SACO

Man suffers gunshot wound to head; police investigating

Police are investigating an incident in which a 27-year-old man suffered a serious gunshot wound to the head.

A woman called police at 10 a.m. Thursday to ask police to check on the man at his home at the Rodeway Inn. Police found the injured man and he was taken by ambulance to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Police have interviewed several family members but have not released details about the case, including whether they believe the man was shot by somebody else. There have been no arrests.

Police plan to release more information today.

ALFRED

Twardus’ lawyer: Potentially exculpatory evidence ignored

The attorney for a New Hampshire man convicted in Maine of killing his former fiancee says his client deserves a new trial because police didn’t pursue evidence that might have cast doubt on his guilt.

The Journal Tribune reported that Dan Lilley told a Maine judge Wednesday that a pre-trial case worker told a detective that a man who was in jail told her where the body of 30-year-old Kelly Gorham was located nearly two weeks before police found it in that spot.

Because police didn’t pursue the information, Lilley said, Jason Twardus, of Rochester, deserves a new trial.

Twardus was convicted of strangling Gorham, a nursing student from Alfred, in August 2007 and burying her body on his father’s property in Stewartstown, N.H.

BANGOR

Woman charged in death of husband due in court

Police say a Bangor woman who is charged with killing her husband in their home is due to appear in court.

Bangor police say Roxanne Jeskey, 48, is expected to appear in court this morning.

Jeskey is facing murder charges in the death of Richard Jeskey, 53, whose body was found in a Bangor apartment on June 13.

The cause and circumstances of the death have not been released.

The Jeskey family has released a statement saying they are shocked by their loss and ask that their privacy be respected. They say any statements regarding the case will be made through the office of the attorney general or Bangor Police Department.

Greenbush man who robbed Milford bank going to prison

A man from Greenbush is going to prison for 3½ years for robbing a bank.

Albert Harnois III, 27, pleaded guilty Thursday in Penobscot County Superior Court to robbing a Peoples United Bank branch inside a convenience store in Milford in February.

WLBZ-TV reports that he was sentenced to eight years behind bars, but will only have to serve 3½ years.

BUXTON

Local man, 24, faces burglary charge in alleged break-in

A Buxton man has been charged with burglary after allegedly breaking into the home of an ex-girlfriend.

James Murt II, 24, was arrested Wednesday. Police said he may face additional charges.

Police said a woman called 911 to report that Murt was trying to break into her home. While officers were on their way, police said, she reported that he had gotten into the home, was banging on her bedroom door and trying to get her. Police said he left when the woman told him she was on the phone with 911.

A Maine State Police dog was tracking Murt when authorities learned he had returned to the woman’s home. Officers arrested him without further incident.

The Gorham Police Department was assisted by Maine State Police, the Maine Warden Service, the Gorham Police Department and the Scarborough Police Department.

AUGUSTA

LePage vetoes bills on DOE issue, wood smoke laws

Gov. Paul LePage issued two more vetoes today, rejecting a bill that called for more budget information from the Department of Education and a bill that called for a review of wood smoke laws.

In his message to lawmakers, LePage wrote that L.D. 566 “An Act to Encourage Transparency in the Department of Education” called for “stringent reporting requirements” that “step over the line of legislating and oversight and into the management functions of the executive, violating the principle of separation of powers enshrined in Article III of the Maine Constitution.”

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, called for the “department to submit a report, including findings and recommendations on the costs and benefits of providing performance-related data to the Legislature as part of the department’s budget request, no later than January 13, 2012.”

LePage also vetoed L.D. 547 “Resolve, Directing the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to Conduct a Review of Wood Smoke Laws.” In addition to citing his concern about money that would be spent on such a review, LePage writes that he worries this will have a “chilling effect” on Maine citizens.

“For hundreds of years, people have utilized the wood found in Maine’s great forests as an all-natural, renewable heating substance,” he wrote. “Passage of this resolve would signal that our proud history may be waning. That is something I cannot condone.”

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, was amended to call for a study of “current laws relating to the control of wood smoke and enforcement procedures to determine if they are sufficient to protect the public.” It requires a stakeholder group to report back to the Legislature next January.

These two vetoes are LePage’s 11th and 12th so far this session. The Legislature has upheld his first four vetoes, and has yet to consider the rest.

Committee picks dozens of smaller-ticket items to fund

The Appropriations Committee reviewed 90 bills Thursday to decide which ones the state could afford to fund, and which ones it could not.

House Chairman Patrick Flood, R-Winthrop, said the committee was allotted $800,000 to spend on the bills. Democrats and Republicans split the pot evenly, and met for several hours in closed-door caucuses to decide how to spend the money.

When they came out for public votes, they voted to fund dozens of smaller-ticket items and rejected others that were too costly. They also voted to carry over some bills until next year.

Bills approved included a measure to prohibit the sale of so-called bath salts, which are dangerous drugs recently being sold in Maine; a bill to raise the speed limit on I-95 from Old Town to Houlton to 75 mph; and a bill to promote the establishment of an adult day care program for veterans in Lewiston.

The committee also voted in favor of a sales tax exemption for parts and supplies for windjammers and a resolve to direct the commissioner of the state Department of Education to adopt a policy regarding the management of head injuries in youth sports.

Bills rejected because of their expense included a measure to exempt retired military pay from the state income tax; a bill to create a sales tax holiday for energy efficient appliances; an act to address the educational and rehabilitation needs of the blind or visually impaired; and an act to fund screening for cancer.

Treasurer urges actions to better state’s bond rating

State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin says steps need to be taken to improve the state’s bond rating to lower borrowing costs.

At a news conference Thursday, Poliquin said the state’s cash flow needs to be improved, the state’s “rainy day fund” needs to be replenished, long-term obligations must be met and money that passed on to succeeding budgets needs to be repaid.

Poliquin says progress has been made in some of these areas. For example, the state’s new, $6.1 billion budget reduces the negative balance by $100 million, and dramatically reduces the long-term debt in the state pension system.

Poliquin said the state’s current bond ratings did not change before a June 2 sale of $108 million in bonds, but could improve before the next one.

DOVER-FOXCROFT

Man charged with murder in shooting of brother, 20

A Dover-Foxcroft man has been indicted on a murder charge in the shooting of his younger brother.

Steven Mayo, 22, was indicted Thursday in the death of Ryan Mayo, 20, who was killed May 1 on French Road, where the brothers lived next door to each other.

Citing a police affidavit, the Bangor Daily News said Steven Mayo got upset after returning home and finding his brother had torn up his driveway with an all-terrain vehicle.

Steven Mayo told detectives that he got a rifle and shot out the tires of the ATV. He said he shot his brother only after Ryan Mayo came out of his house with a shotgun and fired it.

Mayo is being held without bail in the Piscataquis County Jail.

BATH

Council plays smart-meter strategy close to the vest

The next step in the looming “smart meter” showdown between Central Maine Power Co. and the City Council isn’t yet clear.

The City Council met in executive session Wednesday night, but adjourned the meeting afterward without discussing or taking action on the city’s smart-meter moratorium.

Three weeks ago, the City Council voted for a 180-day ban on installations in the city, as well as an amendment requiring CMP to get permission from residents before switching out their old meters.

The ordinance runs counter to a landmark Public Utilities Commission decision last month that gives people alternatives, but makes them pay for the options. CMP has warned city officials that it will challenge the ordinance in court unless the city rescinds it.

John Carroll, a CMP spokesman, said the utility is still evaluating the situation but likely to challenge the legality of the ordinance.

City Solicitor Roger Therriault said any change to the ordinance would require the City Council to take action in a public meeting. He said he could not comment further.

BRUNSWICK

Send-off slated for Mainers taking supplies to Cubans

A send-off is planned July 3 for a group of Mainers who will go to Cuba to distribute humanitarian aid.

The gathering will honor Maria Cron of Portland and her college-age daughters, Heather and Crystal.

Let Cuba Live, a Maine-based group dedicated to stopping the United States’ 50-year embargo of Cuba and standing by the Cuban people, is organizing the event. Music and refreshments will be provided from 2 to 4 p.m. at the gazebo on Main Street.

Once a year, Let Cuba Live sends a group to Cuba with the Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan.

“We send medical and educational supplies and people to be our ambassadors,” said Barbara West, who helped found Let Cuba Live in the early 1990s. “If the governments can’t talk to each other, at least we can.”

The Crons will drive to McAllen, Texas, to meet the other volunteers and cross the Mexico border with the supplies. After putting the cargo on a freighter, the group will fly to Cuba.

Traveling to and aiding Cuba without permission is a violation of U.S. law. “We don’t ask first,” said West. “It’s a direct legal challenge. Every year they decide not to prosecute us, but the government has made things pretty difficult.”

West said the goal is to change the blockade policies that have gotten progressively tighter over the past few decades, and help Cubans survive in the meantime.

All of the donated goods, which include everything from medications to bicycle parts, will be loaded onto vehicles at the event.

Information about the gathering is online at letcubalive.org.

RANGELEY

Rangeley chosen to host 2012 moose hunt lottery

Wildlife officials say next year’s moose hunting lottery will be held in Rangeley.

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Chandler Woodcock made the announcement Thursday.

Since 1999, the moose lottery drawing has been held at different locations around Maine, including Millinocket, Boothbay Harbor, Old Town, Bucksport, Scarborough, Presque Isle, Rumford, Phippsburg, Kittery, Fort Kent and Freeport.

This year’s lottery was held last weekend at Cabela’s fishing, hunting and outdoors outfitter store in Scarborough. Nearly 50,000 people entered this year’s lottery for a shot at the 3,862 permits that were available.