Medicaid Tech Crunch: Maine Gov. Tina Kotek and other governors are pushing back on a chaotic federal Medicaid rollout, warning HHS that states are being forced to overhaul eligibility and technology systems without clear guidance—raising the risk of people losing coverage. Maine Education, Literacy & Numeracy: The Maine DOE, with the University of Maine, launched interactive Literacy and Numeracy Playbooks to help educators turn statewide plans into classroom practice, with hands-on sessions and planning time for schools. Cybersecurity, Cruise Data Breach: Carnival says 5.99 million people were affected after a social-engineering attack exposed customer data like names, contact info, dates of birth, and ID numbers; the company is offering two years of free credit monitoring. AI Data Centers vs. Local Housing: A rural Maine affordable housing project was derailed by a proposed massive data center in Wiscasset, highlighting how power, water, and land-use fights can stall community plans. PFAS Costs Pressure: Regulators say PFAS cleanup bills are heading into the billions and want federal help and a stronger “polluter pays” model so small towns aren’t crushed. Public Safety Tech Limits: South Portland will share license-plate camera data only with Maine agencies, tightening rules around ALPR use and storage. Ticks & Lyme Watch: Maine health experts warn the 2026 tick season could be especially active, with deer ticks showing up even in urban areas. STEM Spotlight: Girl Scouts of Maine ambassador Lily Downing won a scholarship aimed at future leaders, with plans to study engineering.