Gov. Janet Mills

At a roundtable at Greater Portland Health in South Portland Monday organized by Governor Janet Mills and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, consumers swapped stories — and numbers.

Deleted Reddit posts and tattoo controversies blunted the Democrat's U.S. Senate candidate's surge of early momentum. Now the oyster farmer and military veteran is talking more about his battle with PTSD and reconciling his part in "stupid foreign wars." The people showing up to his town halls are still curious, some even more devoted.

Non-profit Maine Equal Justice said SNAP benefit amounts could be about half of what they were for single parents and elderly couples, and some working families might get no benefit at all.

Meanwhile, Maine Sen. Susan Collins said she is negotiating with a bipartisan group on a potential compromise to end the government shutdown, although any deal would have to be endorsed by Democratic and Republican leaders.

The state money, plus $250,000 from a foundation, aims to boost food pantries and other programs as 170,000 Maine residents face the loss of SNAP or food stamp benefits.

In the posts he criticized police and wrote that white rural Americans “actually are” racist and stupid. Platner said the posts were a result of loneliness and disillusionment after he left the military, but don't represent who he is today.

While the two Democrats with the most robust campaigns said they planned to stay in the race, at least one candidate has already dropped out. Meanwhile, the reaction from the political parties in DC highlights the national spotlight on the race for Maine Sen. Susan Collins' seat.

The citizens initiative appears as Question 2 on the November ballot and is a direct outgrowth of the governor's opposition to a red flag law and the Democratic-controlled legislature's unwillingness to advance one in the wake of the worst mass shooting in Maine history.

The new cabinet-level department will be a permanent continuation of the work done by the Governor's Energy Office.

Nearly 450 acres of woods, wetlands and brook trout habitat is protected from development but open to the public for hunting, fishing and other recreation