GORHAM

Woman charged with arson in home’s second fire

A 28-year-old woman was charged Monday with setting fire to the group home where she lives, the second time one of the residents was charged with arson in seven months.

Firefighters responded to a report of a house fire at 4:15 a.m. at the Granite Bay Group Home on Shaws Mill Road but found the fire was out when they arrived.

An investigation involving police, the Gorham Fire Department and the state Fire Marshal’s Office determined that items were intentionally placed on the stove to ignite and spread the fire to the cupboard area of the kitchen, police said in a news release.

Danielle Jenness was charged with aggravated criminal mischief and arson.

No one was injured during the fire or the response to it, police said. The fire did about $1,000 in damage.

In August, Jeremy Crouse was charged with arson after he allegedly set a couch on fire, police said. That fire spread quickly and caused extensive structural damage, police said.

AUGUSTA

Bill would create tax credit for electric vehicles

Owners of plug-in electric vehicles will get tax breaks in Maine if a bill that’s up for review this week passes.

Bangor Democratic Sen. Geoffrey Gratwick’s bill would create an income tax credit for the purchase of qualified plug-in electric vehicles. The break would be equal to the excise tax paid, up to $1,000.

A hearing is planned Monday afternoon before the Taxation Committee.

Maine wouldn’t be the first state to pass such a tax credit. Colorado offers a tax credit of 85 percent for conversions completed between Jan. 1, 2010 and Jan. 1, 2012.

The tax credit proposed in Maine would expire Jan. 1, 2017.

NEWPORT

Make-A-Wish gives girl, 6, chance to build snowman

Most Maine residents are already tired of winter, but for one little girl from Florida, the latest snowstorm was a blessing.

Six-year-old Sophia Galvan is in remission from a form of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma.

When she had the opportunity to have a wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, she asked to build a snowman.

Her father, Victor Galvan, told WABI-TV that she had seen snow only on television.

The Orlando-area family flew to Maine last weekend and was welcomed by a storm. Her dad said Sophia was so eager she wanted to play in the snow as soon as they arrived at their hotel.

Sophia got to build her snowman, and also went on a sleigh ride, sledding and got a hot chocolate party.