Man in critical condition after crash

BENTON (AP) — A Rhode Island man is in critical condition after crashing his pickup truck on Interstate 95 in Maine.

The Kennebec Journal reports that 48-year-old Gilbert Dubois, of Burrillville,

Rhode Island veered off the Benton highway Tuesday night.

Witnesses told police that Dubois was driving in the right travel lane and veered into the passing lane before crashing in the median.

Maine state troopers say the truck continued for roughly 150 yards in the ditch before striking a tree and overturning.

Dubois remains in critical condition at Maine Medical Center in Portland as of Wednesday.

Police say the investigation is ongoing, and they are not sure what caused the crash.

No evaluation for man charged in baby death

AUBURN (AP) — A judge has ruled that a Lewiston man charged with murder in the death of his infant son does not have to undergo a mental health evaluation that was sought by prosecutors.

The Sun Journal reports that a judge made her decision in the case of Danny Adams on Wednesday.

Police allege the 24-yearold Adams forced a pacifier into the mouth of his 14- week-old son, Zade, and then held it in place last December to keep him from crying. Adams told police he had been using heroin and marijuana the night before.

The cause of death was asphyxiation.

Adams remains held without bail after pleading not guilty.

His lawyer said if the prosecution thinks his client has mental health issues, then the charges are “unfair, unethical and should be dismissed.”

Fire shuts down part of the Turnpike

FALMOUTH (AP) — Maine State Police say a tractor-trailer fire has caused disruptions on the Maine Turnpike a few miles north of Portland.

Troopers say firefighters were battling the blaze in the northbound lanes. All lanes were initially closed but the southbound lanes later reopened.

Troopers and firefighters were just arriving on the scene shortly after 9 a.m. Further details weren’t immediately available.

Couple searched, robbed at gunpoint

PORTLAND (AP) — Police say a couple was robbed at gunpoint after leaving a Portland restaurant Wednesday night.

Portland police say the 26- year-old man and 32-year-old woman — both from Windham — were talking outside their cars when two men armed with handguns approached them at about 10:20 p.m. The couple had just left the Tortilla Flats restaurant.

Authorities say the robbers demanded money and searched the couple before taking her purse and a mobile phone and fleeing on foot to a nearby apartment complex on Forest Avenue.

A police dog tracked the suspects into the Riverton housing complex but they were not located.

Judge sentences man for marriage fraud

PORTLAND (AP) — A federal judge has sentenced a Maine man to six months in prison for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and falsifying documents to mask the fraud.

Prosecutors say 48-yearold Sothy Khiev — who was convicted in February — paid another man $5,000 to marry his girlfriend so that she could legally enter the country. The girlfriend, Sophal Cheng, entered the country on a fianci visa and married the man in Maine in 2007.

Authorities say Khiev also falsified documents — such as utility bills and letters of support — to conceal the fraudulent marriage and get Cheng’s immigration status adjusted.

Khiev, a Cambodian citizen, was sentenced on Wednesday. The judge also ordered that he be turned over to immigration authorities for deportation proceedings once his sentence is served.

Tom’s of Maine to give $1M to nonprofits

KENNEBUNK (AP) — Tom’s of Maine is doubling the amount of money it donates through its “50 States of Good” initiative.

The company that’s known for its personal care products like all-natural toothpaste, mouthwash and deodorant says it’ll spread out more than $1 million across the 50 states.

This year, the seventh annual contest is being run differently.

Instead of a competition, people can simply share community needs via Twitter and Instagram to be entered into a drawing, with $20,000 going to one entrant from each state and the District of Columbia.

Since it was founded in 1970, Tom’s of Maine has donated 10 percent of its profits back to the community.

It also encourages employees to use part of their paid time off to volunteer.

Portland hosting a dozen sailing ships

PORTLAND (AP) — A dozen sailing ships are starting to arrive in Portland, for the biggest tall ship event in years.

The Coast Guard Eagle, the El Galeon Andalucia from Spain and 10 other vessels from New England and Nova Scotia are participating in the event this weekend.

There will be a grand ball aboard the Andalucia Friday evening before the event officially gets under way Saturday with a parade of sails into Portland Harbor.

The last time so many tall ships came to Portland was in 2000. Back then, two dozen ships participated in OpSail 2000 to greet the new millennium.

Suspect arrested in studio shooting

PORTLAND (AP) — A Westbrook man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting at a Portland recording studio.

Police say 20-year-old Johnny Ouch was arrested Thursday and charged with murder and elevated aggravated assault in connection with the slaying of 19-yearold Treyjon Arsenault in May.

Arsenault and a 21-yearold Portland man were shot inside Da Block Studios in the city’s Old Port neighborhood after an argument.

The other man was hospitalized and released. Police say he is still recovering.

Police would not provide information about other possible suspects, but say the investigation is ongoing.

Ouch is being held without bail at the Cumberland County Jail. A jail official says he has not yet been given a court date. It could not be determined if he has a lawyer.

Portland video rental store closing

PORTLAND (AP) — A Portland video rental store that lasted long after most of its competition shut down because of its loyal customers and extensive collection of rare and hard-to-find titles is closing its doors after nearly three decades in business.

Bill Duggan, owner of Videoport, announced Wednesday that the store will close next month and he will donate his 18,000-title DVD collection to the Portland Public Library.

Duggan tells the Portland Press Herald that competition from online streaming services and rising lease costs contributed to his decision.

Sarah Campbell, the library’s executive director, says the donation will double the library’s existing DVD collection.

Campbell called the collection “unique,” since it includes obscure and hardto find titles, ranging from indie horror and obscure documentaries to silent film classics as well as Hollywood blockbusters.

More than 20 vehicles burglarized in Milford

BANGOR (BDN) — The Penobscot County Sheriff ’s Office is investigating more than 20 motor vehicle burglaries that occurred sometime between late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, the agency reported Thursday.

Sgt. Jim Ellis said the break-ins occurred along Bradley Road, also known as Route 178, and in the subdivision along Henderson Lane.

The common denominator among the burglaries is that all the vehicles were left unlocked, Ellis said.

“Sadly, motor vehicle burglaries are popular in the summer. The weather is better and people are moving around more,” Ellis said.

Although he did not have a list of the items stolen in Milford, Ellis did say that motor vehicle burglars typically make off with small items, such as loose change, electronics and pocketbooks.

He also noted that vehicle owners should not leave driver’s licenses, ID cards or bank cards in their cars or trucks.

Ellis recommends that residents of Milford and other communities keep their vehicles locked when not in use but if they do become a victim of a car or truck burglary, he said they should not touch any possible evidence that the suspect might have left behind.

Ellis said that anyone who may have seen or heard anything unusual or who has any information about who might be responsible should call the Penobscot County Sheriff ’s Office at 945-4636.