Heat Relief & Warnings: Extreme heat is moving into Maine this week, with an extreme heat warning for York and Androscoggin counties plus parts of Cumberland and Oxford, and an extreme heat watch for much of the rest of southern/central Maine; multiple communities are opening cooling centers, including Lewiston/Auburn sites and Portland library hours, as air quality alerts add extra risk for sensitive groups. Public Safety: Lewiston officials discussed youth gun violence at a special council meeting, with police pointing to stolen firearms—often taken from unlocked vehicles—and urging parents to secure guns; Portland also charged a driver after a cellphone-linked crash injured an 11-year-old bicyclist. Politics & Spending: Maine’s Senate race remains tight as outside GOP spending surges, and new polling shows Hannah Pingree leading for governor; meanwhile, the Platner campaign says it’s being outspent by conservative super PACs. Housing & Community Life: Maine released new building-permit data showing progress toward housing goals, while Lewiston’s Chick-A-Dee restaurant announced it will close at the end of 2026. Local Color: South Portland’s Willard Scoops says it’s now fully solar powered, and the World Affairs Council of Maine honored local leaders connecting Maine to the world.