments for autism services, federal officials said, The Portland Press Herald reported. (The Portland Press Herald)
• A Lewiston-based business faces federal fraud charges tied to improper MaineCare billing, WMTW reported. (WMTW)

Economy, real estate and utilities

• The University of Maine System will receive $51 million in federal funding, The Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
• A new Maine bill would offer $15,000 grants to help first-time homebuyers, 94.9 HOM reported. (94.9 HOM)
• A report found that low-income Mainers were largely overcharged for their electricity supply, WMTW reported. (WMTW)
• The former waterfront Maine home of Gov. Ken Curtis was listed for $4 million, Boston.com reported. (Boston.com)

Notable Maine news

• Bangor recorded no homicides in 2025, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
• Maine's 'Lobster Lady,' who fished for nearly a century, died at age 105, The Guardian reported. (The Guardian)
• Gov. Mills closed Maine state offices because of a significant snowstorm, newscentermaine.com reported. (newscentermaine.com)
• The Blaine House was evacuated due to a gas leak, officials said, WMTW reported. (WMTW)

This roundup summarizes reporting by other outlets; follow the links for their full stories.