News from July 5, 2012

July 6, 2012

28 groups financed events for legislators

a review of event spending from January 2011 to May 2012 shows that the organizations entertained, fed or rented hotel rooms for legislators and state officials to create favorable impressions and advance lawmaking.

July 6, 2012

Countrywide gave out loans for sway in D.C.

Richard Syron, Daniel Mudd Over 12½ years, the finance company used VIP discount loans as a tool to influence a wide spectrum of officials.

July 5, 2012

Transportation bill presents potential 'triple whammy'

20110801_EasternTrail Expected to become law today, the $120 billion spending plan will likely decrease funding to road safety programs.

July 5, 2012

Loan scams prompt advance-fee warning

Consumers and businesses in Maine have been asked for up-front payments by possibly fraudulent lenders.

July 5, 2012

Fireworks complaints to police surged during holiday

In Portland, police said they got a deluge of complaints.

July 6, 2012

Elderly man leads police on low-speed chase

The driver apparently suffered from a medical condition and was taken to Maine Medical Center.

July 6, 2012

Body of Mass. man, 25, found off Kennebunk Video clip included

The unidentified man apparently hit his head as he dove from a buoy and did not resurface.

July 5, 2012

Kayaker rescued from Scarborough River

The woman clings to a train trestle and calls for help.

July 5, 2012

Grand jury indicts Portland stabbing suspect

Christopher Miller is accused of stabbing a woman in a Cedar Street apartment.

July 5, 2012

Cedar Street standoff suspect indicted

Brian Kelley is accused of shooting a woman with a pellet gun and prompting a six-hour standoff with police.

July 5, 2012

Sex assault suspect appears in juvenile court

Mohammed Mukhtar's case is in juvenile court following a judge's ruling that the state failed to establish he was an adult. He is accused of attacking a 50-year-old woman in a Portland apartment.

July 5, 2012

Maine man's body finally recovered from Rainier

Nick Hall fell to his death during a rescue mission on the mountain on June 21.

July 5, 2012

State warns of 'advance fee' loan scams

The most recent examples involve companies called "Hempford Finance Center" and "Metta Capital Funding," both purporting to be based in Portland.

July 6, 2012

Motorcyclist in critical condition after I-295 crash

The Windham man was going about 75 mph and not wearing a helmet, police say.

July 5, 2012

USM's Botman resigns, will keep $203K salary in newly created post

Officials say that Selma Botman will take a position in the University of Maine System chancellor's office, where she will develop and expand international education programs.

July 5, 2012

Munjoy Hill to close to traffic at 5:30 p.m. today

Tonight's Stars and Stripes Spectacular on the Eastern Prom is scheduled to start with a pops concert at 7:40 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9:20.

July 5, 2012

Timber-harvester accident kills mechanic in Jackman

The 46-year-old Quebec man died after getting pinned between a timber harvester and a service truck, police said.

July 5, 2012

This time, Fla. judge sets Zimmerman's bond at $1 million Video clip included

Zimmerman's $150,000 bond was revoked last month after he and his wife misled the court about how much money they had during an April bond hearing.

July 5, 2012

Teen stabbed during fireworks show in Bangor

Police say an 18-year-old woman was stabbed in the back and neck during an altercation Wednesday night.

July 5, 2012

Old Orchard police say woman passed fake bills

Police were called to a gift shop Wednesday after a worker there suspected a woman had used a fake $50 bill.

July 5, 2012

FairPoint offers rewards to catch, convict copper thieves

The company offers rewards of up to $5,000 following a series of thefts across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

July 5, 2012

Casco homeowner escapes fire, dies of heart attack

The 7 a.m. fire on Quaker Ridge Road destroys the garage but firefighters save the house.

July 5, 2012

Pittsburgh suburb shoots off fireworks in cemetery

One woman says she couldn't visit her husband's grave because the cemetery was closed so workers could set up the display.

July 5, 2012

House arrest denied for convicted Pa. monsignor

Judge M. Teresa Sarmina agrees with prosecutors who say Monsignor William Lynn should be treated like any other felon and remain jailed until his sentencing.

July 5, 2012

NH hospital faces new suits for hepatitis cases

Almost 60 former patients – including 27 who tested positive for the blood-borne viral infection – have now filed suit against Exeter Hospital.

July 5, 2012

First NATO truck crosses Pakistan border

The reopening is a rare bright spot in relations between the U.S. and Pakistan, which had closed the routes in retaliation for American airstrikes in November that killed 24 Pakistani troops.

July 5, 2012

Maine fire marshal: So far, so good on fireworks

Fire Marshal Joe Thomas is urging people to stay safe as fireworks continue to be set off through the weekend.

July 5, 2012

Bounty hunter lures dead-beat dad home with role in bogus movie

The father was arrested under a new law making it a crime to move out of state to avoid paying child support.

July 5, 2012

Fla. lifeguard fired for rescue outside beach zone Video clip included

"It was a long run, but someone needed my help. I wasn't going to say no," says former lifeguard Tomas Lopez.

July 5, 2012

Romney's wife says woman being eyed for ticket Video clip included

It's been four years since John McCain selected then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palinto be the first female on a Republican presidential ticket.

July 5, 2012

Maine safety roadblock nabs NH fugitive

Oxford County Sheriff's deputies became suspicious when one vehicle turned around just before the roadblock.

July 5, 2012

Malware may knock thousands off Internet on Monday

Users whose computers are infected will lose their ability to go online, and will have to call their service providers to delete the malware and reconnect to the Internet.

July 5, 2012

Maine man recovers brother's lost Purple Heart

After repeated attempts to find it, an Orono man finally reclaims the medal awarded posthumously to Army Pvt. Larry Nadeau, who died in 1966.

July 5, 2012

NH bridge operator dies after being hit by car

The 67-year-old Hampton River Bridge operator was getting off from workwhen he was hit by a car while crossing Route 1A.

July 5, 2012

3 dead in capsize of NY yacht, all children Video clip included

The yacht's operator says the boat went over when it was slammed by a wave. Twenty-four other people were rescued, many by fellow boaters.

July 5, 2012

Auburn mom questions sugary cereals at school

The food service director says the cereal selection is being reviewed.

July 5, 2012

Big rewards, less job security for college presidents

The men and women in the president's office are increasingly on high alert that their stays at the top could prove short.

July 5, 2012

Power back on for many Mid-Atlantic residents

The number without power was diminishing today, though more than 500,000 customers were still out with many of the outages in West Virginia.

July 5, 2012

Man dies in motorboat crash on Mass. lake

Police say the boat was traveling "at a pretty good clip" when it hit a wake, went up into the air and flipped.

July 5, 2012

Maine animal shelter seeks $1M to expand

The existing Pets Are Worth Saving shelter of Rockport is over capacity and sometimes has to turn pets away, an official says.

July 26, 2012

Mile markers to be painted for Beach to Beacon race

 The 15th annual running of the Beach to Beacon established by Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson will be held on Aug. 4.

July 5, 2012

Today's poll: Martin's Point bridge

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July 5, 2012

Chebeague celebrates freedom, community Several photos included in this story

The year's biggest community event brings out year-round and summer residents to celebrate ‘Christmas in July.’

July 5, 2012

Fireworks explosion injures 11, two severely

 Separately, three children are hospitalized after sparklers exploded in a glass bottle on Rye Beach.

July 5, 2012

Falmouth Route 1 changes could come before voters

A proposal to create more of a village feel would alter traffic and zoning.

July 5, 2012

What was Bean's middle name?

L.L. Bean The Freeport outfitter's first name was surely Leon, but there's some lingering disagreement about what that second 'L' stood for.

July 5, 2012

New chief of schools: Will he be here long?

'Manny' Caulk has no Maine ties and his 'superstar' credentials are attractive to other districts, but he says he's committed to Portland's goals.

July 5, 2012

Dispatches

Man sentenced for selling his food stamp benefits / DEP urges boaters to check vessels for invasive plants / Appalachian Trail hiker rescued after becoming ill . . . and more Maine news.

July 5, 2012

Roving team assisting Portland's young homeless

20120703_HomelessTeens They need help with accessing benefits, finding jobs and getting off the streets, and their numbers are rising.

July 7, 2012

MDOT to unveil plan for new Martin's Point Bridge

 The new bridge will be built right next to the existing one, with a little overlap at each end, so two-way traffic will be maintained throughout construction.

July 5, 2012

Fireworks, police business booming

A new store sees 1,000 customers, a Standish man is burned and cops are right out straight.

July 5, 2012

Foresters study disease infecting N.H. white pines

Also found in Maine and other states, the canker causes dead spots that affect a tree's ability to grow.

July 5, 2012

New England Dispatches

Ceremony marks War of 1812 bicentennial / Man fatally shot while watching fireworks.

July 5, 2012

Weather's making growers groan

 So far, 2012 has been too warm too early, too cold for too long, and altogether too wet, creating a particularly unpredictable farming season for many crops in Maine.

July 5, 2012

Portland will mark Fourth on 5th

 The concert program will start at 7:40 tonight, followed by the fireworks display at 9:20.

July 5, 2012

Tiny particle seen as key to universe discovered

Scientists around the globe rejoice that the long-sought piece that gives everything else mass has been found.

July 5, 2012

New findings back theory that Arafat was poisoned

Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat's widow calls for his body to be exhumed.

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