Portland
Acton fire chief injured during house fire
ACTON, Maine — Acton’s fire chief was taken to the hospital for treatment Friday morning after suffering smoke inhalation while battling a house fire on Hopper Road, according to Chief Deputy William King Jr. of the York County Sheriff’s Office. Fire Chief Peter Smith, 46, was taken to the Sanford …
USM president proposes cutting four programs, 20-30 faculty positions
PORTLAND, Maine — University of Southern Maine President Theo Kalikow is proposing to cut four programs and between 20 and 30 faculty jobs as the school attempts to overcome a $14 million budget shortfall. Kalikow announced the spending gap, which represents nearly 10 percent of the school’s fiscal year 2015 …
‘They are just so short-sighted’: LePage blasts Legislature again during Kennebunk tour
By Jennifer Feals, York County Coast Star on March 14, 2014, at 2:38 p.m.
KENNEBUNK, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage discussed everything from methadone to Medicaid expansion to a potential film studio in Kennebunk during a stop in town Friday. “I’m all in,” he said to Town Manager Barry Tibbetts, who asked for LePage’s help with legislation that could help make the film studio …
Arundel woman charged with OUI, endangering children in connection with rollover accident
By Jennifer Feals and Laura Dolce, York County Coast Star on March 14, 2014, at 2:10 p.m.
KENNEBUNK, Maine — An Arundel woman was charged March 4 with operating under the influence and endangering the welfare of a child after an investigation into a Feb. 3 accident near Kennebunk Elementary School. Megan H. Ogden, 38, was driving a 2011 Honda Pilot west on Alewive Road, in the …
Sanford man accused of firearm theft, burglaries
SANFORD, Maine — A 21-year-old local man was arrested on March 7 in connection with a handgun theft and a pair of burglaries committed last year, police said Friday. Brandon Ogan is accused of burglary and theft of a handgun, according to Sanford police Detective Eric Small. The handgun recovered …
York may spend $63,000 for expert to test beach water bacteria
By Susan Morse, The York Weekly on March 14, 2014, at 10:39 a.m.
YORK, Maine — The Cape Neddick River Association is writing a warrant article for the May ballot and getting out the word to promote funding for a $63,000 proposal to hire an expert to daily test bacteria levels not only at Cape Neddick Beach, but at three of York’s beaches. …
$2.4 million in Berwick bridge upgrades start March 24
By Casey Conley, Foster's Daily Democrat on March 14, 2014, at 6:51 a.m.
BERWICK, Maine — Structural and cosmetic upgrades to the bridge connecting Somersworth and Berwick over the Salmon Falls River are expected to begin later this month. The $2.4 million Berwick Bridge project calls for installation of new support beams and support structures and a smoother, resurfaced bridge deck. Railroad tracks …
Mining metals from Maine landfills? Burgeoning effort is already worth millions
PORTLAND, Maine — It’s cliche, but University of Southern Maine professor Travis Wagner really does believe one man’s trash can be another’s treasure. Wagner said that Maine’s — and America’s — landfills are the next frontier for the mining of precious metals. He conservatively predicts that there’s more than $114 …
Portland man, Russian woman accused of sham marriage scheme
PORTLAND, Maine — Two of three people indicted in connection with an alleged sham marriage scheme were arrested and made their first court appearance Wednesday. Christopher Segal, 33, of Portland and Russian national Marina Koroleva, 27, of Newburyport, Mass., are free on bail. Segal, who is an American citizen, was …
Juror shortage delays trial of Falmouth man accused of killing his mother
PORTLAND, Maine — The trial for a Falmouth man accused of killing his mother in May 2013 has been pushed back to October because attorneys were unable to select a jury. Andrew Leighton, 47, had been scheduled for trial the last week of March. He is accused of murder after …
Shapleigh man taken to hospital after Route 109 collision in York County
ACTON, Maine — A man was hospitalized Thursday morning after a collision on Route 109, police said. Paul Jackson, 52, of Shapleigh was heading south on Route 109 when he was struck by a van driven by Brian Richards, 57, of Sanford, Chief Deputy William King of the York County …
Owner disputes report that Maine oil pipeline has exceeded life span
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Environmentalists are pointing to a New Hampshire court document as evidence the Portland-Montreal pipeline has exceeded its life span and can’t be trusted to safely transport so-called tar sands oil. Portland Pipe Line Corp. officials counter that groups such as Environment Maine, the Natural Resources Council …
South Portland school budget proposal would increase spending, cut 5 teachers
By Shelby Carignan, The Forecaster on March 13, 2014, at 1:04 p.m.
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — A proposed school budget for fiscal year 2015 would increase spending by 4 percent, and cut five elementary school teachers. Superintendent of Schools Suzanne Godin presented her proposed $44.7 million budget to the School Board Monday night at South Portland High School. The preliminary budget proposal …
Police: Portland pedestrian who was struck by car dies
PORTLAND, Maine — An elderly Portland man who was hit by a vehicle while crossing the street Saturday night has succumbed to his injuries, Portland police announced Thursday afternoon. Lt. James Sweatt of the Portland Police Department said in a news release that Elliot Burton, 74, died at Maine Medical …
Advocates of public access to private Harpswell beach to fight selectmen’s plan
By Dylan Martin, The Forecaster on March 13, 2014, at 11 a.m.
HARPSWELL, Maine — Advocates of reopening access to Cedar Beach are at odds with the Harpswell Board of Selectmen over a beach easement warrant article that will be considered at the annual town meeting on Saturday. The article is expected to be considered around 10 a.m., when the business portion …
Gun club members, neighbors criticize new Cape Elizabeth shooting range ordinance
By Brendan Twist, The Forecaster on March 13, 2014, at 10:48 a.m.
CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine — Although the Cape Elizabeth Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance intended to regulate the Spurwink Rod and Gun Club, there was little sense of resolution or satisfaction Monday among people who packed Town Hall. Many Cross Hill subdivision residents said the ordinance doesn’t go far enough …
Developer plans ambitious project with housing, retail and office space for Route 1 in Wells
By Jim Kanak, York County Coast Star on March 13, 2014, at 10:30 a.m.
WELLS, Maine — The Route 1 corridor north in Wells will be the site of a new development containing a restaurant, retail space, a bakery, office space and two dwelling units. The planning board recently approved a proposal by Boston-based interior designer Anthony Catalfano to develop the property, which formerly …
Unrest in Ukraine never far from Cape Elizabeth exchange student’s thoughts
By Brendan Twist, The Forecaster on March 13, 2014, at 10:22 a.m.
CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine — When exchange student Karolina Duchkova began the year at Cape Elizabeth High School, “Where is Ukraine?” was a frequent question she had to answer. Half a year later, her country, embroiled in a state of revolution and international crisis, has the attention of the world. Duchkova, …
Pair arrested after daytime Raymond burglary
RAYMOND, Maine — An Auburn man and a Lewiston woman were arrested Wednesday shortly after a Raymond woman called 911 to report a burglary in progress, Cumberland County sheriff’s Capt. Shawn O’Leary said in a news release. The incident that led to the arrests began shortly after 11 a.m., when …
After two previous petitions failed, Hannaford pushes to legalize liquor sales in York
By Susan Morse, The York Weekly on March 12, 2014, at 5:24 p.m.
YORK, Maine — Hannaford supermarket on Monday submitted to Town Hall a petition signed by more than 1,500 people to allow the sale of liquor in York, according to Town Clerk and Tax Collector Mary-Anne Szeniawski. Currently, only beer and wine is allowed to be sold within town boundaries. Szeniawski …
Eastern Maine Medical Center facing $7 million shortfall
Ex-UMaine football player accused of stabbing same woman he attacked in Orono in 2012
The Holy Grail in Maine? History Channel researcher’s theory touches off fresh debate about Phippsburg artifacts
Mining metals from Maine landfills? Burgeoning effort is already worth millions
Can LePage’s ‘right-to-work’ plan grow Maine’s economy?
Maine GOP dismisses Medicaid compromise that meets its own demands
Everything, including ‘right to work,’ should be on the table in a conversation about Maine jobs
Maine’s lobster industry might not last forever. Then what?
Prosecutor explains plea bargain for UMaine football player accused of 2012 domestic violence assault
Bangor stations to televise Maine hockey playoff games on Friday, Saturday nights
UMaine officials defend school’s handling of 2012 incident involving football player now accused of murder
Kidney donor from Veazie, recipient from Caribou form special bond
Actor Patrick Dempsey, Jackson Laboratory to receive Maine awards
LePage’s plan to get tough on drug abuse needs to be more than a campaign speech
Forty to one — the symbolism of maple sugaring, finding the richness of life