Joe Charpentier

MS NOW EXCLUSIVE: First grade girl recounts searching for father after ICE detained him In an MS NOW Exclusive, Antonia Hylton sits down with Annabella, a New Jersey first grader whose life was uprooted when her father, Adonay Rodriguez, stepped outside to pick up a food order and was de...

ICE tackles and arrests New Jersey father outside his home, leaving his 6-year-old first-grade daughter at home alone.

She goes out looking for him.

"I got my boots and changed my clothes. I wanted to find some help to find my dad..."

www.ms.now/the-weekend-...

The Munich Security Conference Marks the End of the US-Led Order US politicians flooded the summit—but Europe no longer sees the United States as a reliable partner.

This year Democrats flocked to the Munich Security Conference—AKA “Davos with guns”—to reassure allies that the US could rebuild its shaky alliance with Europe, but Carol Schaeffer writes that Europeans did not seem convinced.
https://bit.ly/40dVLVY

Israeli court ordered prisons to give Palestinian detainees more food. They are still hungry Five months after Israel's Supreme Court ruled that its prisons were failing to provide enough food for Palestinian detainees and ordered conditions be improved, emaciated prisoners are still emerging with tales of extreme hunger and abuse.

Israeli court ordered prisons to give Palestinian detainees more food. They are still hungry reut.rs/4aJt1un

Iceland hires DC lobbyist for advice after Trump mixed it up with Greenland: report Trump repeatedly mixed up Greenland and Iceland during his Davos speech last month as he pushed for the U.S. to acquire the Danish territory

Trump confused Greenland and Iceland so much that Reykjavík hired a DC lobbyist for advice: report trib.al/DwFwMHP

Six headlines atop NYT homepage rn:

“… knew of Epstein’s actions…”

“… acknowledges traveling to Epstein’s island...”

“…ties to Epstein spark backlash”

“Epstein files reveal efforts…”

“…founder appears in Epstein files..”

“Epstein directed aide…”

ICE detainees from Maine being held under ‘inhumane’ conditions in Mass. facility, attorneys say An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said the allegations of overcrowding and lack of access to lawyers are false.

@markey.senate.gov shared my story, so I figure it’s high time I come back to Blue Sky for some of my news #ice #dhs #immigration #asylum

This is something I’ve been watching for over ten years. Democrats objectively fail where Republicans succeed fostering the next generations of political leadership #democracy #democrats #republicans

Trump to withdraw the US from group Investigating Russia’s leadership for crimes committed against Ukrainians.

Meanwhile Russia is now using drones to hunt children for sport.

“We saw the drone and ran. My friend hid at home, another ran straight—then the drone dropped a bomb.” #EndImpunity

Lewiston’s gun violence programs take different approaches The city has to be efficient in how it uses limited resources, police say.

One of my sidebars to the main story on gun violence I posted a few days ago #gunviolence #lewistonmaine

Lewiston police contend with gun violence, and a frustrated public As police take steps to address the increase in shootings, residents are anxious for results.

This is the latest in a series we’re writing about gun violence in Lewiston, ME. I’ll post the sidebar stories later. #lewistonmaine #gunviolence #Maine

Walgreens Will Sell to Private Equity Firm in $10 Billion Deal Shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance have lost about half their value in the past year, as the chain has faced pressure in its retail and pharmacy businesses.

Breaking News: A private equity firm is buying Walgreens in a $10 billion deal that will take the struggling pharmacy chain out of the public market.

Next story is on what the police are doing. It’s tough to tell what will have a presence in the next story, but this is on my shortlist for topics.

As shootings become part of the backdrop of Lewiston, the city is trying to come to grips with a growing problem Data from the Lewiston Police Department show gun violence over the last six years has take a dramatic upturn.

Shootings in Lewiston have risen sharply over the past several years #lewiston #maine #gunviolence

Justice denies motion to dismiss murder trial of Buckfield father in the death of his infant daughter Defense witnesses say Harper Averill likely died from complications when she was dropped weeks before her death.

Currently sitting in the courtroom for day 7 of the Averill trial. Trevor Averill of Buckfield is accused of killing his 2-month-old daughter Harper in July 2020. He faces 25 years to life and 30 years for depraved indifference murder and manslaughter. www.sunjournal.com/2025/01/28/j...

Turner crash involving police cruiser sends 3 to hospital Two crash victims were transported to Central Maine Medical Center and one to Maine Medical Center in Portland via LifeFlight. Conditions of the victims were unknown.

A Monmouth police officer was critically injured and his son suffered minor injuries after a crash just a mile away from home www.gofundme.com/f/in-support...

Poland woman recalls 93 years of faith in holiday traditions At 93, Esther Tucker reflects on how holiday traditions, family connections and spiritual community have shaped her life.

This 93-year-old Poland, Maine woman is something else! Great human being sharing some of her Christmas memories #maine #christmas #uu

Donald Trump’s transition team seeks to pull US out of WHO ‘on day one’ Swift exit would remove global health body’s main source of funds and damage its ability to tackle emergencies

Donald Trump’s transition team seeks to pull US out of WHO ‘on day one’

https://www.ft.com/content/e6061ed5-2703-4b8a-9948-a557aaaf52c2

Snap on you… I’m okay with that double standard

Community mourns death of Lorenzo Melendez, a pillar of the homeless and unhoused community Melendez died Saturday from liver disease, according to those who described him as "the light of everybody’s life.” He was 57.

Lorenzo Melendez’s death has caused much grief in the community #homeless #unhoused #lewiston #maine

Canada’s Charlie Angus unloads on the U.S. and house conservatives over threats of tariffs, rampant lies over border issues and general insult toward Canadians #canada #trump #charlieangus #tariffs

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Donates $1 Million to Trump’s Inaugural Fund The move follows a visit that Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s chief executive, made last month to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President-elect Donald Trump.

Meta said it had donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, in the latest move by Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s chief executive, to foster a positive rapport with Trump.

Rev. Jodi Hayashida takes multi-faith approach to social justice On Faith: Hayashida's faith is shaped by the complexities of real life.

Going from reverend to social justice work seems fairly in line with tenets of all religions #religion #unitarian #socialjustice

No trace of Auburn woman missing since 2021 It took the better part of two years for authorities to realize Celeste Doghmi was missing since mid-2021. Originally from Germany and estranged from much of her family and friends who all live out of...

Well, this story I wrote last year has become popular again thanks to the Dark Downeast podcast. What a tough story to write.