Police: Teenager in hospital after 2 crashes within 5 miles
FRANKLIN, Maine (AP) — Police say that a Maine teenager was involved in a pair of crashes within minutes and that the second one nearly killed him.
Authorities say 18-year-old Jared Murphy, of Stonington, was seriously injured when the pickup truck he was driving rolled several times Saturday in Franklin, ejecting him.
Police say that accident happened about 5 miles from the first crash. They say Murphy left the scene after his truck clipped a car in Hancock, causing it to crash.
Murphy is being treated at a hospital. The investigation continues, but deputies say speed is believed to be factors in both crashes.
Body of missing boater found in Maine cove after week search
BREMEN, Maine (AP) — The Maine Marine Patrol says it has recovered the body of a man who had been missing for a week after his skiff was found adrift in a harbor.
The patrol says the body of 63-year-old Glenn Murdoch, of Bremen, was found by a commercial fishing vessel at about 11 a.m. on Monday. The discovery took place in Greenland Cove, near Bremen.
Murdoch’s body was taken to the medical examiner’s office. The marine patrol had been searching for Murdoch’s body since Aug. 12. His empty skiff was found in Round Pond Harbor, almost two nautical miles south of where his body was found.
Gov. Mills orders special session for $163M bond package
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Janet Mills is calling lawmakers back to Augusta to consider a borrowing package to go on the November ballot.
The Democratic governor announced Monday that a special session will be held on Aug. 26 to consider the revised $163 million proposal; she said the borrowing package is a “fair compromise” that should have bipartisan support.
Transportation Commissioner Bruce Van Note warned last week that next year’s entire highway repair program is at risk if lawmakers don’t act to put a highway borrowing package on the November ballot.
The bonds would address other needs, as well. The package includes additional proposals for infrastructure, economic development, environmental protection and land conservation.
Annual USDA rabies bait drop designed to stop rabies spread
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Wildlife officials in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are continuing a yearslong effort to stop the spread of rabies by distributing an oral vaccine targeted at raccoons across the three states.
Low-flying aircraft dropped the vaccines in Vermont and New Hampshire last week.
This week, officials are continuing to hand-place the bait. It’s designed for raccoons, but is also effective for skunks and foxes.
Vermont Public Health Veterinarian Natalie Kwit says the bait packs are not poisonous, but they should be left alone.
Carrie Stengel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture tells the Caledonian-Record the goal is to reach and vaccinate 70% to 80% of the population so the raccoon variant of rabies can die out.
Idexx to get tax breaks once new HQ opens in Westbrook
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Veterinary diagnostics company Idexx is in line for up to $16 million in tax breaks when its new Westbrook headquarters opens next month.
The Portland Press Herald reports that the deal is expected to provide Idexx about $800,000 a year over 20 years if the company hires 80 new employees a year for 10 years and hits other benchmarks.
Giovanni Twigge, chief human resources officer, said the partnership with the state and city has been “mutually beneficial” and will allow Idexx to “help grow Maine’s economy.”
The Major Business Headquarters Expansion Tax Credit was created two years ago to benefit Idexx and support the company’s expansion. The sponsor, Senate President Troy Jackson, said the door is open to other companies to take advantage.
Boston to New Hampshire march calls for immigration changes
BOSTON (AP) — Religious groups and immigrant rights advocates are marching from Boston to New Hampshire to call for changes to the nation’s immigration system.
More than 100 people gathered in front of Boston’s federal immigration court Monday to launch a six-day march to the Strafford County Department of Corrections in Dover, New Hampshire as part of the regional Solidarity Walk for Immigrant Justice.
Supporters in Boston staged a symbolic funeral procession including a small casket to honor migrant children who died trying to enter the country. They’ll travel 76 miles through the Massachusetts communities of Lynn, Danvers and Newburyport.
The march culminates Saturday at the Dover jail, where delegations also coming from Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire will call for an end to immigrant detention and deportation until immigration laws are overhauled.
King, senators want to crack down on cellphone fraud
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s independent senator is among a group of lawmakers calling on the Federal Communications Commission’s chairman to do more to combat cellphone fraud.
Sen. Angus King says Chairman Ajit Pai should take action “to protect and educate consumers on the issue of cellphone fraud and to assist victims in understanding their options for recourse.” King has co-sponsored an act designed to cut down on robocalls, and wants Congressional action to protect vulnerable residents from phone scams.
King and other senators told Pai there is a rise in the number of scammers who open a cellphone account in a consumer’s name or illegally clone a consumer’s phone to control messages and data. They say there were reportedly 680,000 victims last year, and that was a 78 % increase from 2017.
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