A legislative committee this week unexpectedly resurrected a proposal to end term limits in Maine, abandoning – for now – a compromise plan to extend the limits from eight years to 12 years. The Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee’s 12-1 vote on the repeal bill… Read More
    Maine and New Hampshire’s governors and their respective congressional leaders spent an hour Thursday in a strategy session devoted to the fight to keep the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard open. The strategy focuses on showing that the Defense Department used a flawed analysis in putting the… Read More
    FREEPORT – Regardless of the distances small-business customers may travel, it is important that such businesses support their local economies as much as possible. This theme of supporting local, small-scale economies resonated strongly Thursday at a sustainable-business conference at the Harraseeket Inn, even though the… Read More
    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Interstate Bakeries Corp., the bankrupt maker of Hostess Twinkies and Wonder Bread, on Thursday said it is closing another bakery in the Northeast and cutting 1,400 more jobs in its ongoing effort to cut costs. The Kansas City-based company said it… Read More
    BUCKSPORT – International Paper Co. said Thursday it does not anticipate any effect on its Bucksport mill from the planned four-week lockout of workers at mills in Finland. The lockout began Wednesday as contract talks between union workers and Finland’s paper industry broke down. The… Read More
    “Rioting, burning and killing in the streets,” the headlines read after Muslims in Afghanistan heard that interrogators in Guantanamo, in order to rattle detainees, had desecrated the Quran. Of course, we now know that false Newsweek reports led to this mess. However, at the same time, those people… Read More
    Now that the shock from the base-closure news has passed, Maine turns to its strategy for convincing the Base Realignment and Closure Commission that the Department of Defense has made a terrible mistake in recommending the broad closures in Maine. BRAC will hear any number of emotional appeals;… Read More
    An op-ed commentary by Rep. Jonathan McKane (BDN, April 25) touted the great benefits of LD 1496. He said it would reduce the cost of health insurance and make sure more people are insured. I am familiar with LD 1496; it is not what he… Read More
    Today, U.S. Army recruiters will participate in a “stand down,” where they will learn how to become more ethical and honest recruiters. I don’t know if one day of training will make a difference, but I hope so. As a counselor with Maine Draft and… Read More
    The Pentagon would close 180 installations. So doing, they project saving $48.8 billion over 20 years. (Forget the fact 26,000 jobs will be lost.) That will “free up” money to pay Halliburton multi-million-dollar bonuses so Halliburton can pay multimillion-dollar penalties for overcharging the U.S. government. “Catch-22’s” Milo Minderbinder… Read More
    Thousands of people around the world will be flying kites this weekend. They will be supporting the 40,000 Israelis and Palestinians who are flying kites on Friday on both sides of the 500-kilometer-long barrier that separates them. The Israelis and Palestinians will have painted each kite with messages… Read More
    Many Mainers are watching Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins to see if they have the guts to vote against the nomination of John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations. Bolton is clearly unqualified for the job and only the most pernicious political considerations can put him… Read More
    We are experiencing a startling epidemic of childhood obesity in Maine with 36 percent of kindergartners now overweight or obese. This unfortunate fact places Maine children among the most obese in the nation. Two-thirds of Maine adults are overweight or obese. Sixty percent of obese children already have… Read More
    In his May 14-15 letter to the editor, Tim Boley M.D., is right about a couple of things. The “government” is us, and death and taxes are certain. However, when he claims that there is no such thing as the Social Security trust fund he is either confused… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Hoping to recoup state drug enforcement funds eliminated by federal cutbacks, the Baldacci administration is coming down hard on pot smokers in a clear message that the price of getting high is getting higher. Those committing the civil violation of possession of marijuana… Read More
    HOWLAND – State education officials will investigate SAD 31 to determine why an industrial arts shop at Penobscot Valley High School they ordered closed in late September continued to be used for about seven months. Maine Education Commissioner Susan Gendron said Thursday an investigator from… Read More
    BANGOR – Officials are fighting to make sure the light is always on at the control tower at Bangor International Airport, which is playing a prominent role as a safe haven for planes diverted because of suspicious passengers. Twice in less than a week, international… Read More
    JONESPORT – A 22-year-old Jonesport stern man, who was tossed in the water after a U.S. Coast Guard boat collided with his skiff on Monday, said the Guard’s press release describing the rescue attempts was wrong. Kendrick Beal said he contacted the Coast Guard to… Read More
    BANGOR – Less than a month after approving its 2005-2006 budget, the Bangor school board has had to submit a new request to the City Council because of LD 1, the new law designed to boost education funding for local schools. But taxpayers can relax… Read More
    MONSON – The Monson PTO is raising funds to bring Mark “Rock” Rothstein’s World of Rope Jumping and his Jump Against Drugs program to the Monson Elementary School. The PTO will hold a chicken barbecue from 3 to 6 p.m. May 21, at the bandstand. Read More
    SEARSPORT – Highlighting the natural assets of Sears Island could make a small conference center viable, Economic Development Commissioner Jack Cashman told a Searsport committee Thursday. Cashman, along with Transportation Commissioner David Cole and Conservation Commissioner Pat McGowan, met with the Sears Island Alternative Use… Read More
    BREWER – Old furniture, building debris, brush and lawn waste from outside city limits will have to be taken to another facility now that Brewer has closed its landfill to outlying communities, Ken Locke, Brewer director of environmental services, said Thursday. “The landfill is essentially… Read More
    LINCOLN – With help from Northern Penobscot Tech Region III, Mattanawcook Academy will change its daily schedule starting next year as part of an effort to improve school efficiency and increase teacher interaction with students, school officials said Wednesday. The academy will change its modified… Read More
    BREWER – The entire sixth grade from Brewer Middle School spent Thursday immersed in the Penobscot River. And most didn’t get wet, except from the rain. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for… Read More
    The state Department of Transportation is attacking a split personality. For years, the coastal towns along U.S. Route 1, the old Atlantic Highway built in the 1920s, have gone their own ways when it comes to development. And DOT has stuck to the asphalt. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
    Caribou District Court Cases April 1-30, 2005 googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0] googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
    HERMON – A liquor license for a local entertainment complex was renewed Thursday night, less than one week after police from two departments responded to reports of disorderly behavior at the business. Town councilors unanimously approved renewing the license for XL Golf, which operates at… Read More
    HOULTON – Despite the fact that the town’s new footbridge has been tantalizing people to walk on it since very early in the spring, town officials do not anticipate opening the 187-foot overpass to traffic until mid-to-late June. The structure, which stretches from the North… Read More
    PRESQUE ISLE – As Aroostook County gears up for the traditional American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the association has been given an extra tool to help those that are afflicted with the life-threatening disease. The ACS was recently awarded a two-year, $199,916 grant from… Read More
    Caribou District Court Cases April 1-30, 2005 googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0]… Read More
    MADAWASKA – Next month residents of Madawaska will vote on the municipal budget of $4,403,881, an increase of $280,543 over this year’s budget. The amount does not include the town’s share of education expenditures, which have not yet been approved by the Madawaska budget committee,… Read More
    HOULTON – The rallying cry of ATV operators who wanted the town to open up more access points for riders has been answered. A proposal to regulate certain conduct of ATVs on municipal property and municipal rights of way will be introduced at the town… Read More
    WASHBURN – Jim Gardner said he is leaving with a handshake and a smile. Washburn’s town manager tendered his resignation this week after accepting a three-year contract to serve as town manager of Ashland. He will begin his new duties on June 16. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
    DOVER-FOXCROFT – Penquis Community Action Program is offering a 10-hour Access to Autos class from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 18 and 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 21 and 23 at Penquis CAP. The workshop will teach the basics of buying and owning a vehicle. Specific topics include financing… Read More
    GREENVILLE – The Natural Resource Education Center and the Forest Society of Maine will team up to sponsor a weekend of birding and plant identification June 4-5 at Pittston Farm. Guests include Ron Joseph, bird specialist of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and expert guide Tom Seymour,… Read More
    BANGOR – A three-car accident on Interstate 95 late Thursday afternoon was caused by a St. Bernard and a boxer dog that were wandering in the northbound lanes near mile marker 186. Justin Cole of Saco came to a complete stop when he saw the… Read More
    Police arrested two Bangor teenagers Thursday morning in connection with a burglary on Larkin Street and said the pair may be connected to another burglary at the same residence on Wednesday. Michael Kelley, 19, and a 17-year-old male juvenile, were seen peering in a window… Read More
    BANGOR – A methadone clinic set to open this summer in a Hogan Road strip mall already has a waiting list of 10 patients, according to a representative of the Florida-based company that is going to run it. Ultimately, however, Colonial Management Group’s Penobscot County… Read More
    WASHINGTON – After an accident early Tuesday on Bill Luce Road, a local man was charged in connection with the crash despite telling police he was not the driver. Matthew T. Taylor, 25, of Washington was charged with failure to report an accident, leaving the… Read More
    ORONO – Multiple drafts of the town and school budget have been made, but residents and officials still aren’t satisfied. On the municipal side, the council and town staff have worked to create a budget with minimal increase to taxpayers while developing a sustainable plan… Read More
    CALAIS – At one time this border community had an observatory and the dots and dashes of a telegraph system that connected the city with Europe in a critical way. It all had to do with time and longitudinal accuracy that were part of a… Read More
    BANGOR – Testing conducted during 2004 shows that the Bangor Water District continues to come in under federal limits for lead and copper. The district does not have lead service lines, and other smaller lead components were removed in a multiple-year effort that began in… Read More
    SWANVILLE – A local man was charged with attempted arson and terrorizing following a Wednesday night fight with his girlfriend. Christopher W. Cunningham, 18, of Nickerson Road was arrested at his home by sheriff’s Sgt. James Porter. He was taken to the Waldo County Jail… Read More
    CUSHING – A 7.5-mile police chase that began in Rockland on Wednesday night ended with a crash on Route 97 and a handful of charges against the driver. Seth Simmons, 21, of Friendship and his 17-year-old female passenger were taken by Warren Ambulance to Penobscot… Read More
    AUGUSTA – With public pay telephones disappearing all over the state, Gov. John Baldacci has signed into law a bill aimed at keeping public phones in locations where they’re needed, especially in case of emergencies. “It’s a good day for public safety and common sense,”… Read More
    This is a very special day for those participating in the American Cancer Society Old Town Relay for Life, which begins at 6 tonight at the athletic field at Old Town High School. Dan Cashman is chairman of the event, but one of the stars… Read More
    AUGUSTA – The state Senate routinely confirmed the reappointments of three judges on Thursday. Without dissenting votes, senators approved new seven-year terms for Superior Court Chief Justice Thomas Humphrey, who’s based in Portland, and Justice Thomas Warren, who’s also based in Cumberland County Superior Court. Read More
    AUGUSTA – General Fund tax revenues exceeded budget projections in April by $48 million, bringing year-to-date totals $33 million ahead of budget, the Baldacci administration said Thursday. Individual income tax receipts, over budget by $64 million in April, were the main reason for the monthly… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Lawmakers took another step Thursday to protect Mainers from identity theft. Without debate, the House gave initial approval to a bill, LD 581, that would enable consumers to use personal identification codes to put a security freeze on their credit reports. The bill… Read More
    PORTLAND – Green Independents hold three of the nine seats on the Portland School Committee and they’re not shy about using their new political clout to push a series of social issues. In the past few months, Green members have sought to limit military recruitment… Read More
    YORK – Enlisted in the search for a daytime home intruder, a Berwick police dog named Baron now finds himself among the missing. After apparently picking up a scent, the 4-year-old German shepherd pulled so hard that his 20-foot leash broke free from K-9 Officer… Read More
    Two Hancock County lawmen who died in the line of duty almost a century ago were honored Thursday during a ceremony at the State House. The names of former Hancock County Sheriff John Webster and Deputy Edward Finn were added to the Maine Law Enforcement… Read More
    CONCORD, N.H. – The man who drove the getaway car in the state’s most notorious murder case hopes this will be his last year behind bars. Vance Lattime Jr. was 17 when he agreed to help Pamela Smart murder her husband. Lattime, known as J.R.,… Read More
    PORTLAND – A 37-year-old Portland man named John F. Kennedy is in trouble with the law for allegedly conning a series of women out of tens of thousands of dollars. Kennedy, who faces a string of felony theft charges, pleaded innocent Tuesday at his Superior… Read More
    CONCORD, N.H. – Forget E-ZPass for July 4. How about Labor Day? Gov. John Lynch kept a contract for the electronic toll-collection system from coming before the Executive Council on Wednesday because he wants more information on the various discount options and doesn’t want to… Read More
    Bigger is better among the nation’s high school athletic programs. At least that’s the consensus of a survey conducted by Sports Illustrated, which recently developed a list of the 25 top programs in the nation, as well as the best in each state. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
    ORONO – Earning a spot as a starting pitcher carries with it considerable prestige. And Troy Martin wouldn’t mind being in the starting rotation for the University of Maine baseball team. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = [];… Read More
    HIGH SCHOOL At Van Buren googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0] googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
    ASHLAND – Josh Chamberlin allowed only one hit, struck out nine and walked one to lead the Ashland Hornets to a 5-2 high school baseball victory over the Washburn Beavers Thursday. Brandon Flint single twice and drove in one run for Ashland. Jeremy Baker and… Read More
    EAST SULLIVAN – Mark Fields singled in the top of the seventh to drive in the tying and winning runs as the Washington Academy Raiders defeated the Sumner Tigers 4-2 in high school baseball action Thursday. James Ramsdell singled twice with one RBI for Washington… Read More
    HAMPDEN – Senior righthander Pat Moran pitched a six-inning no-hitter to lead the Hampden Academy Broncos to a 10-0 high school baseball victory over the Mount Desert Island Trojans Thursday. Moran struck out 13 and didn’t walk a batter in producing the gem. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
    Baseball MAINE vs. BINGHAMTON googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0] googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
    Richard Russo’s vision of small-time life in a Maine mill town comes boldly to life this weekend on HBO. “Empire Falls,” which airs in two parts at 9-11 p.m. Saturday, May 28, and 9-10:30 p.m. Sunday, May 29, on the premium cable channel, successfully captures… Read More
    For 15 years, Anita Shreve has been writing books that explore some of the darker aspects of life – grief and loss, deceit and betrayal, obsession and abuse. Her last book, “Light on Snow,” tells the story of a father and daughter who find an… Read More
    WATERVILLE – The director of “Empire Falls” returned to central Maine for an advance showing Wednesday night of the HBO movie based on Richard Russo’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about an economically depressed town whose mill had closed. A red carpet at the entrance to the… Read More
    The band Confusatron, playing tomorrow at the Kave in Bucksport, might be the culmination of a long and, yes, confusing, run of bands in Bangor and Portland. A brief history lesson: Spork, a Bangor hardcore band that broke up in the late ’90s, at one… Read More
    In theaters UNLEASHED, directed by Luis Leterrier, written by Luc Besson, 103 minutes, rated R. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice())… Read More