Lawmakers overturn 13 LePage vetoes, sustain 9

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine lawmakers have overturned Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that seeks to expand access to medicine that counteracts allergic reactions.

The House and Senate overrode LePage’s veto of Democratic Rep. Matt Peterson’s bill on Monday.

It will now become law. It will allow places like summer camps and day care facilities to be prescribed and administer injections of epinephrine.

It was among 13 vetoed bills overridden by the House and Senate. Nine bills were sustained in one of the two chambers and are now dead.

Among other vetoed bills that will now become law is one that directs the state to create a group to examine how to study hayride safety. It was introduced after a 17-year-old girl was killed during a Halloween-themed hayride last year.

GOP-led Senate rejects tribes’ bid for a casino

AUGUSTA (AP) — The Maine Senate has dealt a blow to an effort by the state’s American Indian tribes to open a casino.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted 18-16 against the bill Monday. The House approved it last week. If the two chambers can’t work out their differences, the bill will die.

It would allow a casino designed to benefit the state’s four federally recognized tribes to be built in Washington or Aroostook County. It would have to be approved by voters in that county.

Republican Sen. Mike Willette of Presque Isle said a casino wouldn’t cure all of the region’s economic problems but would be a “shot in the arm.”

But Democratic Sen. Geoff Gratwick of Bangor said Maine already has enough casinos.

Maine’s two existing casinos are located in Bangor and Oxford.

Ballot initiative requirements effort fails

AUGUSTA (AP) — A proposal that could make it harder for groups to get a ballot question before voters has failed in the Maine House of Representatives.

The 92-54 vote on Monday fell several votes short of the two-thirds support necessary to pass such a measure.

It sought to amend the constitution to require that a certain percentage of signatures have to be gathered from voters in each of Maine’s two congressional districts to force a referendum.

Supporters said the current system allows groups to target the heavily populated and more liberal 1st District without having to seek the support of residents in the vast, rural 2nd District. But opponents said Maine shouldn’t make it more difficult for residents to get questions on the ballot.

Portland gathers in response to shooting

PORTLAND (AP) — Hundreds of Mainers have joined church and city leaders in Portland to honor the lives lost in the church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, and to call for an end to racism and gun violence.

The event Monday evening at Merrill Auditorium was organized by the city of Portland, the NAACP Portland branch, Portland’s Racial Justice Congress, Green Memorial AME Zion Church and Williams Temple Church of God in Christ.

Sally Horne of Woolwich told the Portland Press Herald that she traveled to the event to “take part in the healing.”

The service started with a reading of the names of the nine who died.

Twenty-one-year-old Dylann Roof is facing nine counts of murder and a weapons charge in the shooting on Wednesday.

”˜Dreamers’ say

essay contest unfair

CENTER LOVELL (AP) — Maine state police are looking into whether an innkeeper violated state law in an essay contest in which her 210-year-old country inn was the prize.

Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said Monday an investigation was opened into whether the contest violated laws governing games of chance.

The Boston Globe reported Monday that some contest losers felt the odds were stacked against them. They contend Center Lovell Inn owner Janice Sage marketed the contest to “dreamers” but instead awarded the prize to a couple with hospitality business experience in the Virgin Islands.

Sage didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

The entry fee was $125. Sage told the Globe she received fewer than the 7,500 entries she sought but that it was still enough to fund her retirement.

Town votes today on national park proposal

MEDWAY (AP) — Medway is holding a nonbinding referendum about a much-debated proposal to create a national park east of Baxter State Park.

Medway residents are scheduled to vote today. The park would be made up of 75,000 acres owned by Roxanne Quimby, founder of Burt’s Bees. Another 75,000 acres would be a recreation area.

Residents have debated the park proposal in recent public meetings. Supporters say it would create jobs, drive tourism and include recreational opportunities such as hiking, camping and fishing. Opponents cite a perceived loss of recreational access. Some say they don’t want to turn land over to the National Park Service.

Medway’s vote will take place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. East Millinocket is slated to hold a similar vote on June 29.

Bush celebrity golf tournament tees off

KENNEBUNKPORT (AP) — The 13th annual George H.W. Bush Celebrity Golf Tournament is kicking off in Kennebunkport.

Tuesday’s event at the Cape Arundel Golf Club is a fundraiser for Gary’s House in Portland, which provides an affordable place for families to stay when a loved one is in a medical crisis.