PORTLAND Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders says he can win in Maine “if there’s a large turnout.” Sanders rallied a capacity crowd at Portland’s State Theater on Wednesday, telling supporters that pundits once thought of him as a “fringe” candidate and Hillary Clinton as the “inevitable nominee.” He told supporters, “Guess what? She’s not so […]

AUGUSTA A pair of bills that would add three staff members to Maine’s Bureau of Veterans Services sailed through the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on Wednesday with unanimous approval. The bills, one of which seeks to make the bureau the lead agency on tackling the issue of homeless veterans, were the result of […]

AUGUSTA Supporters of voter initiatives to legalize marijuana in Maine and allow a casino in southern Maine have failed to collect enough valid signatures to qualify for the state ballot. Petition gatherers for the marijuana initiative delivered 51,543 valid signatures — about 9,500 signatures below the threshold, the Maine Secretary of State office reported Wednesday. […]

WALDOBORO ( AP) — Several people had to be escorted out of a town hall event as sparks flew over Maine Gov. Paul LePage’s handling of the state’s drug crisis. Several residents were thrown out Tuesday night at the Waldoboro event after criticizing LePage. One person accused him of lying to block solar farms and […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage wants to make it harder for patients to go “doctor shopping” for pain pills. A bill LePage submitted Wednesday would require doctors to check a prescription monitoring program before prescribing opioids. The program is now voluntary. The bill would also limit opioid prescriptions for chronic pain to 15 […]

AUGUSTA ( AP) — A Maine government survey says the average statewide cash price for heating oil dropped 2 cents in the past week. The Governor’s Energy Office says the average price according to the Feb. 29 survey was $1.69 per gallon. The average kerosene price of $2.26 was down 2 cents from the previous […]

FRYEBURG ( AP) — A group challenging a longterm contract that would allow Fryeburg water to be sold to Poland Spring bottled water company is asking the state’s highest court to throw out the Public Utilities Commission’s approval of the deal. Fryeburg resident Bruce Taylor and the non-profit group Food and Water Watch are asking […]

NEW SHARON ( AP) — The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office says a fire that caused fatal burns to a man inside his car was likely sparked by a cigarette and fumes from an aerosol can. Thirty-four-year-old Casey Turner of New Sharon suffered severe burns to his face and hands from the fire Tuesday night. […]

NAPLES (AP) — Authorities say a man who is free on bail and accused of killing a U. S. Air Force sergeant in Louisiana is currently living in Maine. Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce says 21- year- old Benjamin Shaw was arrested in Bossier City, Louisiana in January on a second-degree murder charge in the […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine regulators are considering whether to cut back on a proposed spending increase for energy efficiency programs. Efficiency Maine Trust has proposed a plan to spend $217 million over the next three years. Staff at the Public Utilities Commission recommends the spending plan be scaled back by $45 million. The commission on […]