Feed aggregator
New mayor to take office in Lewiston
LEWISTON (AP) — A new mayor is going to be taking the helm in Maine’s second largest city.
On Tuesday, Lewiston Mayor-elect Shane Bouchard will be sworn in at City Hall along with a number of other local officials.
Maine to prohibit sale of invasive plants
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine will soon prohibit the sale of 33 invasive plants.
State officials say that the Maine landscape is being invaded by otherwise lovely plants like “Crimson King” Norway maple, burning bush and Japanese barberry.
Mainers can again apply to grow industrial hemp
AUGUSTA (AP) — Mainers who want to grow industrial hemp can apply for the 2018 growing season.
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry acknowledges that would-be hemp growers face barriers that make it tricky to grow the crop legally.
Maine’s minimum wage increases to $10 an hour
AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine’s minimum wage increases to $10 an hour in the new year thanks to a law approved by voters in 2016.
The hourly wage will then increase again to $11 in 2019 and $12 in 2020. Then, the wage will increase according to a formula.
Police: Maine man had 110 packets of drugs in intestines
CALAIS (AP) — Police say one of the five men charged after a drive-by shooting in eastern Maine had more than 100 doses of drugs in his intestines.
Police say 27-year-old Stephen Perkins of Baileyville was charged along with four men from New York City after shots were fired from a car Wednesday night in Calais (KAH’-luss).
No one was hurt.
Those who want to run for Maine office can gather signatures
AUGUSTA (AP) — Mainers who want to run for office in 2018 can start gathering signatures.
Voters this year will elect one of Maine’s two U.S. senators, Maine’s governor, two representatives to Congress, members of the Maine Legislature and several county officers.
Damariscotta store has uncertain future
Damariscotta (AP) — A Maine man says he hopes to keep his 96-year-old grocery store open with a possible sale to another local business, but its current status is in flux.
LePage issues declaration to continue heating oil deliveries
AUGUSTA ( AP) — Maine's governor has signed an emergency proclamation to allow heating oil delivery personnel to stay on the road longer during a spell of bitingly cold weather.
Republican Gov. Paul LePage on Friday said the order is in effect until Jan. 5 or when he declares the emergency over.
2017 was deadly for Maine motorists, pedestrians
PORTLAND
The year that’s drawn to a close was the deadliest on Maine roads in years — bad enough that the state will launch a public safety campaign in the new year.
Police: 92-year-old woman dies in head-on collision in Oakland
OAKLAND ( AP) — Police say a 92- year-old woman was killed when a truck slid into the path of a vehicle in which she was riding in Oakland.
WABI-TV reports that Jeannette Vigue of Winslow died Saturday afternoon in the head-on collision.
Officials say three others were transported to the hospital.
Fire destroys home, sends 2 to hospital
BRUNSWICK
Two people were taken to a hospital — including a firefighter — when a fire destroyed an elderly couple’s house at 5 Maquiot Road in Brunswick late Friday morning.
Firefighters squelch Brunswick motel fire
BRUNSWICK
Brunswick firefighters quickly extinguished a fire at a Brunswick motel Monday morning and saved the two story-structure.
Cold temperatures help open smelt fishing camps
BOWDOINHAM
The recent frigid temperatures bring with them the return of ice fishing for smelt in Maine. The shacks are filling up fast as people start to look for fun, affordable ways to enjoy the winter weather.
Harpswell already preparing for March town meeting
HARPSWELL
Due to requirements that ballots be available earlier than in prior years, Harpswell selectmen have set the sole item that will be voted on by secret ballot at the annual town meeting.
The only item that will be on the ballot on March 10 will be funding for Curtis Memorial Library.
Bone-chilling cold grips much of U.S.
MILWAUKEE
Bone-chilling cold has gripped much of the central U.S. as 2018 opens, breaking century-old records and leading to at least two deaths attributed to exposure to the dangerously low temperatures.
Owen wants Bath manager position
BATH
Bath Interim City Manager Peter Owen has offered to nix the “interim” part of his title, bringing a proposal to the city council to appoint him as permanent city manager.
“Basically what I did was offer to the council an alternative to going out for a search, offering myself for permanent city manager,” said Owen.