AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine’s Transportation Department would get the authority to raise the speed limit on Interstate 295 to 75 mph from Scarborough to West Gardiner if a bill reviewed by state lawmakers Friday becomes law. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Justin Chenette, D-Saco, told the Transportation Committee that no speed limit would change automatically and […]
Maine
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Gorham man gets 8 years for abusing 3 children
PORTLAND (AP) — A Gorham man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for molesting three children. Michael Emerson on Thursday pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawful sexual contact with children younger than 12. Authorities say the 48-year-old Emerson molested two girls and a boy at his second home on Frye Island last […]
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Lawmakers serve early St. Patrick’s Day drinking bill to Gov. LePage
AUGUSTA — The Legislature passed a bill Thursday that will allow bars and restaurants to serve alcohol as early as 6 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day when it falls on a Sunday. The measure, passed under an emergency preamble, had been a source of controversy and was criticized by Republicans because it was moving faster than […]
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Eimskip’s first container ship docks in Portland
PORTLAND — The first of many container ships belonging to the Icelandic company that has chosen Portland as its North American headquarters arrived in Casco Bay on Wednesday afternoon. The Reykjafoss, one of two container ships belonging to Eimskip that will be making calls in Portland, docked at the city’s International Marine Terminal around 5 […]
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Lawmakers reject moving mental health patients
AUGUSTA (AP) — Lawmakers have effectively killed a proposal to move mental health patients who have committed violent criminal acts out of residential neighborhoods and back to the former Augusta Mental Health Institute campus. The decision came Wednesday after the Department of Health and Human Services said it would cost the state at least $2 […]
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Ag secretary speaking in Maine about nutrition
Vilsack is speaking Thursday at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center on the Agriculture Department’s initiatives to elevate the national dialogue in promoting proper nutrition and increased physical activity for America’s youth. Vilsack is also planning to visit the U.S. Coast Guard station in South Portland, where he will underscore the importance […]
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LePage’s nominee for Maine health board withdraws
AUGUSTA (AP) — A former Republican legislator tabbed to serve on the board of Maine’s Dirigo Health Agency by Gov. Paul LePage has withdrawn his nomination and criticized what he called a “coordinated attack” from three liberal groups that opposed him. Jonathan McKane said Tuesday at a hearing before the Legislature’s Insurance Committee that the […]
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No plea deal yet in Zumba prostitution trial
PORTLAND — Prosecutors and the defense have concluded their first round of settlement discussions in the case of a Zumba fitness instructor charged with prostitution and tax and welfare violations. Wednesday’s closed-door settlement conference focusing on Alexis Wright lasted nearly five hours at the Cumberland County Courthouse. York County Assistant District Attorney Patrick Gordon said […]
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Girl Scout camp in Readfield vandalized
READFIELD (AP) — Police are seeking the public’s help in finding those responsible for widespread vandalism and theft from a Central Maine Girl Scout camp. State police said every building at Camp Kirkwold in Readfield had doors and windows broken, and in those buildings with plumbing, all the copper piping was ripped out. Supplies were […]
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Portland activist seeks to put abortion consent measure on ballot
AUGUSTA — A Portland man who directed a political action committee opposing last year’s successful same-sex marriage ballot measure has filed initial paperwork with the secretary of state’s office that would allow him to start collecting signatures to force a statewide vote on a proposal to require parental consent for minors seeking abortions. Erick Bennett […]