Few drug tests ordered for welfare users so far

AUGUSTA (AP) — Few welfare recipients in Maine have been called in for drug screenings so far under new rules touted by Republican Gov. Paul LePage.

The state began in April to administer drug-screening assessments to recipients in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program who’ve been convicted of a drug-related felony. People who fail are required to submit to a urinalysis.

LePage’s administration said in a response to a Freedom of Access Act request that just 15 recipients were scheduled for screenings in the first three months of the program.

Of those, 13 were barred from benefits because they didn’t show up to take either the screening or subsequent urinalysis. One person tested positive for drugs and was stripped of benefits.

The administration estimates that about 100 recipients will eventually be screened.

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Man faces 30 years in prison for bank fraud

BANGOR (AP) — Prosecutors say a 29-yearold Maine man is pleading guilty in federal court to bank and wire fraud conspiracy charges.

Jason Robinson of Orono faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the bank fraud charges and up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the wire fraud charges.

Records say he conspired with others to steal merchandise from stores such as Wal-Mart and Hannaford and sell it on eBay. They also say he conspired to defraud financial institutions and return stolen merchandise to Lowes and Home Depot in return for store credit.

Prosecutors say Robinson will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by federal probation officials.

Hillary Clinton to stop in Maine

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PORTLAND (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is planning to swing through Maine next month.

A Clinton campaign official said Wednesday that the former secretary of state and first lady will hold a grassroots organizing meeting in Portland on Friday, Sept. 18.

Clinton is looking to continue building her network of volunteers and plans to urge supporters to get involved in the campaign. She’s also expected to attend a fundraising event while in Maine.

This will be her first campaign stop here since officially announcing her bid for the White House in April. She visited Scarborough last October to stump for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Michaud.

One of her opponents, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, held a rally in Portland in July that drew more than 7,500 people.

USS Alexandria departs, overhaul completed

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KITTERY (AP) — Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has completed an overhaul of the attack submarine USS Alexandria two weeks early and $9 million under budget.

The Navy says it has a shortage of submarines, so it’s important to minimize their time in dry dock. In this case, the overhaul was the fastest on a Los Angelesclass submarine in the Navy’s history.

The Alexandria and its crew of 13 officers and 120 enlisted sailors departed last week. It had arrived in October 2013.

Capt. William Greene, the shipyard commander, said the project team “showed a commitment to safely delivering firsttime quality work.” Project Superintendent Scott Curtis said workers applied lessons learned from past overhauls to make this one a “recordsetting early delivery.”

‘Project Gump’ run to end in Maine

PORT CLYDE (AP) — A 23-year-old Michigan native has raised more than $10,000 to help drill a well in Africa by running across the country as part of run called “Project Gump.”

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The Portland Press Herald reports Barclay Oudersluys’ trek began in Santa Monica May 9 and is slated to end Saturday at the Marshall Point Light House in Port Clyde, Maine. He will have run more than 3,000 miles in 100 days.

Oudersluys has been running more than 30 miles per day since early May. The so-called “project Gump” run is named after the transcontinental run shown in the 1994 Tom Hanks film “Forrest Gump.”

The proceeds benefit the Hall Steps Foundation, a charity that promotes fitness and raises money to help impoverished people around the world.

Postal worker pleads gu ilty to stealing money

BANGOR (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a Winter Harbor woman is pleading guilty to theft of more than $1,600 in public money.

Court records say 52- year-old Sandra Melnick issued a series of money orders in 2014 without reporting the sale or tendering the money to the postal service. Records say she was serving as a postmaster relief at the Sullivan, Maine, post office at the time.

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Records say many of the money orders were cashed by recipients before Melnick reported them as sold. Postal service investigators audited Melnick’s accounts and found there were still three previously-cashed money orders outstanding.

Prosecutors say Melnick faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Mass. family suing over son’s death at ferry dock

PORT CLYDE (AP) — The family of a Massachusetts boy who was struck and killed by a car at the Port Clyde ferry dock is filing a wrongful death suit against the driver, the ferry company and the owners of the dock.

Nine-year-old Dylan Gold died in the fatal crash on Aug. 11, 2013. The Portland Press Herald reports Gold’s parents, Allison and Howard, are accusing 63-year-old driver Cheryl Torgerson of New York City of negligence.


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