Latest Maine News

For decades, states have taken foster children's federal benefits. That's starting to change

May. 18, 2024 00:18 AM EDT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — By the time Jesse Fernandez turned 18, the federal government had paid out thousands of dollars in Social Security survivor's benefits because of the death of his mother. But Jesse's bank account was empty. The money had all been used by Missouri's...

Tick season has arrived. Protect yourself with these tips

May. 17, 2024 17:52 PM EDT

FORT COLLINS, Colorado (AP) — Tick season is starting across the U.S., and experts are warning the bloodsuckers may be as plentiful as ever. Another mild winter and other favorable factors likely means the 2024 tick population will be equal to last year or larger, some researchers...

Three men charged in drive-by shooting that led to lockdown in Maine

May. 17, 2024 13:53 PM EDT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Three Massachusetts men were charged in a drive-by shooting involving two vehicles that led to a collision with a school bus and a shelter-in-place order for residents in Saco, officials said. The three men from New Bedford, Massachusetts, fired at least five...

Gunman's family told deputy before Maine's deadliest shooting that they hadn't removed his weapons

May. 17, 2024 11:00 AM EDT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Police have said repeatedly in the aftermath of Maine’s deadliest shooting that officers thought the gunman's family had been taking his weapons away. Testifying before an investigative committee on Thursday, the gunman’s sister-in-law suggested that law...

Maine governor won't sign 35 bills adopted on final day

May. 14, 2024 16:40 PM EDT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The chaotic conclusion of the Maine Legislature's session won't include any new laws: Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said Tuesday she won't sign any of the 35 bills sent to her on the final day of the session, allowing all of them to die. Mills, who believed...

New industry readies for launch as researchers hone offshore wind turbines that float

May. 14, 2024 07:21 AM EDT

ORONO, Maine (AP) — As waves grew and gusts increased, a wind turbine bobbed gently, its blades spinning with a gentle woosh. The tempest reached a crescendo with little drama other than splashing water. The uneventful outcome is exactly what engineers aimed for. The...

Maine governor declines to remove sheriff accused of wrongdoing

May. 13, 2024 17:18 PM EDT

OXFORD, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Monday declined to take the rare step of removing a sheriff accused of improprieties including the transfer of guns from an evidence locker to a gun dealer without proper documentation. Oxford County Sheriff Christopher Wainwright was...

Maine to spend $25 million to rebuild waterfront after devastating winter storms and flooding

May. 13, 2024 17:03 PM EDT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine's government will spend tens of millions of dollars to rebuild the state's working waterfront communities after a series of devastating winter storms pummeled the state's docks, wharves and coastal businesses. The back-to-back storms hammered the...

Maine governor's vetoes sustained while lawmakers address late spending proposals

May. 11, 2024 10:52 AM EDT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine lawmakers sustained vetoes of bills to institute a minimum wage for farm workers and to ban so-called bump stocks that allow a gun to mimic a machine gun on Friday as they attempted to dispatch unfinished business including 80 late spending proposals. ...

Police: Theft suspect stole 2 police vehicles while handcuffed, survived 11 officers' gunfire

May. 10, 2024 16:21 PM EDT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A man who crashed a stolen police vehicle, survived gunfire from 11 police officers and then drove off and crashed another police cruiser — all while wearing handcuffs in a hospital gown — is in no mental capacity to appear before a judge right now, his lawyer said...