1. Gov. Janet Mills is assembling a Cabinet likely to include more women than any of her predecessors and has won bipartisan praise, so far, for the qualifications of nominees to lead state agencies. Mills, a Democrat, has nominated 13 individuals to serve as commissioners of the 14 state agencies, with the final announcement – for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry – potentially coming this week. Seven of the 13 nominations are women. If all of those nominees are confirmed by the state Senate, Maine’s first female governor would also lead the most gender-diverse administration in state history. (Press Herald)
2. With more snow on the way for this week, Maine game wardens are investigating the first snowmobile death of the season. Officials say accidents tend to happen because the person operating is driving too fast for conditions, driving beyond the effectiveness of headlights, driving beyond operator abilities, drinking and driving, and operating on unfamiliar bodies of water. Officials are urging Mainers to prepare before heading out by having items to make a fire, extra gloves, socks, and other equipment. (WGME)
3. Area residents donated more than 1,000 Christmas trees to Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook by Sunday’s dropoff deadline, a supply that should keep the farm’s goat herd fed through next summer. (Press Herald)
4. The Chargers (13-4) will next face the second-seeded New England Patriots (11-5) on the road Sunday. The Chargers last won two games during a single postseason in 2007, when the franchise was in San Diego. They lost to the Patriots in the AFC championship game. (Press Herald)
5. New year, new career? If your 2019 resolutions include finding a new job, then Wallethub is here to help with its rankings of the 10 best and worst U.S. cities for jobs in 2019. Based on such criteria as job opportunities, employment growth and monthly average starting salary Portland, ME ranks #6 on the list. Scottsdale, AZ was #1. Boston, MA is #9 on the list. (WalletHub)
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