Kennebec commissioners vote to move Augusta’s Melville Fuller statue

The unanimous decision at Tuesday's commissioners meeting is not the end of the process, as a committee is expected to be named to make a recommendation where the statue will go.

Kennebec County official facing sexual assault charges has history of prior job misconduct, documents say

James Saucier, 58, of Belgrade, who has been on paid administrative leave since April 9, 2020, has a track record of misusing county property and violating direct orders.

Kennebec County maintenance manager sexually assaulted female inmate assigned to work for him, police allege in documents

James Saucier, 58, of Belgrade, was arrested last week on three counts of gross sexual assault in connection with the case, and the alleged victim told authorities she wasn't the first incarcerated female he had assaulted.

Focus on safety, not writing tickets, advises Maine panel on law enforcement during pandemic

The Criminal Justice Commission on Mitigation of Pandemic Impact has issued a series of recommendations aimed at reducing the overload on the state's court system.

Augusta man, unable to afford bail, spends 7 months in jail with jury trials delayed

Frank Tripp, accused of assault, won a motion for a speedy trial, but pandemic concerns mean jury trials likely won't start up until spring.

Augusta courthouse remains closed as another two employees test positive for COVID-19

The Capital Judicial Center is expected to remain closed to the public all week due to a lack of staff. It is slated to reopen to the public Monday, Dec. 7.

Kennebec County jail continues to limit inmate population

Kennebec County Sheriff Ken Mason, who faced criticism in the wake of a Department of Corrections inspection that showed the jail was not following most protocols it identified, said the jail has had no cases of COVID-19 infection.

Maine Supreme Court questions Melville Fuller statue outside Kennebec courthouse

The monument honors the Augusta-born former chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, who was part of the majority in the Plessy v. Ferguson decision that maintained racial segregation with the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine.

Coastal Journal Edition People & Business: Aug. 7

Dry weather a boon for pest browntail moth caterpillars in central Maine

Recent drought conditions mean a natural fungus that keeps the infestation in check isn't happening, as the caterpillars with poisonous hairs decimate trees in some areas of the region.