Parents shouldn’t

share bed with infants

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine’s chief medical examiner and attorney general are warning parents of the dangers of sharing their bed with their infants.

Chief Medical Examiner Mark Flomenbaum says that five infant deaths his office has investigated since last month have been caused by asphyxiation while sleeping.

He says all five babies were under the age of four months and their deaths were found to be accidental. He says the primary issue has been infants sleeping in the same bed as their parents.

Attorney General Janet Mills is urging parents to adhere to safe sleeping practices. She says the temptation to take a quick nap with an infant or try to provide warmth in cold weather can become deadly.

Wind industry alarmed over PUC board’s actions

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s reshaped Public Utilities Commission wants to reconsider two proposed wind projects it approved just two months ago, a move critics say would damage the integrity of the regulatory process and scare off future renewable energy investors.

The commission will decide Wednesday if it should reassess whether to grant contracts to two companies hoping to develop wind projects in Hancock and Somerset counties. The three-member panel granted initial approval to the Weaver and Highland Wind project proposals in December.  

The commission says it may be prudent to re-examine the proposals because of changes in energy market. Wind energy supporters counter that reopening the negotiation process is unfair — and possibly an attempt to kill the projects altogether.

A spokesman for the panel said commissioners cannot comment on pending matters.

State officials banned from accessing porn

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Republican Gov. Paul LePage has issued an executive order banning state officials from accessing pornography on their work computers and other state-issued devices.

LePage said Friday that the practice continues despite state agency rules prohibiting such behavior. He says he wants to make it clear to all state employees that it is unacceptable.

The governor says it won’t be tolerated even if someone is off duty. He says state policies will be updated to provide clear notice to employees that this misconduct will result in termination.