Nation
Maine AG wants Obama to reverse contraception policy; women’s groups cry foul
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s attorney general has joined several other state attorneys general in signing a letter recently that asks President Barack Obama to reverse his administration’s stance on requiring health insurance companies to provide contraception coverage. “A recently proposed federal mandate requiring religious employers that provide health insurance coverage ...
17 tons of Spanish treasure to leave via US military base
By MITCH STACY, The Associated Press on Feb. 21, 2012, at 11:15 p.m.
TAMPA, Fla. — The transfer of 17 tons of shipwreck treasure wrested away from deep-sea explorers to the Spanish government will be made later this week from a U.S. Air Force base in Florida, officials confirmed Tuesday night. MacDill Air Force Base said in a statement that it is cooperating ...
Chicago boy, 16, dies after plunging 46 stories in trash chute
By Carlos Sadovi, William Lee and Ryan Haggerty, Chicago Tribune on Feb. 21, 2012, at 11:12 p.m.
CHICAGO — A 16-year-old boy with Down syndrome and autism who was killed when he fell down the trash chute of his Chicago high-rise was remembered by neighbors for his friendly smile and by officials with Special Olympics for his grit and determination. Charlie Manley was “an inspiration to all ...
Former US Rep. Katie Hall of Indiana dies at 73
By TOM COYNE, The Associated Press on Feb. 21, 2012, at 9:39 p.m.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Former Indiana congresswoman Katie Hall, one of the sponsors of the 1983 legislation that established a national holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has died. She was 73. Hall’s husband, John Henry Hall, said she died Monday at Methodist Hospitals’ Northlake campus in Gary from ...
Oil price climbs on fear Iran may stop more oil
By CHRIS KAHN, The Associated Press on Feb. 21, 2012, at 7:41 p.m.
NEW YORK — Oil prices have climbed to the highest level since May on concerns that Iran will cut off more oil to Europe. The surge, which included a 2.6 percent jump on Tuesday, could make gasoline and other fuels more expensive if prices stay high. At a national average ...
Dow breaks 13,000 but can’t hold gains
By CHRISTINA REXRODE, The Associated Press on Feb. 21, 2012, at 7:38 p.m.
NEW YORK — It came and went in a flash, a number on a board for seconds at a time, but its symbolic power couldn’t be dismissed. The Dow Jones industrial average, powered higher all year by optimism that the economic recovery is finally for real, crossed 13,000 on Tuesday ...
Feds loan $638M for health co-ops in 8 states
By MATT GOURAS, The Associated Press on Feb. 21, 2012, at 7:27 p.m.
HELENA, Mont. — Health care cooperatives being launched in eight states announced Tuesday they will be receiving a total of $638 million in loans from the Obama administration under the federal health insurance law. The government said the new nonprofit health insurers will be run by their customers and will ...
Maple syrup producers concerned about mild winter
By Holly Ramer, The Associated Press on Feb. 21, 2012, at 11:51 a.m.
TEMPLE, N.H. — A mild winter across the Northeast is injecting extra uncertainty into maple syrup season, but many producers say they’ll just go with the flow, whenever it starts. Temperatures have been up and snowfall totals have been down throughout the region this winter, raising some concern for the ...
Years after construction Vt flood dams show worth
By WILSON RING, the Associated Press on Feb. 20, 2012, at 9:05 p.m.
MONTPELIER, Vt. — For more than 50 years the Army Corps of Engineers has monitored the flow of the Black River through the North Springfield dam. The dam was built in the late 1950s to help reduce downstream flooding, and over the years it has prevented flood damage, but probably ...
Breathable caffeine from canisters will get FDA review
WASHINGTON — Inhalable caffeine that may be used as a “club drug” by teenagers, according to a New York senator, will be reviewed by U.S. regulators after going on sale last month. The AeroShot Pure Energy caffeine inhaler became available over the counter last month in New York and Boston ...
For boomers, it’s a new era of ‘work til you drop’
By JOHN ROGERS, the Associated Press on Feb. 20, 2012, at 8:16 p.m.
LOS ANGELES — When Paula Symons joined the U.S. workforce in 1972, typewriters in her office clacked nonstop, people answered the telephones and the hot new technology revolutionizing communication was the fax machine. Symons, fresh out of college, entered this brave new world thinking she’d do pretty much what her ...
Md. teen dies after falling from moving car
The Associated Press on Feb. 20, 2012, at 8:02 p.m.
TOWSON, Md. — The mother of a Maryland teenager who fell out of a moving car while throwing up and was hit by another car says her son had been drinking an energy drink with alcohol. Thirteen-year-old Michael Truluck was riding in a car when it made a turn as ...
Hepatitis C deaths up, baby boomers most at risk
By LAURAN NEERGAARD, the associated press on Feb. 20, 2012, at 7:09 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Deaths from liver-destroying hepatitis C are on the rise, and new data shows baby boomers especially should take heed — they are most at risk. Federal health officials are considering whether anyone born between 1945 and 1965 should get a one-time blood test to check if their livers ...
Oil jumps to 9-month high after Iran cuts supply
By PABLO GORONDI, the Associated Press on Feb. 20, 2012, at 6:08 p.m.
Oil prices jumped to a nine-month high above $105 a barrel on Monday after Iran said it halted crude exports to Britain and France in an escalation of a dispute over the Middle Eastern country’s nuclear program. By Monday afternoon, benchmark March crude was up $2.02 to $105.26 per barrel ...
Ala. police led on chase by naked driver
The Associated Press on Feb. 20, 2012, at 5:00 p.m.
HOOVER, Ala. — Hoover police say a naked driver led police on a low-speed chase through Hoover, hitting up to eight vehicles along the way. WBRC reports that the incident began Monday afternoon at a Ford dealership when the man hit two cars. He fled the scene in a car ...
Names in the news, Feb. 21
By Los Angeles Times, Staff on Feb. 20, 2012, at 4:56 p.m.
Cementing their position as front-runners for screenwriting Oscars, the three writers of “The Descendants” and Woody Allen for “Midnight in Paris” took the adapted and original screenplay awards, respectively, Sunday night from the Writers Guild of America. In television, “Modern Family,” “Homeland” and “Breaking Bad” all came away with two ...
Oscar voters’ demographics less diverse than the moviegoing public
By John Horn, Nicole Sperling and Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times on Feb. 20, 2012, at 3:57 p.m.
LOS ANGELES — When the names of winners are revealed on Oscar night, months of suspense give way to tears, smiles and speeches. Yet when the curtain falls, one question remains: Who cast the votes? About 37 million people tuned in to the Academy Awards last year, and a great ...
Atlantic sturgeon sighting cheers aquatic experts
The Associated Press on Feb. 20, 2012, at 11:41 a.m.
BOSTON — A sighting of an Atlantic sturgeon in the Charles River Locks is delighting aquatic specialists who say the ancient fish is fighting for its survival. The Boston Globe reports that the fish was photographed by a bystander and confirmed by an official at the state’s fisheries and wildlife ...
John Fairfax, crossed oceans in rowboats, dies
By MARTIN GRIFFITH, The Associated Press on Feb. 20, 2012, at 5:00 a.m.
RENO, Nev. — John Fairfax, the first known person to row alone across the Atlantic Ocean, has died at his Las Vegas-area home. He was 74. The self-described “professional adventurer” died Feb. 8 of an apparent heart attack in Henderson, his wife, Tiffany, said Sunday. Fairfax gained international attention in ...
Conservative Arizona sheriff facing long odds after gay outing
By BOB CHRISTIE, The Associated Press on Feb. 19, 2012, at 9:06 p.m.
FLORENCE, Ariz. — Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu built a reputation as a rising, conservative star by taking a hardline stance against illegal immigration, attacking the Obama administration and appearing alongside Sen. John McCain in a 2010 re-election ad in which McCain urged federal officials to just “complete the danged ...
Rosa Scarcelli suing stepfather for not firing her mother
Man shot in Hermon home invasion arrested for second time Friday, released Tuesday
Bangor police looking for Florida firefighter
Scarborough boy, 11, rocking open mike nights at Lewiston restaurant
What’s more important — presidential or party preference?
Toilet-papering spree in Bangor neighborhoods a result of high school swimmers’ success
No. 8 Houlton stuns No. 1 Orono, will face Stearns in semifinal
Cianbro has 150 job openings
Gambling board approves Maine’s first casino: Hollywood Slots becomes Hollywood Casino Bangor
Maple syrup producers concerned about mild winter
Maine inspires chefs and foodies nationwide
Photos of Mainers who served in Vietnam War needed for national center
Account
Start a blog
Send us your news
Post an event
See it. Fix it.