WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Angus King, IMaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, this week announced his support for legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., that would safeguard military retirees from changes in cost-of-living adjustments that were included in the bipartisan budget agreement passed thuis week by Congress. The Military Retirement Restoration […]

BOSTON The U.S. Coast Guard said its winter icebreaking season has officially kicked off in the Northeast, starting Dec. 16 through March. Coast Guard crews are gearing up to begin breaking ice on the Kennebec River from Merrymeeting Bay to Gardiner. During the annual effort, known as Operation Reliable Energy for Northeast Winters — or, […]

James L. Smith — It was determined on Tuesday, Dec. 17, that Petty Officer 1st Class James L. Smith of Huffman, Texas, died Dec. 11, in Landstuhl, Germany. His death resulted from a non-combat related incident. Smith was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 28, Shreveport, Louisiana. Smith was 38 years old.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Six American soldiers died Tuesday when their helicopter crashed in a remote area of southern Afghanistan, in the single largest loss of life for foreign troops in nearly six months, international coalition officials said. At least one crash survivor was rescued by a quick reaction force of U.S. and Afghan soldiers, […]

AUGUSTA Gov. Paul LePage on Thursday defended his administration’s proposals aimed at reducing fraud and abuse in the state’s welfare system and pledged to preserve the safety net for those who truly need it. Proposals the Republican governor recently said he will push next session, like banning the use of electronic benefit transfer cards for […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine authorities have arrested ten people, including seven from Pennsylvania, on drug charges and say many of them are members of an out-of-state gang. Police and Maine Drug Enforcement agents raided an Augusta house Wednesday and seized about 45 grams of heroin worth about $10,000. Thirty-two-year-old Peter Gleason, who lived at the […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage says it’s likely that not all the contracts for MaineCare transportation rides will be renewed. The Republican governor said Thursday that he’s concerned about Connecticutbased vendor Coordinated Transportation Solutions, particularly the fact that the company didn’t obtain a performance bond. The company has been criticized after thousands of MaineCare […]