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

September 15, 2012

Maine/New England Dispatches

– From staff and news services

AUGUSTA

Attorney general: Maine has strong case for waiver

Maine Attorney General William Schneider said Friday that he’s disappointed by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ rejection of a lawsuit seeking an expedited review of the state’s request for a Medicaid waiver.

He said the federal panel didn’t address the state’s legal arguments but focused on the administrative process, which gives the federal government 90 days to review the state’s request. The appeals court said Maine’s lawsuit was premature, and rejected it on Thursday.

Schneider said he continues to believe that the state has a strong case, but the state will now focus on the administrative process with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Legislature voted to eliminate coverage for more than 20,000 people effective Oct. 1. But, by statute, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has until Nov. 1 to review the state’s plan.

Suspect in fatal stabbing wants interviews rejected

A lawyer for an Augusta man who is accused of fatally stabbing his roommate and partner has asked a judge to reject as evidence interviews her client had with investigators.

The lawyer for Michael Young, 41, told a judge Thursday in Kennebec County Superior Court that Young was not involved in the death of David Cox in June 2011. She said it was an accident.

Attorney Pam Ames said Cox was tinkering with Young’s bicycle and Young only heard a “bang.” She said Young saw Cox slumped over the bicycle with a knife in his chest.

Prosecutors have said they don’t believe Young’s story because the medical examiner determined the stab wound was not consistent with an accident.

Young remains in jail on $500,000 cash bail.

SOUTH PORTLAND

Councilor is sole incumbent being challenged on ballot

Only one incumbent on the city’s November ballot is being challenged.

City Councilor Rosemarie De Angelis will run against Melissa Linscott for a three-year term representing District 3.

Linda Cohen, a former city clerk, is unopposed in her bid for the District 4 seat now held by Maxine Beecher, who cannot run for a fifth term because of term limits.

No one took out nomination papers for the District 4 school board seat now held by James Gilboy. City Clerk Sue Mooney said that means someone could run a write-in campaign for the seat. Richard Matthews and Tappan Fitzgerald are both seeking re-election, for Districts 3 and 5, respectively.

Jeffrey Selser, an at-large school board member, resigned this week, and Mooney said it is too late to put that seat on the November ballot. A special election to fill that seat likely will be held in March, when voters also are expected to elect a District 1 city councilor to replace Tom Coward.

Coward is the only candidate for the District 3 county commissioner seat. He cannot serve as a Cumberland County commissioner and city councilor, and is expected to resign from the council after Jan. 1 if he is elected, Mooney said.

Hazardous-materials drill will continue on Saturday

Some people might see a lot of activity involving emergency vehicles on Saturday.

A hazardous-materials drill that began Friday will continue Saturday at Monson Chemical Co. on Runway Road in South Portland.

Officials said the drill will run from 8 a.m. until about 2 p.m. A lot of equipment and personnel will be on the scene. Many mutual-aid companies from other towns will be there  as part of the drill.

(Continued on page 2)

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