PORTLAND (AP) — Portland’s planning board has approved the construction of two new hotels in the city. The hotels approved Tuesday will add more than 230 rooms and two restaurants to the Old Port area over the next few years. A 131-room Courtyard by Marriott with 14 penthouse apartments was approved near the Portland Fish […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Upper Midwest remains locked in the deep freeze, with bitter temperatures stretching into a fourth day across several states. The cold snap arrived Saturday night as waves of Arctic air swept south from Canada, pushing temperatures to dangerous lows and leaving a section of the country well-versed in winter’s pains […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — An Augusta pharmacy has been robbed for third time within the past year. Police say the CVS on Stone Street was robbed at 4 p.m. Tuesday by a man who fled with an undisclosed amount of prescription medications. The robber was described as a white man wearing faded jeans, dark shoes, a […]

GRAY (AP) — A Maine ice fishing derby on Crystal Lake has been postponed until next month because of unsafe ice conditions. Game wardens checked the condition of the ice on the lake in Gray on Tuesday and determined it was not safe enough for the derby to be held there on Saturday. The event […]

CASCO (AP) — Authorities are seeking the public’s help in the search for a 16-year-old boy who left a Casco home for youth with emotional, behavioral and developmental challenges. The Cumberland County Sheriff ’s Office says Michael Pendexter left the Spurwink House in Casco at about 2 p.m. Tuesday. He was last seen by staff, […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — A state lawmaker has proposed a bill that would allow teachers and other school employees to carry concealed firearms at school. Republican state Sen. David Burns says he has been thinking of similar legislation for about a year but made his proposal in response to the death of 20 students and six […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — A new bill to require all motorcyclists to wear helmets in Maine has been referred to committee. Lawmakers on Tuesday sent Rep. Paulette Beaudoin’s bill to the Transportation Committee. The Biddeford Democrat introduced a similar bill in 2009, but it was rejected. Current Maine law requires motorcyclists under 18 years old to […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine business leaders will join legislative leaders in announcing the members of a special committee that will look for ways to create jobs and improve the state’s economy. Maine State Chamber of Commerce President Dana Connors will join Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland and House Speaker Mark Eves of North Berwick […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Abortion foes and those who support women’s reproductive choice will each mark the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that created a constitutional right to abortions in some circumstances and prevented states from banning the practice. In Augusta, the Maine Choice Coalition plans a news conference today to celebrate […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine energy officials say the pattern of frigid temperatures in the state is translating into higher home heating costs. The Governor’s Energy Office price survey Tuesday found the current statewide average cash price for No. 2 heating oil was $3.72 per gallon, up 1 cent from last week’s price survey. The average […]