LOS ANGELES (AP) — Scientists were preparing to send Curiosity on its first test drive over the billion-year-old rocks of Mars and said a busted wind sensor wouldn’t jeopardize its mission of determining whether life could exist there. Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena turned four of the rover’s six wheels in place […]

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. (AP) — The Secret Service on Tuesday arrested a Washington state man accused of making an email threat against President Barack Obama and brandishing a shotgun at officers who came to his door. Anton Caluori, 31, was arrested at an apartment in this south Seattle suburb for investigation of making threats against […]

PORTLAND (AP) — Portland Public Schools will no longer use Styrofoam trays in their cafeterias beginning this school year. The Portland district will replace them with paperboard trays. The additional cost of $30,000 annually will be offset by savings anticipated from district recycling and composting programs. Reusable plastic trays will be used once a new […]

PORTLAND (AP) — Maine is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Baxter State Park. On Aug. 6, 1962, former Gov. Percival Baxter acquired the 28th and final parcel of land that would constitute the northern Maine park named in his honor. Baxter, who was from Portland, deeded the land to the state as a gift the […]

PORTLAND (AP) — The fictional Maine seaside community Cabot Cove from “Murder, She Wrote” is the TV crime capital of the world. Britain’s Telegraph newspaper says researchers from Open University working for a BBC mathematics program found that there were 21 murder victims each year on the show. With a population of 3,500, that adds […]

WATERVILLE (AP) — A Maine soup kitchen that’s been serving up meals to the Waterville area’s homeless for more than three decades may be forced to close because of fewer donations. Director Dick Willette said Monday he had planned to close the kitchen in the basement of Sacred Heart Church for good Sept. 1, but […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Democrat Cynthia Dill is claiming endorsements of two statewide groups in the race for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat. The Maine State Employees Association and the Maine State Nurses Association have decided to endorse Dill in her race against Republican Charlie Summers and independents Angus King, Steve Woods, Andrew Ian Dodge and Danny […]

WALDOBORO (AP) — Police are investigating a deadly motorcycle crash in Waldoboro. Authorities say Gregory Zaccadelli went off the road and crashed shortly before 4 a.m. on Tuesday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. WCSH-TV reports that authorities do not believe that other vehicles were involved in the crash.

CORINTH (AP) — Police say a homeless 19-year-old called 911 and asked to be arrested after allegedly breaking into a convenience store in Corinth. Officers did as Donald Page of Corinth asked and arrested him on felony burglary and theft charges stemming from the break-in at the A.E. Robinson store Monday. The Penobscot County Sheriff […]