News from July 2, 2012

July 2, 2012

Critics speak out against Portland storm-water fee

About a dozen residents and businesses ask the City Council to give the city manager more leeway in crafting a proposal to fund impending work.

July 2, 2012

Trooper to appeal prison term in sex-crime case

After being convicted of a dozen sex crimes involving a minor, Gregory Vrooman of Nobleboro will spend 21 months behind bars.

July 2, 2012

Elderly man drives car through doors of Saco Shaw's

Police say it is lucky that no one was injured during the mishap.

July 2, 2012

Judge dismisses charges against sex-assault suspect

A judge today dismissed charges against a Somali refugee accused of sexual assault, saying that the state has not proved that he was an adult at the time of the crime.

July 3, 2012

Maine state trooper charged with drunk driving

Police say Sgt. Julie Bergan failed field sobriety and blood-alcohol tests after showing up for work drunk.

July 2, 2012

GlaxoSmithKline to pay $3 billion for health fraud

In the largest health-care fraud case in history, GlaxoSmithKline will pay $3 billion and plead guilty to hiding safety information and promoting two popular drugs for unapproved uses.

July 2, 2012

Anderson Cooper: 'I'm gay'

The CNN journalist revealed on Monday that he is gay, ending years of reluctance to talk about his personal life in public.

July 2, 2012

Maine teen shot in road-rage incident released from hospital

A 16-year-old Maine girl who was shot in the arm during an apparent road rage incident on I-495 North has been released from the hospital.

July 2, 2012

Saco man charged with robbing same pharmacy three times

John Vernon Jr., 28, has been charged with three counts of robbery, eluding an officer, driving with a suspended license, theft and criminal speed

July 2, 2012

Humpback calf found floating off Maine coast

The whale carcass was spotted last week and washed up on the south shore of Little Cranberry Island over the weekend.

July 2, 2012

Four companies accused of insurance fraud in Maine

The Insurance Superintendent said the companies must cease doing business in Maine and pay $260,000 in civil penalties in addition to restitution and interest.

July 2, 2012

Surgeons reattach Maine boy's severed hand

The 5-year-old boy lost his hand last week in a freak accident involving a jump rope and car.

July 2, 2012

TD Bank to ramp up hiring in August

The Portland-based bank hopes to bring 1,600 jobs to South Carolina by 2016 as part of a large expansion effort.

July 2, 2012

Portland charter school decision delayed

A proposed charter school in downtown Portland has more questions to answer before the project can move forward.

July 2, 2012

MERC hearing moved to new location

The city is seeking feedback on its plan to buy the waste plant for $6.65 million and then shut it down.

July 2, 2012

Sox outfielder Carl Crawford to play in Portland

The four-time All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner, who hasn't played in 2012, is rehabbing from left wrist surgery and a sprained ligament in his left elbow.

July 2, 2012

Officials: Congress Street fire caused by sparklers, toaster

An apartment fire that closed parts of Congress Street and Cumberland Avenue and displaced at least three families was caused when two kids tried to light fireworks in a bedroom using a toaster oven, according to Portland Acting Fire Chief Stephen Smith.

July 2, 2012

Winning? Charlie Sheen's new show sets FX record

FX says Thursday's debut of Sheen's sitcom, "Anger Management," was the most-watched series premiere in network history, and the second episode actually added viewers.

July 2, 2012

Moldova to start castrating convicted pedophiles

Amnesty International has criticized a new law that calls for the castration of anyone convicted of sexually abusing children in Moldova.

July 2, 2012

Maine scientist wins Fulbright Scholarship

While some girls dream of turning frogs into princes, it was a frog that turned Alexis Baxter into a scientist.

July 2, 2012

LePage to visit Scarborough fireworks store

The governor will tour Phantom Fireworks with the state fire marshal and discuss fireworks safety

July 2, 2012

Camden National Bank to sell two branches

The First will buy the 63 Union Street branch in Rockland and the 145 Exchange Street building in Bangor.

July 2, 2012

Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne enters Maine race

Bayne, the 2011 winner of the Daytona 500, has entered the TD Bank 250, which is the premier auto race in Maine.

July 2, 2012

Man in Calif. prison charged with 1986 Vt. killing

Female golf pro Sarah Hunter was strangled and left in a Vermont cornfield more than 25 years ago.

July 2, 2012

After 44 years, Maine radio personality off the air

For the past two weeks, morning radio personality Don Brown has slept in until 6 a.m. — three hours later than usual.

July 2, 2012

GOP to choose nominees in Maine legislative races

District 57 was left without candidates when both primary winners — Republican Andrew Worcester and Democrat Maeghan Maloney — withdrew their names from the race.

July 2, 2012

Kan. insurance chief bucks GOP on health insurance

The Republican says the health exchanges in 'Obamacare' are a 'market-driven' solution that gives more people access to healthcare, but her GOP colleagues shun her.

July 2, 2012

NH night vision company gets $50M Army contract

A New Hampshire company that makes night vision goggles has been awarded a $50 million contract from the U.S. Army for 3,800 goggles.

July 2, 2012

Privately devout Romney worships with his family

The family's devotion to the Mormon faith is a part of Romney's life that the electorate rarely sees and Romney almost never mentions it in public.

July 2, 2012

China court: Apple pays $60M to settle iPad case

Apple has paid $60 million to settle a dispute in China over ownership of the iPad name, a court announced Monday, removing a potential obstacle to sales of the popular tablet in the Chinese market.

July 2, 2012

No members left on Maine town's Recreation Board

“It’s a bigger job than any other board in town, because no one else has employees,” one selectman said. "That’s really stressful for people.”

July 2, 2012

Hermon man dead after standoff with police



July 2, 2012

Sea bed mapping to begin this week

The expedition will map as much as 800 square miles at up to 300 feet deep.

July 2, 2012

Man found lying hurt in northern Maine road

Police think the man may have fallen out of a pickup truck bed, due to a 911 call they received.

July 2, 2012

Maine gas prices drop again

The average in Maine is now $3.39 per gallon, just two cents more than the national average.

July 2, 2012

Guardsmen build Augusta trail, gain experience

Maine soldiers clad in camouflage and hard hats forged a road through the woods of Augusta over the last two weeks, opening up access for skiers, hikers and bikers.

July 2, 2012

Maine woman: I'll vaccinate my wallaby

The woman hopes wildlife officials will let her keep the pet if she has it vaccinated against rabies.

July 2, 2012

Photos: Rainbow at Prouts Neck



July 2, 2012

Painkiller task force reports to LePage this week

Many see funding – or the lack of it – as a major challenge for attacking Maine’s drug abuse epidemic.

July 2, 2012

Runway reopens in Augusta

Flights to Boston resume now that the two-month reconstruction of the main runway is completed.

July 2, 2012

Early ice-outs in most Maine lakes sink records

Researchers say the ice’s disappearance in March was 'close to a month earlier’ than – well, forever.

July 2, 2012

Storm-water fee could help pay for upgrades

The City Council weighs a proposal that would add costs for businesses with bigger paved areas.

July 2, 2012

Maine teen shot in road-rage assault

A teenager from Maine was shot and wounded Sunday afternoon in Massachusetts during what police are describing as a road rage incident on Interstate 495.

July 2, 2012

Ignorance no excuse for fireworks violations, police say

Buyers get a brochure with rules and safety tips – and plenty of other laws can be applied to misbehavior.

July 2, 2012

Local & State Dispatches

Maine state police getting new cruisers / Couple struck by lightning in Acadia / Saco man apprehended in Gorham robbery ... and more news from around the state.

July 2, 2012

Firehouse bulking up to support new tower

The placement of the new communications tower on the roof at the Munjoy Hill station surprises some.

July 2, 2012

Firefighters test skills in friendly contest at muster

With temperatures close to 90, the wet hose part of the competition helped to provide welcome relief.

July 2, 2012

Feature obituary: The Rev. Robert Smith, 91, former pastor in Sanford



July 2, 2012

Pieces fall into place for eastern Maine wind project

 When completed, the 34-megawatt Bull Hill will give First Wind enough capacity in Maine to supply the energy for 85,000 homes.

July 2, 2012

Young Maine upstarts blaze a trail Several photos included in this story

 With passion and a bit of daring, Maine entrepreneurs have launched businesses in challenging economic times.

July 2, 2012

Full-term at 37 weeks? Maybe not, study finds

Those babies may actually be premature, say experts who linked a learning lag to less time spent in utero.

July 2, 2012

Mid-Atlantic power outages could last days

 Temperatures approach 100 degrees in many areas, two days after storms knocked out electricity for millions.

July 2, 2012

Conserving a Cape jewel Several photos included in this story

 The Cape Elizabeth Land Trust makes a final push to acquire 63 acres and preserve it.

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