3D-Printed Boat Breakthrough (UMaine): The University of Maine launched 3Dirigo X, a 30-foot, high-performance 3D-printed vessel built at UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, aiming to speed up maritime manufacturing and reduce reliance on expensive molds for commercial and defense use. Maritime Tech in Maine: UMaine leaders and federal defense officials gathered in Hampden as the boat demonstrated offshore-capable performance near 40 knots, building on earlier UMaine 3Dirigo work. Public Safety Tech Debate (License Plate Readers): Brewer says its license plate reading cameras have operated since 2019 with no complaints, while the ACLU argues the tech can violate privacy and misidentify drivers, fueling calls for tighter local rules. Health Policy (Lincoln Hospital Birthing Center): Maine lawmakers pressed MaineHealth to explain why it plans to close Lincoln Hospital’s birthing center, with staffing and low delivery volume cited as key drivers. Rural Health Research (Dartmouth): Dartmouth Health and Geisel secured an $11.8M federal grant to study rural access for older adults with serious illness. ICE Procurement (Electric-Shock Gloves): ICE moved ahead with a roughly $16.7M contract to buy 6,000 electric-shock gloves, despite lawmakers’ concerns about misuse and harm. Affordable Housing (Greenville): Northern Forest Center broke ground on Timber Way, a $12.5M, 24-unit affordable housing project for year-round residents near Moosehead Lake. Aquaculture Delayed (Millinocket): A planned salmon farm at the former Great Northern Paper mill site is on hold as tariff uncertainty affects imported equipment and planning. Early Literacy (Imagination Library): Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is expanding into Somerset County, mailing age-appropriate books to children from birth through age 5. Workplace Safety (OSHA): OSHA alleges Woodland Pulp knowingly ignored safety hazards tied to a hydrogen sulfide leak that killed two workers.