PORTLAND (AP) — A new poll shows Mainers are feeling better about the economy. The poll released Thursday by Market Decisions of Portland says Maine consumers turned optimistic about the economy in January, with consumer sentiment rising 12 percent from the previous quarter. Market Decisions President Curtis Mildner cautions that one quarter’s results do not […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — A published report is prompting Gov. Paul LePage to submit a bill calling for more financial disclosures from public officials. The bill would require legislators, executive branch officials and constitutional officers to report whether they or family members who hold executive or management level positions outside of state government were paid more […]

PORTLAND ( AP) — The city of Portland has given Occupy Maine protesters until Monday morning to clear out of a city park. The city served members of the Occupy Maine movement with an eviction notice Thursday, ordering them to remove all tents, structures and personal belongings from Lincoln Park by 8 a.m. Monday. The […]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stressed out by flying? Travelers in Northern California can now find their inner calm in the Yoga Room at San Francisco International Airport. The quiet, dimly lit studio officially opened last week in a former storage room just past the security checkpoint at SFO’s Terminal 2. Airport officials believe the 150- […]

WASHINGTON ( AP) — With members of Congress convinced their political survival depends on their image, the House is wasting no time in considering a Senatepassed bill that would ban insider trading by lawmakers and thousands of executive branch officials. Stock trades would have to be posted online within 30 days. The Senate showed a […]

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron’s office says Liberal Democrat lawmaker Ed Davey has been appointed as Energy and Climate Change secretary after his predecessor quit. Chris Huhne resigned from his post as a Cabinet minister today after prosecutors charged him over an alleged attempt to pin a speeding penalty on his ex-wife. […]

BEIRUT ( AP) — Syrian forces have detained and tortured children as young as 13 as the government tries to crush an uprising that began nearly 11 months ago, Human Rights Watch said today as fresh clashes erupted between regime troops and rebels in the country’s south. Today’s fighting in Jassem, in the southern province […]

STOCKHOLM ( AP) — Champis the bunny doesn’t only hop — he also knows how to herd his masters’ flock of sheep, possibly having picked up on the skill after watching trained dogs do the job. The 5- year- old pet rabbit from the small village of Kal in northern Sweden shot to online fame […]

CAIRO ( AP) — Police in Cairo set off salvos of tear gas and fired birdshot at protesters angry over a deadly soccer riot as fresh clashes on Egyptian streets killed three people today, according to a volunteer doctor and health officials. One man died just feet away from the Interior Ministry, which has become […]

WASHINGTON ( AP) — Employers went on a hiring spree in January and drove down the unemployment rate for a fifth straight month to 8.3 percent, its lowest point in nearly three years. The result pointed to a resurgent job market, and it sent stock futures surging. The Dow Jones industrial average futures, which were […]