AUGUSTA (AP) — State utilities regulators have given approval for a Colorado-based company to build a natural gas pipeline through 17 central Maine communities. The state Public Utilities Commission on Thursday granted approval to Summit Natural Gas. Tim Johnston, executive vice president of Summit Natural Gas of Maine, a subsidiary of Summit Utilities, tells the […]

PORTLAND (AP) — The AARP is issuing a warning about an apparent phone scam in Maine in which callers are fraudulently identifying themselves as AARP representatives. The AARP says the Lincoln County Sheriff ’s Department has been contacted by residents saying callers are asking for personal information including a phone number, address and banking information […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Gov. Paul LePage has ordered that U.S. and state of Maine flags be flown at half-staff at Maine National Guard facilities in honor of a longtime Army National Guard officer who died without warning this week at the age of 44. Lt. Col. Michael Backus died Monday while performing regular duties at […]

LONDON (AP) — Royalty has many perks. There are titles, guards, and palaces. As the former Kate Middleton has discovered, you also get portraits. The first official portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge, as Kate is formally known, was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery today. Paul Emsley’s portrait shows the 31-year-old royal against a […]

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Shiites in a southwestern Pakistani city hit by a brutal terror attack refused to bury their dead today in protest, demanding that the government do something to protect them from what has become a barrage of bombings and shootings against the minority Muslim sect. The bombings Thursday in Quetta were the […]

TAFT, Calif. (AP) — The 16- year-old boy had allegedly wounded the teenager he claimed had bullied him, fired two more rounds at students fleeing their first-period science class, then faced teacher Ryan Heber. “I don’t want to shoot you,” he told the popular teacher, who was trying to coax the teen into giving up […]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — California was going from cold to colder today as a chill expected to bring the biggest mercury dips in years descended on much of the state. The Grapevine section of Interstate 5, the key artery linking southern and northern California, was shut down Thursday night. The area was blanketed with heavy […]

HARPSWELL — The Islands Community Church on Bailey Island has invited the Rev. Elizabeth Peterson as guest minister during the 9:30 a.m. service on Sunday. The church is non-denominational and led by a board that invites ordained ministers, lay people and chaplains to celebrate the service. Also scheduled to preach this month are Gayle Hays […]

AUGUSTA — The Christian Civic League of Maine is encouraging like-minded individuals to join hundreds of pro-life Mainers at the annual “Hands Around the Capitol” on Saturday. The day’s events begin at 10 a.m. with a prayer service at RiverRock Christian Fellowship in Chelsea or a Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Augusta. At 11:15 […]

BATH — Bath United Methodist Church will host a lasagna supper on Saturday, Jan. 19, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The menu will include lasagna, salad and bread with homemade cake for dessert. Spaghetti will also be available for those who prefer it. Take out meals are available by calling the church office at 443-4707. […]