Maine News for Monday, June 30, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Bottled water industry faces growing opposition
Last week's decision in York County may be part of a national backlash.

Renovation program seeks energy efficiency
The program provides low-interest or forgivable loans to moderate- and low-income homeowners.

Editorials
High court's gun ruling well-crafted, responsible
By better defining the right to bear arms, the U.S. Supreme Court allows for a better debate.

Closing polling places does not have to limit voting
If the clerk's office is prepared for record turnout at the polls, the plan could work.

North Korea negotiations deliver a real diplomatic success
In his final months in office, President Bush is using tactics that he once rejected.

LEIGH DONALDSONHas Maine set a precedent on anti-war protests?
A unanimous verdict that freed six protesters of trespassing charges may show respect for dissent.

PAT JONES, Special to the Press HeraldMoosehead area deserves a break
Maine's coast has been greatly built up over the years, but why do the same to its forests?

Letters

Views differ on Democrats' role in current predicament

With dearth of real news, paper's slump no surprise

Bangor Daily News
Maine sees net job growth
Monday, June 30, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - While the unemployment rate is up and there seem to be daily headlines about businesses closing, Maine is still seeing net growth in the number of jobs throughout the state.

Bangor: Veterans receive July 4 parade honor
Monday, June 30, 2008
BANGOR, Maine - The Fourth of July Parade in Brewer and Bangor will indeed have honorary grand marshals, but it's safe to say they won't all be walking abreast.

Ex-warden's lobster error raises questions
Monday, June 30, 2008
AUGUSTA, Maine - A former state official who had fished for lobster most of his life and was so meticulous he wouldn't let anyone on his boat measure his catch for fear of a mistake, was caught in October with nine short lobsters.

Portland police chief to head Texas department
Monday, June 30, 2008
PORTLAND, Maine - Portland Police Chief Tim Burton has accepted a conditional offer to head the police department in the city of Odessa, Texas.

Restructured Red Shield likely to survive

Hollywood Slots unveils Dixmont artist's painting

Penobscots' powwow bears repeating

Kennebec Journal

AUGUSTA City urged to accept credit cards
AUGUSTA -- Residents short on cash may soon be able to put their tax bills and other city charges on plastic, but that convenience would cost them even more than they're already paying.

SCHOOLS COMBINE KEY JOBS
As Steven Lavoie prepares to take charge of Hall-Dale High School, he is joining a growing group of public school administrators in the area who are assuming double duty.

Business, institutions squeeze for energy efficiency
Fred's Vending trucks are a common sight in Maine. Drivers are on the road every day, servicing vending machines, providing coffee and hot-chocolate supplies to businesses and filling up water coolers.

Editorial

We deserve to enjoy this July 4th holiday
We awake today to what will be a four-day work week for most people, and, truth be told, more like three-and-a-half days. By midday Thursday, most of us will be looking for an early slide into the long Fourth of July weekend, with nothing but thoughts of food, fun and fireworks on our minds.

Sun Journal

New business park proposed in Auburn
AUBURN - Easy access to the turnpike, an intermodal hub (where trucks and trains load and unload freight), the airport and the waiting-in-the-wings Foreign Trade Zone were incentive enough for the area's newest commercial park.

Red tide buoy network pays dividends
PORTLAND (AP) - Intensive monitoring and good luck may share the credit for Maine's ability so far to dodge the red-tide-caused economic damage sustained along the coast during the summer of 2005.

Police use Taser to end standoff
SOUTH PORTLAND (AP) - Police in South Portland say their use of a Taser immediately ended a standoff that had prompted a residential evacuation.

Editorial
On into the starry past of air travel
In their heyday, Lockheed Martin Super Constellation "Starliners" operated by Lufthansa could shuttle 30 people on the world's longest airplane ride: 23 hours and 19 minutes, from London to San Francisco.

Letters
Change = Democrats
Kathryn Skelton's article June 15 comparing salaries of state employees and other workers had one big flaw. Salaries for non-state workers, she acknowledged, included the pay earned by "part-time clam diggers."

MPBN
Protestors Criticize Proposed Bottled Water Deal

At a rally in Kennebunk, customers of the local water district today called for the district's board of trustees to reject a 30 year deal to sell water to Poland Spring. Dozens of people gathered outside the main street office of the district which serves Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Wells. Inside the building, water district board members were deciding whether to delay a vote on signing the agreement with Poland Spring's parent company, Nestle Waters North America. Keith McKeen reports.

Record Year Expected for Lyme Disease Cases in Maine

No corner of Maine is safe anymore from the threat of lyme disease: that's the opinion of health experts and scientists, who are expecting another record year of reported cases this year. Tom Porter has details.