News from June 26, 2012

June 27, 2012

Poliquin to transfer land to different tax-break program

Georgetown selectmen approve the change from a program that has saved the state treasurer thousands of dollars in taxes.

June 26, 2012

Tropical Storm Debby keeps Florida wet

 The storm, sitting offshore near the Florida Panhandle, has dumped as much as 26 inches of rain in some spots.

June 26, 2012

U.Va. board reinstates ousted president after outcry

The University of Virginia reinstated its popular president Tuesday less than three weeks after ousting her in a secretive move that infuriated students and faculty and had the governor threatening to fire the entire governing board.

June 26, 2012

New bridge connecting Portland, South Portland set to open

After two years of construction, the new Veterans Memorial Bridge is ready to open.

June 27, 2012

South Portland man charged in Falmouth fatal crash

Matthew Blanchard, 24, apparently fell asleep while driving a 2008 Chevy Cobalt, and then lied to police about who was driving.

June 26, 2012

Gas line repairs will delay traffic tonight on Washington Avenue

There is no timetable on when those repairs might end

June 26, 2012

1 dead in Maine house fire

Maine authorities say one person is dead following a house fire Tuesday in Rumford.

June 26, 2012

Evading Ticketmaster, comedian Louis C.K. sells tour himself

After selling a comedy special directly to fans and upending the comedy business, Louis C.K. is taking the same approach with tickets to his next tour.

June 26, 2012

Portland Jetport to get LEED Gold certification

 The Gold certification is the second-highest rating for the design, construction and operation of "green" buildings.

June 26, 2012

Kowtowing to rules, Cabot drops 'Vermont' logo

Cabot Creamery Cooperative is losing a little "Vermont" on its labels, and that has government officials worried that Vermont is losing a little publicity.

June 26, 2012

Pike won't blast as planned at Westbrook quarry

Pike Industries won't blast rock at its Spring Street quarry until the Maine Business and Consumer Court takes further action on a consent agreement between the city and the company.

June 26, 2012

Portland dealer boasts 3 rare lobsters

Pete McAleney of New Meadows Lobster has a bright blue, a bright orange and a calico lobster in a holding tank at his Portland business.

June 26, 2012

Freeport names two finalists for town manager

One candidate is from Bethel, Maine, and one is from Lincoln, N.H.

June 26, 2012

Plane in fatal crash removed from water Several photos included in this story

Sea Tow started dragging the 1946 Stinson Voyager toward South Portland this morning.

June 26, 2012

Spice Girls reunite to launch musical 'Viva Forever'

The Spice Girls gave fans what they want — what they really, really want — Tuesday, reuniting onstage to announce the details of a musical based on their songs.

June 26, 2012

Foundation pulls plug on adoption, foster care services

Casey Family Services, which provides foster care, adoption and family reunification services in Maine, will cease operations by next year.

June 26, 2012

Romney campaign rips Obama over Red Sox, Youkilis comments Video clip included

At an event in Boston on Monday, the president thanked the Red Sox for trading Youkilis to his hometown team, the Chicago White Sox. Romney's spokeswoman said the president was inappropriately mocking a struggling team.

June 26, 2012

Judge may grant house arrest to Pa. monsignor

Monsignor William Lynn is the first U.S. church official convicted in the cover-up of child sex-abuse complaints.

June 27, 2012

Vt. couple plead not guilty to upgraded charges in killing of teacher

They chose to kill the popular St. Johnsbury teacher because she had beautiful blond hair and they felt socially snubbed by her, according to a police affidavit.

June 27, 2012

Summers won't resign as Secretary of State during Senate campaign

Critics say there's a conflict of interest because Summers' office will oversee his own election, but Summers said his deputy will handle the election – not him.

June 26, 2012

Scarborough, Saco look at possibility of new turnpike interchange

Officials from both communities say the time has come to take a closer look at how traffic moves through two highly traveled corridors.

June 26, 2012

Maine drug-abuse panel assembles recommendations

The panel of medical, law enforcement and state officials is looking for solutions as an epidemic of drug store robberies plagues the state.

June 26, 2012

New England's jobless rate ticks down in May

The jobless rate in the region was 6.8 percent last month, down from 6.9 percent in April.

June 26, 2012

Large Liz? Tower housing Big Ben to get a new name

The iconic Clock Tower of Britain's Parliament — widely, though incorrectly, known as Big Ben — is being renamed in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, authorities said Tuesday.

June 26, 2012

Report: Larry Bird leaving Indiana Pacers

The Celtics legend was named the NBA's Executive of the Year this year after building a tough, young team that lost to eventual champion Miami.

June 26, 2012

Bangor Savings Bank posts earnings growth — again

 The bank has now posted 11 consecutive years of growth, and expects to open a new branch in Augusta in the near future.

June 26, 2012

Tape: Sandusky's adopted son talks of sex abuse

Jerry Sandusky's son told police he was sexually abused starting when he was 8, a decade before the former Penn State assistant football coach adopted him, according to a police interview recording obtained by NBC.

June 26, 2012

Maine lawmakers may seek review of proposed toll hike

Lawmakers will consider an audit by the Office of Program Evaluation & Government Accountability, or OPEGA.

June 26, 2012

Texas woman gets $1.4M utility bill in error

A lot of people gripe when they get high summertime electric bills. But Kristin Harriger's bill beats them all.

June 26, 2012

Magazine ranks Ogunquit as 'best beach town'

Three other York County communities also make Yankee Magazine's list of the Top 25 Beach Towns in New England.

June 26, 2012

6 arrested in connection with oxycodone trafficking probe

Five defendants from Biddeford and one from Saco face charges in federal court.

June 28, 2012

Teen cited for failure to stop in separate fatal Falmouth crash

Glenise Hutchins, 80, of Falmouth died of internal bleeding following the crash, police said.

June 26, 2012

Saco sets date for school-district secession vote

Saco residents will decide next month if they want to form a committee to seek withdrawal from Regional School Unit 23.

June 26, 2012

George R. Hearst Jr., media titan's grandson, dies

Hearst was the chairman of a privately held media conglomerate that traces its roots back more than 125 years, when his grandfather took over the San Francisco Examiner.

June 26, 2012

Arizona must now adjust after high court ruling

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the state's "show me your papers" statute has left the state's police chiefs and county sheriffs with more questions than answers.

June 26, 2012

Mass. man gored by bison in Yellowstone National Park

Officials in Yellowstone National Park say a Massachusetts man was gored by a bull bison that threw him 10 feet in the air and then pinned him to the ground.

June 26, 2012

Under pressure from scandals, News Corp. considers split in 2

Under pressure to limit contagion from the British phone hacking scandal, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. said Tuesday that it is considering splitting into two publicly traded companies.

June 26, 2012

CDC trying out free rapid AIDS test at drugstores

The test involves a swab of the inside of the mouth and the results are ready in about 20 minutes.

June 26, 2012

Hunter: She and John Edwards no longer a couple

Hunter told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday that she and Edwards were still a couple until late last week, as details from her new book emerged.

June 26, 2012

Feds: For-profit schools could lose federal student aid

New data shows students who attend for-profit schools are have particular trouble paying off their loans because they can't find 'gainful employment.'

June 26, 2012

NRA wielding influence in Fast and Furious case

But the White House and experts say Issa's challenge has little merit, and legal precedent and the behavior of previous administrations side with President Obama.

June 26, 2012

Interim Bangor airport director hired permanently

Bangor's city manager said a national search drew 30 applicants, but she ultimately decided to promote from within.

June 26, 2012

Prosecutor shrugs off 'Whitey' Bulger's immunity claim

The Boston mobster said he was given immunity in the 1970s for his 19 murders, and should be released from jail.

June 26, 2012

Maine driver in fatal crash loses appeal

Charles H. Willey, 54, a truck driver, killed a 12-year-old girl in 2011 when his tractor-trailer tipped over.

June 26, 2012

Coca-Cola to invest additional $3B in India

Coca-Cola Co. plans to invest an additional $3 billion in India through 2020 as it looks to capitalize on the growing market.

June 26, 2012

Sleep in a doghouse? Judges handing out more 'shame' punishments

Sleep in a doghouse, wear a humiliating sign and cut off a child's ponytail are some of the punishments judges have meted out recently.

June 26, 2012

Passenger hurt in Boston trolley crash wins $1.2M

MBTA trolley operator Aiden Quinn admitted he was texting his girlfriend just before the two-vehicle crash.

June 26, 2012

Man gets happy birthday wish from Obama at NH stop



June 26, 2012

Challenge to Waterville fireworks ban falls short Video clip included

Kendrick Whitney says he may try to circulate another petition asking that the ban be amended to allow people to sell and use fireworks on certain days during specific hours.

June 26, 2012

Artist replaces Sandusky image on Penn State mural

It its place, artist Michael Pilato paints an image of a poet and activist draped with a blue ribbon – a symbol for awareness of child sexual abuse.

June 26, 2012

Feds: For-profit training programs could lose student aid

The Education Department reports that students in 193 programs at 93 schools were unable to meet standards for a new "gainful employment" rule.

June 26, 2012

Facebook draws user ire with email switcheroo

Facebook has replaced the email address users chose when they signed up and changed it to an @facebook.com address.

June 26, 2012

PHOTO: Ahead of the storm

Zack Dionne, 15, drives his ATV to cover Monday at Fisher Farm in Vassalboro ahead of an approaching thunderstorm . . .

June 26, 2012

New US quarter honors Acadia National Park

The new quarter to be unveiled today at the park depicts a view of the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.

June 26, 2012

Oscar-winning editor getting Maine film fest award

Thelma Schoonmaker is best known for editing the films of director Martin Scorcese, with whom she has worked for more than 40 years.

June 26, 2012

LePage to visit flood-damaged town in central Maine

The weather service has issued a flood warning for Brownville and the surrounding area into this afternoon.

June 26, 2012

Feature Obituary: Grace Bean, 92, savvy businesswoman, caring and elegant



June 26, 2012

South Portland seeks to lower Highland Avenue speed

Complaints lead the city to ask the state to reduce the limit on a busy stretch near the Scarborough line to 35 mph.

June 26, 2012

Investigation of Westbrook assistant principal complete

Howard Jack had been placed on paid administrative leave after a student accused him of ignoring complaints about bullying.

June 26, 2012

Fears about Freeport fireworks linger

A local couple and L.L. Bean try to resolve concerns about a celebration's effect on animals.

June 26, 2012

Defense, security spending jumps in New England

A study shows a large increase since 2003 and finds reasons for the six states to collaborate.

June 26, 2012

New Hampshire crowd braves rain to hear president

President Obama makes an appeal to undecided voters in what is viewed as one of the swing states.

June 26, 2012

Sex scandal rocks Air Force training base

 Four instructors at the Texas base where all airmen are trained face criminal charges.

June 26, 2012

Snowstorms delay recovery of Mainer's body

 The remains of Patten, Maine, native Nick Hall, a ranger killed while rescuing climbers, will stay on Mount Rainier until better weather.

June 26, 2012

Biddeford gets to vote on school spending plan

The education budget is unchanged from the one that had been vetoed by Mayor Alan Casavant.

June 26, 2012

Grants augment Maine police forces with veterans

The York County Sheriff's Office and the Cumberland and Yarmouth police departments will receive the funding.

June 26, 2012

Man sentenced to five years for Freeport arson

Christopher Lee Veysey started a fire last fall that destroyed the building that housed a plumbing business.

June 26, 2012

Court: Arizona went too far on immigrant law

 Justices throw out key parts, saying they intrude on federal statutes, but uphold the 'show-me-your papers' checks by police.

June 26, 2012

FDA probes safety concerns about metal hip replacements

Patients reporting pain that requires removal of the implants and data from British experts prompt scrutiny.

June 26, 2012

Maine truck driver loses license suspension appeal

His tractor-trailer tipped over on a minivan last August, killing a 12-year-old girl from Connecticut.

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