AUGUSTA Maine’s high court this week ordered a lower court to explain why potential jail time for any future hate crimes he might commit would be justified for a Turner man convicted of twice ramming into the car of a man he believed was gay. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday ordered the Androscoggin […]

THOMASTON A lobsterman in Maine has carried on his tradition of giving away lobsters to those in need on Christmas. Noah Ames set up his pickup truck in a parking lot in Thomaston on Sunday with a sign that read “Free lobsters today for families truly in need.” Ames started the tradition four years ago […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine- Housing Deputy Director Peter Merrill is stepping up to serve as interim director upon the retirement of John Gallagher on Jan. 5. Merrill has served as deputy director for more than five years, and has been with the agency for more than two decades. He is responsible for MaineHousing’s day-to-day operations […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage said the state’s economy is growing, but he’s urging Mainers to remember those who’re struggling. LePage said in his Christmas message that Mainers are generous and that there are many worthy organizations that provide financial, emotional and mental support to help Mainers and their loved ones “regain hope […]

FALMOUTH (AP) — The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is looking to train the next generation of Maine beekeepers. The cooperative extension is offering beginning beekeeping courses and workshops on honeybee diseases, swarm management and how to handle queen bees this winter. The courses start with the beginner beekeeping classes on Jan. 3 and the […]

PORTLAND (AP) — A Maine robotics company is one of four companies competing to build the Army’s next generation of battlefield support vehicles. The Army wants unmanned vehicles to reduce the burden on soldiers by carrying heavy ammunition and supplies into combat. The Portland Press Herald reports that the Army is expected to order thousands […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — A Democratic lawmaker is sponsoring legislation to reestablish the independent office of advocacy that oversaw services for the developmentally disabled. Maine Public reports that legislative leaders have approved a review of a bill that could re-establish that office. Lawmakers abolished the office in 2012. Last summer, the inspector general of the federal […]

PRESQUE ISLE (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding a half million dollars to an American Indian tribe in far northern Maine to construct a new building for tribal programs. Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King say the money is going to the Aroostook Band of Micmacs. It will […]

PORTLAND (AP) — Ten University of Maine Law School students are providing volunteer legal help to immigrant and refugee women held at a federal detention center in Texas. The students are enrolled in Maine Law’s Refugee and Human Rights Clinic, and several already have made the trip to Laredo, Texas. More will go in January. […]