PORTLAND

Grand jury indicts two men in Parkside shooting death

Two Portland men were indicted Friday in the shooting death of a man outside a Parkside apartment building on Feb. 10.
Indicted in the death of 24-year-old Serge Mulongo were Daudoit Butsitsi, 24, who was charged with intentional or knowing murder, and

Moses Okot, 21, charged with murder and felony murder.

Police said Mulongo was attending a party when he was shot multiple times with a .45-caliber handgun on a porch outside an apartment at 218 Park Ave.

A police affidavit filed last month alleges that Butsitsi fired the gun and Okot provided latex gloves and drove a getaway car. Police have not indicated what they believe to be the motive in the shooting.

AUGUSTA

Governor cautions: State’s budget still ‘very difficult’

Despite newfound state revenues that will ease the impact of cuts, Gov. John Baldacci says Maine still faces “a very difficult budget.”

In his weekend radio address Saturday, Baldacci said many hard decisions must still be made even though the revenue picture is looking somewhat brighter.

This past week, Baldacci outlined his budget rewrite in light of $50 million in bolstered revenue projections and $28 million in federal Medicaid funding. That lowers the budget shortfall to $360 million.

To balance the books, Baldacci is proposing cuts but also a number of savings initiatives.
In the Republican response, House Minority Leader Josh Tardy of Newport said that given the state’s precarious financial condition, this is a bad time for Democratic leaders to propose a $100 million jobs bond issue.

BANGOR

Federal grants to help nine airports with improvements

Nine Maine airports are getting more than $4.5 million in federal grants from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA said Bangor International Airport will get the biggest chunk, $2.5 million, to make improvements to its cargo apron.
Other airports due to get funds are in Old Town, Trenton, Greenville, Owls Head, Jackman, Frenchville, Presque Isle and Waterville. The money will go toward snow removal equipment, construction, weather-reporting equipment and planning.

CONCORD, N.H.

Gaming official still trying to get Granite State foothold

New Hampshire lawmakers historically have rejected bills to legalize video slots, but Millennium Gaming owner Bill Wortman refuses to quit trying to bring video slots to the state’s only racetrack for horses.

Wortman has been trying for four years to get reluctant state lawmakers to change their votes and allow slots at Rockingham Park racetrack in Salem.

Wortman has spent thousands of dollars on lobbyists – just over $151,000 between August and January. He spent $1,254 on five meet-and-greet events with 85 lawmakers in November. He said he’s willing to go anywhere to talk about his plans to spend $450 million to rebuild the track.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.

Supermarket chain, unions reach tentative agreement

The Stop & Shop supermarket chain has reached tentative agreements with five labor unions in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The unions have scheduled meetings today for votes by their members, who have been without contracts since Friday.

The unions say they won’t strike unless workers reject the agreements.

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