TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A campaign promising free shotguns for people to protect themselves in Tucson’s most troubled neighborhoods has divided some residents in a community still reeling from a shooting rampage in 2011 that killed six people, left a congresswoman and several others wounded, and made the city a symbol of gun violence in […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — An Augusta man has pleaded guilty to selling his OxyContin and hiding income from Social Security officials. Benjamin Peaslee Jr. pleaded guilty in federal court this week to charges of concealing information material to eligibility for Social Security benefits and making a false statement in a federal matter. Prosecutors say the 61-yearold […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Legislative leaders have decided to delay a decision on replacing the copper sheathing on the State House dome. They were poised to approve the $1.2 million project Thursday, but decided they want more information about the dome’s condition. The century-old sheathing has oxidized to a pale green color and been pockmarked over […]

KITTERY (AP) — Union officials at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard say they’re still concerned about lost work time following the Defense Department’s announcement that furlough days will be reduced from 22 to 14. Furlough notices will be sent out in early May. The furloughs will start in June and last through September. Employees will be […]

GARDINER (AP) — Two men have been hospitalized after being involved in a knife fight in the parking lot of a Gardiner supermarket. Police say they responded to multiple calls about a fight outside a Hannaford store at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday. They say what started as a verbal altercation developed into a fistfight before […]

SCARBOROUGH (AP) — A man living in a Scarborough motel is facing charges for allegedly tattooing two 14- year-old girls. Joshua Grant was charged Thursday after police executed a search warrant at The Downeaster Motel. All tattoo artists in Maine must be licensed by the state, and it is illegal to tattoo anyone younger than […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine lawmakers are putting off until next week further debate and action on a minimum wage increase, and a pair of contentious tax-related bills. The House on Thursday endorsed its earlier vote to raise Maine’s minimum wage to $9 by 2016. But the Senate took no action, meaning the bill will be […]

PORTLAND (AP) — Closeddoor plea negotiations are resuming for a fitness instructor accused of using her Zumba dance studio as a front for prostitution in Kennebunk. The defense and prosecutors were expected to resume a settlement conference today after a first round of discussions failed to produce a plea agreement earlier this month. Alexis Wright […]

PORTLAND (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage is condemning the Portland mayor for calling for the Maine attorney general to investigate allegations of financial mismanagement at a charter school. Mayor Mike Brennan had asked the attorney general to investigate Baxter Academy for Technology and Science and have all state contract negotiations with the school put on […]