AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine state utilities regulators have given approval for a Colorado-based company to build a natural gas pipeline through 17 central Maine communities. The state Public Utilities Commission on Thursday granted approval to Summit Natural Gas Tim Johnston, executive vice president of Summit Natural Gas of Maine, a subsidiary of Summit Utilities, told […]

PORTLAND (AP) — The AARP is issuing a warning about an apparent phone scam in Maine in which callers are fraudulently identifying themselves as AARP representatives. The AARP says the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department has been contacted by residents saying callers are asking for personal information including a phone number, address and banking information in […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Police in Maine are searching for a man wanted in connection with New York City’s first homicide of the year. Deputy Police Chief Jarred Mills in Augusta, Maine, told WZON-AM that Raymond Mayrant was seen early Wednesday at a Motel 6, inquiring about whether a passport is needed to cross into Canada. […]

WESTBROOK — Sappi Fine Paper said Wednesday that it is spending $2.5 million to rebuild one of its specialty paper coating machines at its Westbrook paper mill. The capital investment will upgrade the coating and drying capabilities of the mill’s No. 20 coater, according to a media release from the company. The rebuild will expand […]

FALMOUTH, Mass. (AP) — Two torpedo-shaped marine robots have been busy detecting, and protecting, rare North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of Maine. The robots, called gliders, were deployed by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers between mid-November and early December. The gliders have acoustic monitoring instruments that help detect calls from four species of […]

PORTLAND (AP) — Police are on the lookout out for a purse-snatching bicyclist who has grabbed handbags from women walking along Portland streets. Officials say a 54-year-old woman reported that she was talking on a cellphone at an intersection near downtown when a man rode up on a bike and grabbed the purse from off […]

NEW YORK (AP) — Supervalu Inc. is selling off five of its grocery chains, including Albertson’s and Jewel-Osco, after years of being squeezed by intensifying competition. The nation’s No. 3 traditional supermarket operator said Thursday that the sale of 877 stores to an investor group led by Cerberus Capital Management will also include Acme, Shaw’s […]

WASHINGTON — Four Maine farmers are on their way to Washington, D.C., this week to take part in a lawsuit a Maine-based farmers association has brought against Monsanto, the giant agriculture and biotechnology firm. On Thursday morning, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington will hear oral arguments in a case brought […]

GREENVILLE — For the first time in nearly three years, there’s plenty of activity at Big Squaw Mountain. The Friends of Squaw Mountain, a nonprofit organization, has signed a lease with resort owner James Confalone to open the lower portion of the mountain. The one-year lease was for $1, according to Greenville real estate agent […]