AUGUSTA With only a small dose of political stagecraft, the Maine Legislature got off to a quick start Wednesday, sending dozens of bills to committee and plowing forward on the reauthorization of millions of dollars in land conservation bonds. Lawmakers also got to work on a bill designed to fight a growing heroin problem that […]

OAKLAND Transcripts from 911 calls indicate a Maine shooting victim lived for at least 18 minutes after reporting that she and others had been shot during in Oakland. The Morning Sentinel reports that the victim apparently made four calls to emergency dispatchers over the course of at least 13 minutes. The newspaper obtained the 911 […]

PORTLAND (AP) — Maine is lowering the cost of some hard alcoholic beverages due to a change in the way it prices liquor products. Tim Poulin, deputy director of the state Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, tells the Portland Press Herald Maine has negotiated the price markup for each alcoholic product with the […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Officials say a virtual charter school has seen a 25 percent drop in enrollment since it opened last fall. A Dec. 31 report says that at the 90-day mark for the school year, 76 students in the initial class of 297 had left the school. The Portland Press Herald the education company […]

PORTLAND (AP) — A Maine probate judge facing a lawsuit says he may resign from his elected position. The Portland Press Herald reports York County Probate Judge Robert Nadeau made the unexpected statement at the conclusion of a court hearing Tuesday in a lawsuit against him. Legal issues have been growing against Nadeau. The Maine […]

PORTLAND ( AP) — A father charged with killing his 3-month-old son told a state police detective that he pressed down on the infant’s chest and shook him to stop him from crying, authorities said. The statements made by 24-year-old Eugene “Charlie” Martineau were included in affidavits released after he pleaded not guilty Wednesday to […]

PORTLAND (AP) — Authorities say they are suspending the search for a missing man in Portland Harbor until new leads develop. Portland’s police department has been assisting Saco police in the search for James Dyer. Dyer was last seen in Portland Harbor. Portland city officials say police divers from Portland, South Portland and the Maine […]

LEWISTON (AP) — An audit of Lewiston’s finances say the city is in solid financial shape despite paying off more than $3 million in Androscoggin Bank Colisee debt 10 years early. The Sun Journal reports the audit says the city ended the 2014-15 fiscal year with $12.9 million in its fund balance. Auditor Greg Chabot […]

KITTERY ( AP) — Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is celebrating the completion of the $ 44 million repair and upgrade of a building that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire joined in Wednesday’s dedication at the shipyard. The project transformed the […]

AUBURN ( AP) — A 21- year-old Lewiston man will serve four years behind bars after admitting to charges stemming from two incidents on the same October 2014 night for the second time in four months. The Sun Journal reports that Albert Crowley pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony threatening with a dangerous weapon and domestic […]