AUGUSTA (AP) — The Democratic lawmaker who earned a crude rebuke from Gov. Paul LePage last month is now the majority leader in the Maine Senate, a role that gives him more prominence as a foe of the Republican governor. Sen. Troy Jackson of Allagash was selected for the role Wednesday by his party caucus […]

AUBURN (AP) — Two Lewiston men accused of setting a fire that destroyed or damaged three apartment buildings have been indicted on arson charges. Brian Morin, 30, and Bryan Wood, 23, were indicted Wednesday by an Androscoggin County grand jury. The men are charged with starting a May 6 fire that destroyed two vacant buildings […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Law enforcement officers from around Maine are being sworn in as special federal agents as part of a cooperative effort to fight the rapid rise of pharmacy robberies in the state. Maine’s 58 pharmacy robberies in 2012 were more than double the previous year. The 18 state, county and local law enforcement […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — More disabled Maine veterans will soon be eligible for free hunting and fishing licenses under a new state law. Republican Gov. Paul LePage signed a bill this week to provide free hunting, trapping and fishing licenses for Maine veterans with a 50 percent disabled rating. Previously, only veterans with a disability rating […]

KENNEBUNKPORT (AP) — Former President George H.W. Bush can take heart that his idea of a “thousand points of light” is still going strong. Bush will travel to Washington to join President Barack Obama on Monday as he honors the 5,000th daily “Point of Light” award winner. Bush referred to his vision for people helping […]

PORTLAND (AP) — Lawyers for a man charged with killing his girlfriend and leaving her body in a snowcovered SUV in a hotel parking lot say their client should be released on bail because evidence in the case points to other suspects. Anthony Pratt Jr., 19, is being held without bail after pleading not guilty […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — A bill to require Maine schools to adopt policies allowing uniformed military recruiters the same access to meet with students as other career recruiters has died in the House. The bill failed in the Democratic controlled House on Tuesday night, effectively killing it as lawmakers adjourned early Wednesday morning. Republicans who supported […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine’s state utilities regulators have started a process to allow additional bidders compete for an offshore wind project contract. Gov. Paul LePage’s administration said Wednesday that the Maine Public Utilities Commission released the request for proposals on Tuesday, giving entities until Sept. 1 to submit their application. The announcement comes after lawmakers […]

PORTLAND (AP) — One of the two rail lines over which oil is shipped through Maine is behind on reporting the volume of oil shipments to the Department of Environmental Protection. DEP spokesman Jessamine Logan said Wednesday that Pan-Am Railways failed to report oil volume for April and May. The monthly reports must be submitted […]

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s military-backed government tightened a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday, ordering the arrest of its revered leader in a bid to choke off the group’s campaign to reinstate President Mohammed Morsi one week after an army-led coup. The Brotherhood denounced the warrants for the arrest of Mohammed Badie and nine […]