PORTLAND (AP) — A major development project for Portland’s Thompson Point is going to get a 30-year, $31 million tax break from the Maine city. And the city is planning to use 25 percent of the money it will receive from the development, an estimated $6.6 million, for transit projects. The City Council voted early […]

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Officials in Maine’s Old Orchard Beach are considering charging people who need to use the ocean-side community’s three public restrooms. The Town Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a proposed 25- or 50-cent fee to use the facilities on Milliken Street, West Grand Avenue and in Memorial Park. Town Manager […]

AUGUSTA — Officials say the truancy rate in the schools in Maine’s capital city dropped by about 36 percent in the just-ending school year. Officials say the effort to curtail truancy in Augusta schools was aided by creating a position to work with parents and students to keep students in school and, when all else […]

AUGUSTA — This year’s legislative session is notable for something Maine lawmakers didn’t do — send a bond package to voters. Lawmakers submitted 29 bills seeking bonds for a range of projects including railroads, clean water and sewer upgrades, energy efficiency and roads and bridges during the session that’s winding down. But a decision was […]

SOUTH THOMASTON — Maine State Police say excess speed is the likely cause of a car crash that killed a 17-year-old girl from Owls Head. Police say Aleisha Sonksen died after the small sports car she was riding in went out of control on Route 73 just before midnight Monday and overturned several times. The […]

BIG MOOSE TOWNSHIP — Vandals have caused thousands of dollars of damage to the Big Squaw Mountain Resort ski area in western Maine. Guy Dow of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department said the culprits smashed television sets, tossed chairs through plate glass windows and chopped doors with axes sometime over Memorial Day weekend. They also […]

PORTLAND — The home of Maine’s Roman Catholic bishop is going on the market. The Portland Catholic Diocese announced Tuesday that it’s selling Bishop Richard Malone’s mansion, which is located on the Western Promenade in Portland. The home has been owned by the church for about 80 years. According to Portland records, the house was […]

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Fare increases are being proposed for monthly and quarterly passes for passengers who ride the ZOOM bus in southern Maine. The Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit Committee wants to increase the monthly pass for ZOOM riders from $80 to $100, and the quarterly pass from $210 to $260. The ZOOM Turnpike Express […]

AUGUSTA — A bill awaiting Gov. Paul LePage’s signature would enable school districts to explore options to reduce their health insurance costs. The sponsor, Republican Rep. Ralph Sarty of Denmark, says the bill gives school districts the flexibility to self-insure or find more affordable plans during this time of financial pressure. Sarty says the bill […]