Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

1:00 AM

Corrupt former turnpike chief facing jail time

Paul Violette pleads guilty to stealing more than $150,000 in the form of credit card charges and gift cards for personal use.

6:21 AM

Occupy Maine up against deadline again

The city of Portland granted a four-day extension to vacate the park, and that deadline is this morning.

1:00 AM

Former podiatrist indicted on 45 counts

John Perry, 50, of Bridgton faces drug and health care fraud charges for allegedly writing illegal prescriptions.

1:00 AM

Bill Nemitz: Foreclosure exposer gets his reward

12:46 AM

Dapolito guilty, could get life term

Jurors take under three hours to decide the drug dealer killed his wife, 30, with a shot to the head.

12:48 AM

Attorneys: Cutler site 'protected speech'

In federal court, lawyers for the creator of The Cutler Files argue that he was following a tradition dating to the nation’s founding.

1:00 AM

States freed of No Child Left Behind

President Obama releases 10 states from some of the law's toughest requirements in favor of their own plans.

1:03 AM

Priest: Diocese's plan to cut costs hurts clergymen

8:02 AM

Towers next in Memorial Bridge demolition

A crane barge will arrive to dismantle the two towers once used to raise and lower the center span.

7:58 AM

Federal judge OKs lawsuit over Kennebec salmon

The lawsuit claims the Hydro Kennebec dam violates federal endangered species laws because it kills fish and blocks access to salmon habitat.

6:47 AM

Dispatches

Cape seventh-grader spells 21 words to win county bee / Man going to jail for perjury tied to worker's comp checks / Portland man sentenced in theft of goods from Walmart / . . . and more news from around Maine.

February 6

Police Beat

The latest police log from your area.

7:54 AM

Bangor named finish line for national race

The eight-day, 2,500-mile road race is described as a cross between "Cannonball Run" and "The Amazing Race."

7:48 AM

Nearly 1 in 20 adults over 50 have fake knees

And as artificial knees wear out, many recipients will live long enough to almost certainly need a second or even third replacement.

7:34 AM

Groups demand new probe into Marine photo

The Marines mistakenly believed the "SS" in the shape of white lightning bolts were a nod to sniper scouts – not to Hitler's notorious SS unit, a Marine spokesman has said.

7:11 AM

Boy, 2 men plucked from ocean in dramatic rescue

It was their first time crossing the ocean, but the three from Edmonton, Canada, were experienced sailors and had come equipped.

12:25 AM

Not everyone is hog-wild about hidden humor

But a new Facebook page supports keeping the pig in the decal found on some Vermont State Police cars.

6:59 AM

3 Gardiner firefighters disciplined for misconduct

The firefighters, including a captain and a union president, engaged in inappropriate conduct against a city employee, according to documents released Thursday.

6:52 AM

Pickup truck driver dies in Bristol crash

Lincoln County sheriff's deputies say the truck left the road, crashed into several trees, and ejected the driver, whose name has not been released.

6:38 AM

Toboggan teams compete for national crown

More than 400 two-, three- and four-person teams are expected to participate in this weekend's races at the Camden Snow Bowl.

6:28 AM

Chief ranger of Maine Forest Service retires

Bill Williams started his career in 1977 as a summer campsite ranger at Moosehead Lake.

6:16 AM

Crane arriving in Searsport to be state's biggest

The $4.2 million marine crane with a 144-metric-ton lift capacity will be owned by the state.

8:03 AM

Maine guard unit going back to Kuwait

This will be the third deployment to the Mideast for the 126th Aviation Regiment's medevac unit.

12:46 AM

Romney takes to Maine's airwaves

The former Massachusetts governor arrives in Maine for a rally today and is buying time on cable TV and radio.

1:00 AM

Conservation advocates voice fears about oil pipeline

The prospect of transporting 'tar sands' crude to Portland from Canada draws more than 200 to a forum at USM.

12:50 AM

Court system to tighten bail regulations in domestic abuse

Maine’s chief justice says from now on, commissioners must consider criminal histories before setting bail.

1:00 AM

Small plane crashes in N.H., killing pilot

Yesterday at 8:14 AM

Man dies in desperate attempt to save his dogs

At 64, Sherwood Campbell had no children. All he had was his three long-haired pets, and he gave his life trying to rescue them from a burning building.

Yesterday at 9:20 PM

Jury finds Dapolito guilty of murder

The jury convicts Patrick Dapolito in the 2010 shooting death of Kelly Winslow in their Limington home.

Yesterday at 3:57 PM

Ex-turnpike chief pleads guilty to theft

Paul Violette's attorney has said Violette agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a prison sentence not to exceed five years.

Yesterday at 9:26 AM

LePage proposes sweeping education changes

The governor says his four proposals, including public funding of religious schools, expands opportunities for kids. But critics say the proposals will have harmful effects.

Yesterday at 2:09 PM

Former Portland podiatrist indicted for illegal scripts

John Perry, 50, is accused of writing prescriptions with no medical purpose, trading prescriptions for cash and cocaine and fabricating patient charts to cover the illegal prescriptions.

Yesterday at 11:59 AM

Maine to get $21M from foreclosure settlement

Attorney General William Schneider says the settlement is "the best first step to get relief directly to eligible Maine borrowers who were harmed."

Yesterday at 3:31 PM

Navy joins probe of 200-year-old shipwreck off RI

Can it be the USS Revenge, the ship commanded and lost by Navy hero Oliver Hazard Perry on a stormy January day in 1811?

Yesterday at 8:16 AM

Produce supplier going out of business

Market Fresh Produce's closure in Scarborough will displace 20 workers and leave 700 customers with no supplier.

Yesterday at 6:36 AM

Dispatches

Driver blinded by sun hits girl trying to board bus / Bill aims to get parents involved at kids' schools / Section of Memorial Bridge taken down, floated to Mass. / . . . and more news from around Maine.