WATERVILLE

Strikers urge Colby trustee to put pressure on FairPoint

More than two dozen striking workers from FairPoint Communications Inc. picketed outside Colby College on Friday, saying college trustee Michael Gordon is in a position to bring the telephone and Internet provider back to the bargaining table.

“We believe Michael Gordon has the power to bring a resolution to this dispute, but so far he has refused to publicly intervene on behalf of Maine’s working families,” said Christina Williams, a 34-year veteran of the company and an organizer for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2327.

Gordon is the chief investment officer for New York-based Angelo, Gordon & Co., a privately held hedge fund and alternative-investment manager that focuses on distressed investments, including FairPoint.

FairPoint workers said Angelo, Gordon holds the largest stake in FairPoint Communications, a publicly traded company based in North Carolina, and that they wanted to draw attention to Gordon.

Advertisement

A request for comment from Gordon failed to get a response Friday. Strikers said they weren’t certain Gordon was on campus for the trustees meeting, but they wanted to send a message.

STATEWIDE

Drug addiction in Maine featured in Al-Jazeera show

An Al-Jazeera America investigation airing Saturday night spotlights heroin use and prescription drug addiction in Portland and Bangor.

The episode of the television network’s series “Fault Lines” looks at the use of opioid painkillers and links to heroin use. Maine has one of the highest rates of prescription painkiller addiction in the country.

The producer of the piece, Sam Black, is from Portland.

Advertisement

The half-hour episode, “Opioid Wars,” will air at 7 p.m. Saturday. Al-Jazeera America is on Channel 210 on Time Warner Cable in the Portland market.

The episode also will air at 10 p.m. Saturday and 2 a.m. Sunday.

Augusta

Maine launches website to spread Ebola information

Maine is launching a new website about preparedness and response to suspected cases of the Ebola virus.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced the new website on Friday. It includes fact sheets and answers to frequently asked questions about Ebola.

Advertisement

Pages for health care providers include guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Maine CDC says the health care pages will also serve as a repository of information for health organizations, staff and first responders.

Maine CDC Director Sheila Pinette says the website will be updated regularly.

Two men charged in theft of storm drain covers

Police have charged two people with stealing nearly two dozen storm drain grates and manhole covers that were sold to a recycling company.

Jordan Achorn, 20, of Jefferson and Dustin Matthews, 23, of Gardiner were each charged on Tuesday with theft by unauthorized taking, said Augusta police Lt. Kevin Lully. Matthews was also charged with violating conditions of release.

Brian Tarbuck, superintendent of the Greater Augusta Utility District, said 20 manhole covers and catch basin grates have been stolen since Oct. 7.

Advertisement

Lully said nearly all of the covers and grates were recovered at an Augusta recycling center.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Sen. King backs Republican in Tennessee Senate race

Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine said Friday that he is endorsing his Republican colleague Lamar Alexander in Tennessee’s Senate race, but is awaiting the results of elections nationwide before deciding which party to caucus with.

King’s endorsement followed a joint appearance with Alexander at Lipscomb University to discuss efforts to simplify federal financial aid applications for prospective college students.

“We need people who will listen and are interested in solving problems, and Sen. Alexander is one of those,” King told reporters after the event.

King, who has caucused with Democrats since his election to the Senate in 2012, earlier this year endorsed Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.

“So I’m an equal opportunity supporter of people who I think solve problems,” King said.

– From staff and news services


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.