Maine News for Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Lots of energy efficiency cash – so who gets it?
Millions per year will be given out by trustees, who will gather advice at a public hearing today.

Baldacci confident Obama will aid strapped states
After a meeting with the president-elect, the governor hopes Maine will receive millions in extra federal funds.

Janet Mills nominated to be next Maine AG
The lawyer from Farmington, a 32-year veteran of the state's justice system, would be the first woman to hold the position.

At private colleges, a degree of caution
As endowments shrink drastically, Maine schools rein in spending and plan for difficult times ahead.

Man gets six years for child porn
A judge sentences the former U.S. Navy reservist, who had been collecting child pornography online.

NAACP chief to lobby for prison reform
Benjamin Jealous will visit Maine next week to meet with officials and deliver two speeches.

Editorial

Latest terror attacks call for diplomatic surge
The terrorists win big if tensions grow between India and Pakistan.

Humility and details may not be enough to save Detroit
The Big Three automakers are off to a better start with Congress, but skepticism remains.

GREG KESICHObama girls might have raised hope in public schools
A private family decision has bigger implications when you are talking about the first family.

Bangor Daily News
Group fighting same-sex marriage

ORRINGTON, Maine — Nearly 100 ministers and lay leaders representing churches from Fort Fairfield to Richmond met Tuesday afternoon at Calvary Chapel to launch a biblically based opposition to

Battle looms on access to birth control

BANGOR, Maine — A state policy group that wants to preserve teens’ unrestricted access to birth control is gearing up for a potential legislative battle.

Obama welcomes governors’ advice

PHILADELPHIA — President-elect Barack Obama pledged quick work Tuesday on an economic recovery plan to include tax cuts and increased federal spending, and told the nation’s governors he wants

welcomes public comment on Calais LNG

BANGOR, Maine — Calais LNG was the last of three companies to propose building a liquefied natural gas project in Washington County — but its directors intend for it to be the one that succeeds.

Gendron on education team to support Obama transition

AUGUSTA, Maine — Commissioner of Education Susan A. Gendron has been tapped to serve on a committee of education leaders tasked with developing a transition plan on education policy for

Mainers find clever ways to hawk lobster

Times are tough for our many-legged ocean-dwelling friends, Homarus americanus — the American lobster. But times are even tougher for our two-legged, dock-dwelling friends, Traphaulinus mainerus — the Maine lobsterman.

Winter road maintenance a balancing act

BANGOR, Maine — The life of a winter road maintenance worker is always a delicate balancing act this time of year. Dozens of crew supervisors with the Maine Department of Transportation and some

Experts stress ‘can-do’ in quitting smoking

ORONO, Maine — Despite growing scientific evidence about the dangers of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke, many doctors steer clear of discussing the issue with their patients, a tobacco

Editorial
Electronic Baby Sitter Here’s a distressing statistic: Children spend nearly three times as much

National Security Team Beyond the criticism — from both the left and the right — that his Cabinet

Trade pacts may undermine state laws A mother in the grocery store wants to be sure that the formula she is feeding

Kennebec Journal

STATEHOUSE Democrats back Mills for AG post Legislature expected to confirm state representative today
AUGUSTA -- Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday nominated Janet Mills, of Farmington, to be Maine's next attorney general.

AUGUSTA ROTARIES PROJECT: Memorial Circle to get same treatment as eastside roundabout
AUGUSTA -- Motorists confused by the new layout of stripes and arrows guiding traffic around the redesigned Cony Circle better get used to it soon: A similar layout could be coming to Memorial Circle next summer.

GENDRON ADVISING OBAMA
Maine Education Commissioner Susan Gendron is one of 10 state education chiefs helping to lay the groundwork for President-elect Barack Obama's incoming education secretary.

County praises sex registry volunteers
AUGUSTA -- Ronald Raymond could spend his retirement at the beach, or taking up a new hobby.

To school into July?
OAKLAND -- School Administrative District 47 board Chairman Michael Gosselin isn't happy about the $295,000 the district expects to have to cut from the current budget.

On Maine Politics

Cummings calls lawmakers “noble and absolutely crazy”

Editorial

Shopping for a victim
Lawyers have been hired. Various parties are positioning themselves with public statements. Talk radio and daytime television have commandeered the story, which will, once there are charges, trials or settlements, slowly get untangled.

Device can keep drunken drivers off the road
There's no good reason Maine should have as many drunken drivers on the road as we do.

Sun Journal
Action assures Mills of AG post
AUGUSTA - Maine's newly elected Democratic legislators settled a three-way race for state attorney general Tuesday by nominating former prosecutor and three-term Rep. Janet Mills of Farmington for the $92,296-per-year post, assuring her of election by the full House and Senate.

Obama's pick for U.N. has ties to Maine
PORTLAND (AP) - The name of President-elect Barack Obama's selection for United Nations ambassador will have a familiar ring to many people in Maine.

Recount: Maine defeats slots
SCARBOROUGH (AP) - A ballot recount has confirmed that there won't be slot machines in Scarborough any time soon.

Man pleads not guilty in Internet sex case
PORTLAND (AP) - A 28-year-old Brownfield man has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he offered money to a father of four in return for allowing him to have sex with his 12-year-old daughter.

GM wants billions, or industry will crash
WASHINGTON (AP) - Humbled and fighting for survival, Detroit's once-mighty automakers appealed to Congress with a retooled case for a huge bailout Tuesday, pledging to slash workers, car lines and executive pay in return for a federal lifeline. GM said it wouldn't last till New Year's without an immediate $4 billion and could drag the entire industry down if it fails.

Winter festival planned to honor earmuff inventor

Editorial
Not another downtown plan, please
For Lewiston's strategic planning to bear fruit, it must not repeat prior work. It must embrace fresher approaches toward the city's future prosperity. This means turning the city inside out.

Black Friday: The great lie of American consumerism
I like stuff as much as the next guy.

MPBN
Democrats Select Janet Mills As AG Candidate

December 2, 2008

Majority Democrats in Augusta have selected Janet Mills as their nominee for State Attorney General, capping a campaign that has drawn an unusually significant amount of public attention. A.J. Higgins has been covering the party caucuses at the State House, and he spoke last this afternoon with Keith Shortall.

Proposed Air Guard Flyovers Front And Center Again In Western Maine

December 2, 2008 Reported By: Anne Ravana

Residents of western Maine have one more chance to have their opinion heard on a proposal to allow fighter pilots to fly as low as 500 feet overhead during jet fighter training missions. As Anne Ravana reports, the proposal has met with opposition from local residents in recent years, and Governor John Baldacci's office is concerned that the Air National Guard has not thoroughly examined the environmental impacts of such a proposal.

Study Examines Impact Of School Soda Bans

December 2, 2008 Reported By: Josie Huang

Since 2005, Maine schools have banned sodas from their vending machines in response to emerging evidence that sugary drinks contribute to obesity among young people. But prior to the ban going into place, Janet Whatley Blum, an associate professor in the Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences department of the University of Southern Maine, decided to test how well the bans on soda worked, including sodas, sports drinks and diet drinks.

Maine's OUI Laws Cricized By MADD

December 2, 2008 Reported By: Keith McKeen

Maine could do a better job in reducing alcohol-related highway fatalities. That's the message from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which has issued a new national report that finds Maine among the states seeing an increase in the percentage of aolcohol related deaths over the past two years.

Maine Forest Practices Examined

December 2, 2008 Reported By: Susan Sharon

A new, in-depth survey of logging practices in Maine finds most loggers are taking the right steps to protect water quality and avoid stricter federal regulations. The first-of-its kind survey by the Maine Forest Service looked at 250 randomly chosen logging operations by both large and small landowners. And while there are other signs that forest practices are improving, at least one environmental group says they could be even better.

Times Record

Bath gains 'Preserve America Community' status...(full story)

Shipyard receives $45.8M for DDG-1000...(full story)

Brunswick renews talk of all-day kindergarten...(full story)

Feds chip in $1.1M for BNAS planning...(full story)

Navy housing market glut looms...(full story)

Vaulting into the spotlight...(full story)

Panel bids to up ante for 'clean elections'...(full story)

Editorial
Surviving the 'perfect storm'...(full story)

Maine News for Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Portland Press Herald

Race for AG move into the spotlight
The selection of Maine attorney general never used to get much attention, but public interest is high this year.

Maine native's daughter gets Cabinet post
Susan Rice, named U.N. ambassador, often visits her family's summer home in Lincolnville.

Obama's picks praised by Maine's delegation
They call his choices for national security posts thoughtful and bold.

Again, Wall Street dives for cover
A recession is officially declared, and signals that it may be deep and long cost the Dow 680 points.

'A new dawn of ... leadership'
Obama chooses people with lots of experience and strong views for his national security team.

Mayor Duson sworn in; major challenges await
The budget and revival of the pier project are at the top of Portland's list.

Editorial

Waxman should recuse herself on pier votes
The city councilor should not take part in negotiations with her former employer.

Clinton appointment not without some risk
But the New York senator will bring much to the new administration as its top diplomat.

RON BANCROFTHow do we help all our students learn what they need to succeed?
The Maine Learning Results still hold promise, but commitment remains haphazard.

Bangor Daily News

Lawmakers ponder alcohol-related fatalities

BANGOR, Maine — A report released by Mothers Against Drunk Driving suggests Maine still has work to do to reduce the number of alcohol-related highway fatalities.

Cyber Monday shopping growing in popularity

When Nory Jones couldn’t find the comforter she wanted on Black Friday, the University of Maine associate professor of management information looked to her calendar for help: She shopped on Cyber Monday.

LURC staff urge more talks on Unorganized Territory

Staff of the Land Use Regulation Commission are recommending that work on the agency’s comprehensive plan be pushed back several months to allow additional discussion about development trends in the 10½-million-acre Unorganized Territory.

Baldacci wants varied stimulus efforts

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. John Baldacci is joining most of the nation’s governors in a closed-door meeting with President-elect Barack Obama in Philadelphia today, with the economy at the top of the agenda.

Old Town Canoe cuts back production

OLD TOWN, Maine — Citing economic stress, Old Town Canoe recently slowed its production schedule, cutting hours for some workers.

Pet guidelines for Bangor trails, open space weighed

BANGOR, Maine — A recent spate of concerns and complaints involving pets on city trails and open spaces may cause city officials to consider adopting animal guidelines.

Old Town deer hunt slow on first day

OLD TOWN, Maine — Monday’s icy drizzle likely dampened first-day participation in the only deer season on Marsh Island in recent memory, and the deer may not have been cooperating, either.

Editorial
Moving Beyond Mumbai Last week’s attacks in Mumbai exposed numerous fault lines in India and

ClickBack on spending, pot This week’s ClickBack focuses on state spending, terrorism in India and

Health care spending: Let’s talk Drunken sailors cannot hold a candle to physicians when it comes to spending

Kennebec Journal
Developer, city in deal to preserve old YMCA building for only one year
AUGUSTA -- The old YMCA building will stand for at least one more year.

CITY'S OPTIONS TURN DRASTIC
AUGUSTA -- Any of the hard-to-swallow options -- closing Hussey Elementary School or Hodgkins Middle School, eliminating all sports and other after-school activities, or cutting 30 teachers next school year -- may not be enough to alone close a projected $1.5 million budget gap for Augusta schools.

Bad roads blamed in fatal crash
CARRABASSETT VALLEY -- Police said icy, slushy roads from an overnight snowstorm contributed to a two-vehicle, head-on collision on Route 27 Monday morning that killed a 25-year-old Whitefield man.

GARDINER BRIDGE JOB WON'T SNAG TRAFFIC
GARDINER -- Temporary bridges, one for each travel lane, will be in place by the end of the month, in time for the removal of the 100-year-old New Mills Bridge.

Little aid living with AIDS
AUGUSTA -- HIV and AIDS are prevalent in Maine, and attacking the problem will require leadership and doing more with fewer state resources.

The town line
CHINA -- Residents will get a chance to hear about Central Maine Power Company's plan to upgrade 350 miles of transmission lines, a portion of which runs through this town.

On Maine Politics

Orientation days, then swearing-in 12/01/08

Editorials:

Panel must balance needs of all students
The ranks of autistic children are swelling in Maine and across the country. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, from 1994 to 2005, the number of children ages 6-21 years receiving services for autism increased from 22,664 to 193,637.

Columns:

DAVID B. OFFER : Murder, love, faith makes whodunit a real page turner
There are about 1,600 books on the shelves in my house. Actually, they don't all fit on the shelves; many are in piles, some stacked behind each other.

Sun Journal
New Legislature to pick AG nominee
AUGUSTA (AP) - The three-way race for one of the state's most prominent public offices, attorney general, will be decided Tuesday as the newly elected Legislature chooses a nominee to head the $30 million department that represents the state in legal matters.

Maine scallop season opens
PORTLAND (AP) - Maine's scallop draggers and divers face a shortened season and new restrictions as the scallop season gets under way.

Lewiston aims for brighter future
LEWISTON - The notions that have guided planning and development decisions for Lewiston are outdated, city officials said Monday.

Recession deepens
WASHINGTON (AP) - Most Americans sorely knew it already, but now it's official: The country is in a recession, and it's getting worse.

Down we go again: Fourth-worst drop ever for Dow
NEW YORK (AP) - The stock market suffered one of its worst days since the financial meltdown Monday, slicing 680 points off the Dow Jones industrial average as Wall Street snapped out of its daydream of a rally and once again faced the harsh reality of a recession.

Editorial
Is 'Black Friday' worth it?
It's called chumming the water. Marine biologists drop bloody, ragged fish meat into shark-infested waters. Then, on cue, the sleek beasts emerge from the shadowy sea and enter a tail-whipping, teeth-baring feeding frenzy.

World jihadist movement targets India's affluent
They were young and cleanshaven, wearing Western T-shirts and carrying rucksacks. They could have fit in easily with the cosmopolitan and robustly growing "New India." If that weren't exactly the India they had come to destroy.

MPBN
World AIDS Day Observed

December 1, 2008 Reported By: Josie Huang

Today is World AIDS Day. A lot has changed since the first World AIDS Day, 20 years ago. Drug cocktails have prolonged people's lives indefinitely. Mainers who used to go to Boston for treatment can go to their local clinic. Some patients need only take a pill a day. But still there is no cure, and more than 50,000 new cases are cropping up each year in the United States. As Josie Huang reports, advocates say far too many people have contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and don't know it.

Lawmakers Briefed On Roles And Challenges

December 1, 2008 Reported By: A.J. Higgins

New members of the 124th Legislature spent much of Monday being briefed on their roles in the legislative process and the challenges that will face them in the months ahead. Chief among those are solutions to close a projected $800 million shortfall during the next two-year state budget cycle. The lawmakers were told that nearly all of the states face the same obstacles to balancing their budgets. And as A.J. Higgins reports, they are approaching the state's financial predicament cautiously.

Shrimp Fishermen Counting On Bigger Catch This Season

December 1, 2008 Reported By: Keith McKeen

Although scores of Maine fishermen opted not to battle the wind and rain this morning, December 1st marks the beginning of a shrimp season that runs through May 29th, 28 days longer than last year. But, while shrimpers are expecting a larger harvest, they're also crossing their fingers for a better price.

Potato Crop Smaller, But Price Stable

December 1, 2008 Reported By: Anne Ravana

Maine’s 2008 potato harvest is one of the smallest in decades, but the Maine Potato Board reports that most farmers chose to plant fewer crops because in recent years, supply has exceeded demand. And that decision has kept the price of potatoes stable, which is good news for farmers.

Maine News for Monday, December 1, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Roof caves in on new housing
Starts are down by almost half from 2006, forcing builders to focus on first-time buyers and niche markets.

Low on options, two districts may merge
Acton and Wells-Ogunquit will discuss consolidating, although some in Wells want to stay independent.

Scarborough gets a break on sea wall
The Patriots Day storm in 2007 led to federal and state help for replacing the Higgins Beach wall.

Duson: Challenges demand vigor, know-how
She'll start a second mayoral term as the city faces a stalled pier plan and another tough budget season.

Mandates driving surge to the river for hydropower

Toy Fund: Family of 7 bearing load of bad luck
Fearing foreclosure, a jobless couple try to make the holidays happy for their kids.

Editorial

Government should not force retiree stock sales
Sen. Susan Collins is right to call for an unusual response to an unusual circumstance.

City smart to seek outside help on police chief search
But a head-hunting service should not make success less likely for an in-house candidate.

LEIGH DONALDSONWithout adequate incomes, many have little to celebrate this year
As unemployment and underemployment rises, there should be action to benefit the needy.

Bangor Daily News

Savvy drivers seek out cheap gas

BANGOR, Maine — Local drivers who paid around $4 a gallon for gasoline just a few months ago have become savvy in finding the cheapest prices around, and don’t plan to make any changes even though gas prices have dropped.

Firearms deer season comes to its '08 close

Despite a fatal hunting incident on Saturday in which a New Gloucester man shot himself near Greenville, Maine’s firearms deer hunting season wound down Saturday with relatively few mishaps, according to state officials.

Police suspend aircraft purchase

AUGUSTA, Maine — After strong, bipartisan criticism, the Maine State Police decided not to use money forfeited by drug dealers to buy a new airplane at a cost of $345,000 after convincing the appropriations committee they needed to purchase the plane immediately.

Hunter death attributed to self-inflicted wound

BEAVER COVE TOWNSHIP, Maine — A New Gloucester man died Saturday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound while hunting alone on Prong Pond Mountain about 10 miles northeast of Greenville, according to officials.

BDN single-copy price of the weekend edition to increase

The single-copy price of the weekend edition of the Bangor Daily News, currently $1.50, will increase to $2 at news-stands and stores beginning today, Nov. 29.

Editorial
The Shipping Rules Federal regulators last month belatedly finished rules requiring ocean vessels

Age of Consent Considered together, two recent news stories on two very different issues

Israeli civilian expectations low when cease-fire ends Dec. 19 is a significant day for Israeli civilians living on the other side of

Kennebec Journal
Starting over
When the security alarm went off just before 3 a.m. on May 27, William Guerrette Jr. knew it wasn't a fault in the system. Something was gravely wrong.

Former Cony basketball star wins title of Miss Maine USA
Five years ago, as a senior at Cony High School, Ashley Underwood was a finalist for Miss Maine Basketball.

Editorials:

Obama, Paterno agree on college football playoff
You are separated by a generation. Or even two. But you are bound together by a common, well-founded belief that major college football needs a playoff system to determine the national champion each year.

Sun Journal
Jackpot grows larger
PORTLAND (AP) - There were no jackpot winners in either of Maine's multistate lotteries Saturday night.

Shrimp season kicks off
PORTLAND (AP) - New England fishermen will have a long season and an abundant resource to fish from when the northern shrimp season kicks off Monday.

Maine man faces weapons, drug charges
ELIOT (AP) - A 25-year-old Eliot man faces charges after police say they found numerous weapons and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition inside his apartment located above a day-care center.

Swiss OK legalized heroin, but pass on pot
GENEVA (AP) - The world's most comprehensive legalized heroin program became permanent Sunday with overwhelming approval from Swiss voters, who rejected the decriminalization of marijuana.

State road projects keep region rolling

Editorial
Let Auburn lights shine, somewhere
'Twas the day after Thanksgiving, and along Vista Drive, not a light was flashing, chasing or dancing, not even to the Bee Gee's disco anthem, "Stayin' Alive."

Obama needs to focus on more than just bin Laden
Barack Obama has said there can be only one president at a time. But in this interregnum - when the White House has already given up on making foreign (or economic) policy - the words of the president-elect matter.

MPBN
AG Race Heats Up

November 26, 2008 Reported By: A.J. Higgins

Three Democratic lawmakers are locked in pitched battle in an attempt to emerge as the majority party's choice for Maine's next attorney general. Reps. Sean Faircloth of Bangor, John Brautigam of Falmouth and Janet Mills of Farmington are courting the Democratic majority in the next Legislature in their efforts to secure enough votes to win. But as A.J. Higgins reports, the role of choosing the next attorney general may actually fall to Republicans who are now questioning the qualifications of one of the candidates.

Study Finds Some Teachers Lack Training In Topics They Teach

November 26, 2008 Reported By: Josie Huang

Pop quizzes - teachers announce them at the most inopportune times to test our knowledge. Far too many teachers in Maine, however, haven't had to demonstrate knowledge of the material they teach. That's according a new study by the Education Trust, which analyzed teacher data from all 50 states. In Maine, about a fifth of teachers are teaching without an academic major nor state certification in the subjects they teach. That's higher than the national average.

Economic Downturn Finds Professionals Using Online Tools To Find Jobs

November 26, 2008 Reported By: Jon Greenberg

The economic downturn has put lots of people into the job market. Many of them are seasoned professionals who haven’t had to navigate these waters for a long time. They’re using a blend of traditional methods as well as some new online tools to find work. New Hampshire Public Radio’s Jon Greenberg has more.

Times Record

Today, it all becomes real: Squadron's departure today marks key phase ...(full story)

Still waiting for the missing link: Mid-coast connection to Downeaster hinges on $35M federal loan...(full story)

Editorial

The long farewell begins...(full story)

Maine News for Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Governor issues state of emergency
Tens of thousands lose power and one man dies in a storm-related car crash.

Go light on new bills, legislators urged
State House: With budget problems and other big issues looming, it's time for efficiencies, some say.

Bailout expands to basic credit
The government will use as much as $800 million to stimulate home mortgage and consumer markets.

Plan for higher tolls tries to spread pain
Out-of-staters would pay more, as would Mainers, but E-ZPass users would be spared.

Grocery coop helps those who help others
Those who enjoy the discount food of Serve New England must spend two hours a month volunteering.

Rally today will condemn 'KKK' graffiti in Hallowell
Police are trying to determine who marked the rail trail area and if the meaning is racist.

Augusta searching for its identity
Its Branding Committee plans a pubic forum for ideas at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3.

Toxic soil fix may cost $100 million
The DEP orders a cleanup of the former HoltraChem site in Orrington.

List of banks in trouble grows 50 percent in quarter
That's a sharp increase, but involves only a small portion of the industry.

Wall Street shrugs off grim data
Third-quarter numbers indicate the economy is weakening faster than previously believed.

Editorial

Strong field doesn't mean AG process is best
The current method for picking an attorney general in Maine heavily favors insiders.

Choices abound for urbanites who crave the outdoors
A new trail along Long Creek in South Portland joins a list of special places in the area.

Bangor Daily News

Retail experts urge caution with gift cards

BANGOR, Maine — Holiday shoppers should carefully do their homework before plunking down hard-earned money to buy gift cards, according to retail experts.

Man charged as spy released after BIA arrest

BANGOR, Maine — A U.S. citizen working as a military translator in Iraq who authorities allege was a spy in the United States for the former regime of Saddam Hussein was released on bail Monday after appearing in U.S. District Court in Bangor.

Adoptive birth certificates to be unsealed

Beginning on Jan. 2, people adopted in Maine who are 18 or older will be able to find out the names of their birth parents.

Storm cuts power to 40,000 Mainers

A late autumn storm brought soaking rains, high winds and heavy snow to northern New England on Tuesday, knocking out power to thousands of people and causing headaches for drivers.

Birth control for minors scrutinized

Anticipating a legislative challenge to state laws giving teens access to birth control prescriptions and other reproductive health services without the consent of their parents, the Family Planning Association of Maine will host a series of forums around the state, beginning Tuesday in Bangor.

DOT request cancels Sears Island meeting

A Dec. 1 public meeting scheduled to be held in Searsport has been canceled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the request of the Maine Department of Transportation because of a legislative committee vote on Nov. 18.

Dedham woman evaded vehicle taxes, court says

PORTLAND, Maine — A Dedham woman has lost her bid to register her car in Louisiana while living in Maine.

Cuts threaten red tide monitors

Shellfish harvesters and dealers warned Tuesday that loss of the red tide monitoring program would likely be the death knell to yet another aspect of Maine’s commercial fishing tradition.

EMHS buys Cianchette Building in Brewer

BREWER, Maine — Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems officials bought the Cianchette Building, home to their headquarters on Whiting Hill, earlier this month, saving the company millions of dollars but removing more than $300,000 from city tax rolls.

Bangor High School threat a hoax

BANGOR, Maine — In the end, it was all a hoax, but the rumor that began during the day on Monday and spread into the evening put many students, parents, school administrators and police on temporary alert.

Sangerville man guilty of trespassing with dog

DOVER-FOXCROFT, Maine — A Sangerville man who was summoned on two counts of criminal trespass in June 2007 for exercising his dog at the Sangerville recreational field was found guilty of both counts Tuesday by a jury in Piscataquis County Superior Court.

Editorial
Sinking Sears Island

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the Legislature’s Transportation …

Today’s Barbary Pirates

The lyrics of the U.S. Marine Corps hymn, “From the Halls of Montezuma to the …

Making a very conservative case for marriage equality

As recently as 1967 there were 16 states in which it was illegal for a black …

Kennebec Journal
City seeks 'brand' for instant recognition
AUGUSTA -- Say "the Big Apple," and everyone knows you're talking about New York City.

Take our reader survey: How should Augusta market itself?
'Capital City' not snappy enough. Brand recognition sought by Mayor Katz, officials. Have your save here.

HALLOWELL Anti-hate rally set for today
HALLOWELL -- So many people called the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence to condemn graffiti found on the rail trail over the weekend that a rally has been scheduled for today.

BIG BILL
Each year, state lawmakers consider hundreds -- often thousands -- of bills that deal with everything from waterskiing safety to using fallen apples to make cider.

Icy roads likely for holiday weekend
Maine travelers who are driving to reunite with family for Thanksgiving need to be aware of winter weather conditions, officials from the National Weather Service warned Tuesday.

On Maine Politics

Cummings goes back to school 11/25/08

Editorials:

Tax repealers' failure to file reports a big deal
Sometimes, being a couple days late with a report is no big deal. If it's a fourth-grader's book report, it might get you knocked down a grade. If it's the first-quarter financials, the boss might get a bit steamed, then forget about it.

EVERT FOWLE : Fewer assistant DAs equals less justice
A recent editorial in this newspaper about the state budget lamented that allowing department heads to identify cuts in their budget invited them to only "cut the football team," suggesting that we would always find the most popular or necessary program to cut.

GEORGE SMITH : Be thankful for family, friends, even a glass of healthy clean water
And just like Santa Claus, Thanksgiving Day is inside of you, waiting to drop down the chimney and bless your family and friends with gifts and a great day of sharing.

Sun Journal
Maine AG race down to last week
AUGUSTA (AP) - The race for Maine attorney general is down to its final week.

Food banks struggle in lean times
LEWISTON - The declining economy has pinched nonprofit organizations from both sides, reducing donations and increasing the number of people seeking help.

Inauguration team run by Maine man
AUGUSTA (AP) - A Maine native is coordinating events for the upcoming presidential inauguration for President-elect Barack Obama.

4 men charged with poaching
AUGUSTA (AP) - The Maine Warden Service has issued summons to four men from eastern Maine, charging them with illegally killing or possessing moose, deer and turkeys.

Judge sentences con artist to 4 years
PORTLAND (AP) - An admitted con artist who fleeced six Mainers out of $205,000 has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Editorial
The great education policy swap
Susan Gendron, commissioner of the Maine Department of Education, is asking school superintendents for advice on repealing costly mandates, without harming the quality or delivery of education in the classroom.

Tree-stand Buddha spies no deer
To me, there's nothing like getting up ahead of the sun on Thanksgiving morning, hiking deep into the woods and squatting in frozen silence to watch for a deer to kill with my rifle.

'Why believe?' says God. 'Isn't that a fair question?'
I was crammed into a middle seat. The guy in front was practically in my lap and I had my arms drawn in tightly as I pecked furiously on the keyboard. God glanced over. "What are you working on?" He asked.

MPBN
Mallinckrodt Ordered To Finish Hazardous Waste Cleanup

November 25, 2008 Reported By: Josie Huang

The state Department of Environmental Protection has ordered a former owner of an Orrington chemical plant to remove hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of soil and sediment from the site, which has tested positive for eight types of hazardous waste. After several months of negotiations failed to produce an agreement, the DEP set a May deadline for Mallinckrodt Inc. to begin the soil cleanup at the former HoltraChem facility on the banks of the Penobscot River. As Josie Huang reports, the Missouri-based company has already spent several million dollars to remove contaminated storage tanks and buildings from the site. From the mid-1960s to 2000, HoltraChem produced chlorine and other chemicals and was New England's largest polluter of toxic mercury.

CMP's Proposed Transmission Upgrade Troubles Nearby Residents

November 25, 2008 Reported By: Susan Sharon

Central Maine Power Company's 1.5 billion dollar plan to upgrade 350 miles of transmission lines, mostly through an existing corridor in dozens of Maine towns came under fire Monday night in Lewiston. More than 30 residents told members of the Public Utilties Commission that they think the plan will put their property values in a nosedive, create more noise, disrupt the environment and potentially harm children's health. As Susan Sharon reports, several people also questioned its true benefits. Robert Fogg of Lewiston lives next to existing powerlines which would increase from 115 to 345 volts.

Shellfish Operations Fear State Budget Cuts

November 25, 2008 Reported By: Josie Huang

The hallways of the statehouse in Augusta are a long way from the muddy beds where James West harvests mussels for the company he co-owns, Eastern Maine Mussel Company. But, as Josie Huang reports, West says he sure is feeling the reach of the state's current budget crisis.

Downeast Physician Accepts Cash Only

November 25, 2008 Reported By: Anne Ravana

A handful of primary care physicians in Maine are chosing to go it alone, forgoing the stability of working for a hospital or a hospital-run clinic. Instead they've opened their own private practices and to keep costs and paperwork to a minimum, they're doing away with insurance contracts and charging cash. As Anne Ravana reports, they want to revive the concept of the old-fashioned family doctor, complete with house visits.

Times Record

New cuts to programs for disabled Mainers start on Dec. 7...(full story)

Editorial

Let the voters decide ...(full story)

Maine News for Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Inaugural in hands of Obama aide from Maine
Emmett Beliveau, a Colby College graduate, leads 400 people planning the inauguration events.

Districts scrambling to deal with cuts in aid
Some officials may rely on reserve funds and others may trim staff, aware that more state cuts are ahead.

A state of hunger
A government survey finds more Mainers are going hungry

Cuts put 65 jobs in jeopardy at USM
President Selma Botman stresses action must be taken quickly. Layoffs will happen in coming weeks.

Maine Senators to reserve final judgment
But Reps. Tom Allen and Mike Michaud applaud Timothy Geithner's selection.

Obama: Bold stimulus is needed now
His sense of urgency and coordination with President Bush on rescue strategy boost the stock market.

Saving people on brink of foreclosure
A retired lawyer and others in a volunteer program give free legal help to homeowners.


Without license, officer off duty
Cape Elizabeth puts Capt. Brent Sinclair on leave after his OUI arrest leads to a license suspension.

Dentist to fill need in rural area
He belongs to a corps that brings doctors to low-income, under-served areas like northern Maine.

Amid bustle, a slice of solitude
A trail through the woods along Long Creek, not far from the Maine Mall area, is close to completion.

Editorial
Decisive yet careful right tone for Obama
In announcing his economic team, the president-elect signals he’s serious.

RON BANCROFTAs always, this holiday arrives with a lot to be thankful for
Before digging into the food, a family tradition dictates taking a moment to give thanks.

Bangor Daily News

Extension to aid state’s unemployed

AUGUSTA, Maine — About 3,500 Mainers who have exhausted their extended unemployment benefits can immediately apply for the extension of federal unemployment benefits approved last week by Congress. But that help may run out early in January.

d watches announced for parts of state

ROCKLAND, Maine — The National Weather Service on Monday afternoon issued flood watches for central, Down East and midcoast parts of Maine today and into Wednesday.

Highway driving down 7.5% as Mainers face bad economy

Maine is near the top of the list of states showing a decline in highway miles driven in September. American motorists drove 10.7 billion fewer miles in September than they did for the same month last year, according to the Federal Highway Administration. That’s a decline of 4.4 percent.

Manna seeks permits for family shelter

BANGOR, Maine — Manna Ministries Inc. has filed applications for permits to build a family homeless shelter at its Main Street site which would be the only facility of its kind in Greater Bangor.

Manna to serve up a holiday meal, more

BANGOR, Maine — Manna Ministries will host a free public Thanksgiving dinner 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thanksgiving Day at the Columbia Street Baptist Church in Bangor.

Firm must remove toxic soil

State regulators have ordered the former owner of the HoltraChem facility in Orrington to remove hundreds of thousands of tons of contaminated soil from the site in what would be one of the largest environmental cleanup projects in Maine history.

Editorial

Obama must look at fixes, not popularity

Conventional wisdom holds that political success lies in finding the center of popular opinion, which remains moderate to conservative. Coming from a media that have consistently failed to anticipate or even fully acknowledge the current economic crisis, such wisdom is suspect. Success in stable times may lie in claiming the center.

45 years: A long time to hide idealism

Forty-five years ago on Nov. 22, my heart broke. I was 15, and the assassination of John F. Kennedy shattered my world. All that optimism and all that idealism that the young president had harnessed were suddenly left with nowhere to go.

Kennebec Journal

Mainer guides Obama's plan for inaugural
AUGUSTA -- Maine native Emmett Beliveau is leading the presidential inaugural committee that's working on the Washington celebration to usher President-elect Barack Obama into office.

AUGUSTA CITY MAY GROW DISPATCH
AUGUSTA -- City leaders believe Augusta would pay more money and get less service and safety by joining the state Regional Communications Center.

'Fed Up' tardy, to pay penalty
AUGUSTA -- The ethics commission on Monday fined Fed Up With Taxes $10,000 for failing to file two campaign finance reports on time.

City may ink lease on vacant Y building
AUGUSTA -- The old YMCA building may be about to get a new lease on life -- at least for a year.

HALLOWELL Police pursuing graffiti case
HALLOWELL -- Police narrowed down the time when vandals defaced signs with graffiti on the Kennebec River Rail Trail over the weekend.

GARDINER City prepares for annual holiday events
GARDINER -- Public works crews were busy hoisting the city's Christmas tree Monday in Johnson Hall Park to help kick off the start of downtown holiday festivities.

Lowe's is high on expanding to Farmington
FARMINGTON -- Lowe's Home Centers, the nation's second-largest home improvement store, plans to present a preliminary plan to the Farmington Planning Board for a 138,893-square-foot store on Wilton Road.

On Maine Politics

Kennebec Republicans elect new leader 11/24/08

Editorials:

Economic woes send Obama out of shadows
The change we need right now -- as the stock market pitches in every direction and major financial institutions edge toward bankruptcy -- is the kind of change that will help our economy stabilize and get people back to work.

DAVID B. OFFER : In spite of worries, give thanks we have a democracy that works
A rafter of about a dozen turkeys has been wandering around my neighborhood all summer and fall. Obviously these birds know nothing about Thanksgiving or they are brave beyond words.

Sun Journal
Police investigate 'KKK' signs
HALLOWELL (AP) - Police are investigating the appearance of signs with the letters "KKK" in dozens of locations along a popular walking and bicycling trail in Hallowell and Farmingdale.

Mainers cut driving by 7.5%
PORTLAND (AP) - Maine is near the top of the list of states showing a decline in highway miles driven in September.

Man dies of burns from heater
SANFORD (AP) - An elderly Sanford man has died from burns he received when his clothes caught fire as he was standing near a propane heater.

Fishery offical faces tough cuts
WALDOBORO (AP) - Maine's top fishery official is proposing to eliminate the state's red tide monitoring program in order to comply with required budget cuts, a move shellfish diggers fear could drive them out of business.

Pay cuts offered to avoid layoffs
LEWISTON - Betty Robinson said she's willing to take a pay cut to help someone else not get laid off. Robinson is a professor and former dean at the University of Southern Maine's Lewiston-Auburn campus.

Lowe's reveals plan for store

Editorial
First step should be recognition
Talk about same-sex marriage in Maine tends to rush toward the conclusion: whether they should be legal. The recent announcement of a clergy coalition to draw attention to it - the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry in Maine - has renewed this debate, and drawn the usual opposition.

Movie character sets tone for male social mores
He's handsome and dresses with care, and he's what Joe Biden might call "clean and articulate." Women love him. He's the new beau ideal of the popular culture. But we're not talking about Barack Obama.

MPBN
The Return Of Whooping Cough

November 24, 2008 Reported By: Josie Huang

It's commonly thought that pertussis, better known as whooping cough, was largely eradicated with the arrival of a vaccine in the 1940s. But health officials have seen outbreaks of the disease in day care centers over the past few years, and as Josie Huang reports, the disease caused the temporary closure of an outpatient surgery center in Southern Maine.

Labor And Community Activists Assist Laid Off Workers

November 24, 2008 Reported By: Anne Ravana

Unions, community organizers, farmers, businesses and religious leaders gathered in Brewer today to present more than 150 Thanksgiving dinners to laid off workers from northern and eastern Maine. Union activists also used the opportunity for union leaders to give updates on status of their local mills and the number of workers still waiting to go back on the job.

Maine Wreath Makers In Full Swing

November 24, 2008 Reported By: Susan Sharon

This is a busy shipping week for one of Maine's most important holiday industries: wreath makers. It's also a busy time of year for the state's forest rangers who are working to ensure that evergreen boughs or tips are harvested legally.

From Combat To College

November 24, 2008 Reported By: Avishay Artsy

Going off to college can be a tough transition for young people. Learning their way around campus, making new friends, handling heavy courseloads. But soldiers returning from active duty can find it especially challenging. New Hampshire’s colleges and universities are working to help student veterans cope with those new challenges. New Hampshire Public Radio’s Avishay Artsy reports.

Times Record

Recount confirms Goodall win...(full story)

Area schools react to state cuts...(full story)

Village Soup

Some win, some lose in oil price roller-coaster ride
11/24/2008

Maine News for Monday, November 24, 2008

Portland Press Herald
Gorham senator to help lead cutback effort
Another priority is lowering Maine's dependence on foreign oil, says Majority Leader Philip Bartlett.

Maine AG seeks direct evidence of Standish sign
The state will proceed with a civil action if factual proof is developed of an alleged assassination pool.

Lagging economy whittles gas costs
As travelers prepare for Thanksgiving treks, the price of fuel drops to an average of $1.93 per gallon.

Maine mariners sail the pirate-filled seas
Merchant vessel crews get security training, but may not learn practical tactics for defending against an attack.

Reports: Deer harvest down
Anecdotal evidence from registration stations indicates last winter took a heavy toll on the herd.

Get to Hallowell? Go left
Some say the Augusta suburb tilts progressive because so many state workers live there.

Editorial

Expect social services, education to be cut again
The governor's first round of cuts focused on areas where the state spends the most.

Piracy thrives when nations struggle with stability
Things can be done to make the seas safer, but over time stable governments are the answer.

LEIGH DONALDSONRepublicans' future hinges on an ideological makeover
Unless the party turns away from its divisiveness and toward diversity, it has little hope.

Bangor Daily News

DOT may face even deeper cuts

AUGUSTA, Maine — The Department of Transportation is facing three years of reduced revenues, and lawmakers believe they will have to make cuts deeper than outlined by Commissioner David

Lincoln volunteers help insulate homes

LINCOLN, Maine — Penny Nash could feel the difference as soon as she got through the door. “When I walked in, it felt warmer,” Nash, 47, said Sunday.

Abdul fan battled depression, anorexia

WATERVILLE, Maine — A Paula Abdul fan who was found dead in a car near the Los Angeles home of the pop star she admired is being remembered in Maine by family members who say she

After last year’s harsh winter, ‘the deer aren’t there’

By this point in the hunting season, Dennis Beaulier has typically registered around 100 deer at his Ashland general store. This year, he may not even hit 50 for the entire season.

Bapst wins first state football title in 32 years

PORTLAND, Maine — The John Bapst Crusaders won their first football state title in 32 years with a 21-14 victory over Winthrop in the Class C state championship game Saturday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Editorial
The Future of Marriage Maine and the nation are likely to become embroiled, yet again, in debate over

Whither the GOP? The Democratic showing in the election — not a landslide but decisive

Put brains and skills to work to solve real problems On the radio recently I heard an economist refer to Sept. 23 as the

Kennebec Journal
Liberal and proud of it: Hallowell flaps its strong left wing
Hallowell state's only city to support keeping the beverage tax on Election Day

Fear of new gun controls leads to increase in sales
WINSLOW -- Sales of semi-automatic weapons and handguns exploded in central Maine and across the country earlier this month as gun enthusiasts predicted the pertinent laws would become more restrictive with the change in the U.S. presidency.

Emergency center, YMCA on Augusta City Council's agenda
AUGUSTA -- Councilors meet tonight to discuss whether the city should keep its own emergency dispatch center or go with the state's Regional Communications Center.

Mainers seem to be buckling up
Part of being a reporter is watching trends. Some reporters pay attention to the economic trends of Wall Street, others are proficient at crime statistics and the luckiest reporters get to track batting averages season-to-season for the Chicago White Sox.

Sun Journal
Maine rail yard rebuilds trains
MILO (AP) - A Maine railroad whose business has long focused on shipping pulp and paper has found a new source of revenue in rebuilding locomotives and rail cars.

Marine recruit an inspiration
LEWISTON - A week ago, Ulysses Milana boarded a plane bound for Marine boot camp at Parris Island, S.C. He was a 23-year-old soft-spoken husband from Lewiston ready to realize a life-long dream of serving his country.

Editorial
Palin's rhetorical question
Sarah Palin is neither gone, nor forgotten.

Status-of-forces agreement seen as benefit for Obama
Iraq's prime minister just did Barack Obama a huge favor.

MPBN
Education and the Economy

November 23, 2008 Reported By: Irwin Gratz

Morning Edition host Irwin Gratz talks with Laurie LaChance, President of the Maine Development Foundation about the need to reign in school expenses while maintaining, or increasing educational attainment.

Organic Food Advocates Blast Government Proposal

November 21, 2008 Reported By: Anne Ravana

Local organic food advocates are speaking out and encouraging other Mainers to do the same in response to changes the U.S. Department of Agriculture has put forth regarding rules on genetically modified crops. The new regulations would preempt exisiting state and local regulations related to the presence of such crops.

Mainers Cut Back On Highway Miles

November 21, 2008 Reported By: Josie Huang

Maine is near the top of the list of states that have seen a decline in the number of miles driven during the past year. That's according to the US Department Of Transportation, which reports that Americans drove 10.7 billion less highway miles in September than they did a year earlier. As Josie Huang reports, Maine was third on the list, down 7.5 percent, behind South Carolina and Vermont.

Boat Builders Count On Diversification To Rescue Industry

November 21, 2008 Reported By: Keith Shortall

Maine's high-end boat building industry is trying to weather some rough seas. Orders for new yachts are down, and some yards have been forced to cut their payrolls. But as Keith Shortall reports, Maine boat builders are banking on a diversified approach, and a concept called "coopetition", in their efforts to keep a foothold in what has become an expanding world-wide industry.

Effort Underway To Restore Natural River Flow

November 21, 2008 Reported By: Nancy Cohen

There are more than 19,000 dams in the Northeast. Many are small, dating back to the time when early industry harnessed the power of rivers. But today, environmentalists and government agencies want to restore rivers back to their natural flow for the benefit of both migrating fish and people. As part of a collaboration between northeast stations Nancy Cohen from WNPR in Hartford reports on the debate over taking dams down.