Energy & Grid: Hydro-Québec and Massachusetts utilities (Eversource, National Grid, Unitil) are in federal court over winter power interruptions on a high-voltage line through western Maine, with the utilities seeking about $40 million in damages and Hydro-Québec arguing “force majeure” and claiming the utilities owe roughly $50 million for unpaid clean energy deliveries. Critical Minerals & Defense Supply Chain: Portland-based The Elmet Group says a U.S. Defense Logistics Agency contract worth about $2 billion will support the National Defense Stockpile with tungsten materials, while a separate $450 million U.S. Department of War commitment targets expanded domestic manufacturing and a more secure tungsten supply chain, including more than $165 million tied to operations in Maine. Offshore Wind Workforce: UMass Dartmouth is set to receive $730,090 in Massachusetts funding to expand offshore wind workforce training and Gulf of Maine research, including cod spawning studies and regional monitoring strategy work. Local Business & Consumer Spending: Cooper Flagg opened Flagg Trading Company in Maine, aiming for a more hangout-friendly card shop experience. Cost Pressures: Maine diesel prices are averaging about $6.14 a gallon, raising costs for trucking, construction, and working waterfront operations. Higher Ed & AI: The University of Maine System launched system-wide access to ChatGPT Edu for students, staff and faculty under a two-year OpenAI contract, with funding beyond year one still unclear. Health Care Access: A new report finds obstetric closures are increasingly hitting urban hospitals, reshaping a problem long viewed as mainly rural. Politics & Money: Republicans in Congress are reportedly clashing over how to respond to weak economic polling, including debate over Trump’s proposed $5,000 adult payout—while Maine Sen. Susan Collins calls it “extraordinarily costly.”