Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

January 31

Wind, rain, thaw create plenty of work for Central Maine Power

Heavy wind and rain Thursday knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses in central Maine while the unseasonably warm temperature melted enough ice to force the closing of Route 4 in Madrid.

January 31

Morning Sentinel area police log, Jan. 31, 2013

N ANSON, Thursday at 1:31 p.m., larceny was reported on Lloyd Road.

January 31

Augusta woman sentenced in Northern Avenue home invasion

AUGUSTA -- A city woman originally indicted on a robbery charge in connection with a home invasion has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.

January 31

Republicans and Democrats agree on limiting governor's bond authority

AUGUSTA -- Some top Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature agree on one of the hot button issues around the capital: The governor should not be able to hold up bond issues for improvement projects and economic development.

January 31

Second suspect arrested in Jan. 22 CVS robbery

AUGUSTA -- A city woman was arrested Thursday in connection with the robbery of the CVS pharmacy Jan. 22 on Stone Street, police said.

January 31

Litchfield van fire one more tragedy for family

The handicap accessible van destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon at a Litchfield garage was the latest setback for a family that has become all too familiar with them in recent years.

January 31

Republicans hammer Secretary of Defense nominee Hagel

Hagel, 66, would be the lone Republican in Obama's Cabinet and the first enlisted man to hold the post.

January 31

Marietta D'Agostino hired as state medical pot program manager

Maine's medical marijuana program, which has gone through numerous changes in recent years and could change more during this legislative session, has a new manager.

January 31

Legislators question decision to close Hallowell prison pre-release center

HALLOWELL -- State employee union representatives and some lawmakers are upset over what they feel was a unilateral decision by state corrections Commissioner Joseph Ponte to close the prison pre-release center in Hallowell.

January 31

Farmington District Court cases, Dec. 17-28

FARMINGTON -- The following cases, listed alphabetically J-Z, were closed from Dec. 17 to Dec. 28, 2012, in Farmington District Court.

January 31

Superior court sentences imposed

AUGUSTA -- Several people were sentenced in separate hearings Tuesday in Kennebec County Superior Court:

February 1

Pike Industries nabs exit 113 construction project

AUGUSTA -- Pike Industries is the low bidder on the multimillion-dollar construction project that will connect Route 3 with Civic Center Drive and allow motorists to enter and leave Interstate 95 at exit 113 from all directions.

February 1

Winslow students sending hand-made love to veterans overseas

WINSLOW -- To celebrate the red, white and blue, students at St. John Catholic School on Thursday focused on red.

February 1

Routine traffic stop leads to cocaine bust in Clinton

CLINTON -- A routine traffic stop last month turned into one of the town's biggest drug seizures in recent memory.

January 31

Farmington senior apartments project open to bid

FARMINGTON -- The construction contract for Brookside Village Apartments, a low-income senior housing project, is open for bidding after a month of project delays.

January 31

Utility companies pitch natural gas lines

Two utility companies that are bidding for the chance to bring natural gas to thousands of families and businesses in Cumberland, Yarmouth and Falmouth say they would spend about $60 million to $70 million to expand access to the cost-saving fuel, according to documents provided by the towns.

January 31

Fairfield police officer hospitalized following cruiser collision with truck

FARIFIELD — A Fairfield police officer was injured Thursday in a collision with a truck on U.S. Route 201 that destroyed his cruiser and sent the truck down an embankment and into some trees.

February 1

IBEW rejects Sappi contract setting stage for strike vote

SKOWHEGAN — Electrical workers at Sappi Fine Paper rejected a new contract tonight, setting the stage for a possible strike.

January 31

Mainer's nomination to be federal judge delayed again

William Kayatta of Cape Elizabeth, who was nominated more than a year ago, now has to wait another week to learn his fate.

January 31

Second suspect charged in connection with pharmacy robbery

AUGUSTA — Police arrested a 22-year-old city woman today in connection with the Jan. 22 robbery of the CVS pharmacy on Stone Street.

January 31

10 ad spots to watch during Super Bowl

Marketers have spent millions and pulled out all the stops to "wow" viewers again this year.

January 31

Great white shark headed back to northeast

The winter vacation for the 3,500-pound Mary Lee is apparently over.

January 31

Wind, plummeting temps in NH; some ski areas close

Temperatures were expected to drop down to the 30s by the afternoon.

January 31

Drug suspect arrested after pocket-dialing 911

Florida dispatchers help police pinpoint the location of the man who allegedly engaged in a drug-related conversation.

February 1

Update: 8,000 CMP customers still without power

CMP spokesman John Carroll said Friday morning that crews had restored power to a total 95,000 customers since Thursday.

January 31

Dow heading for best January in 2 decades

The index has gained 6.4 percent so far this month, its best January performance since 1989.

January 31

Waterville police log, Jan. 30 and 31

Shoplifting, burglary, harassment

January 31

Bangor man charged with stealing from civic groups

Authorities say Bruce Fowle, 62, had been stealing from the organizations for several years,

January 31

Transient pleads not guilty to 1976 Augusta murder

Gary S. Raub, who rented a room from the victim, is linked to the crime by DNA evidence.

January 31

Maine towns set new high-temperature records

Wednesday's warm temperatures broke records from Caribou to Portland.

January 31

Surfers worried about beach camp limits in NH

A Rye selectman says the issue is about making sure that the people running the camps have insurance and that the town is not held liable if someone is hurt.

January 31

Hikers rescued in NH could pay fee under bill

The minimum fee facing those rescued would be $350 and could rise to $1,000, depending on how much the rescue costs.

February 1

Wild, wacky weather brings blow after blow to Maine

Powerful winds cause 94,000 CMP customers to lose electricity over the course of Thursday.

January 31

Bills to protect Mainers' privacy to be outlined

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine and a bipartisan coalition of legislators will hold a news conference at the State House today to explain the bills.

January 31

Public forums on Maine lobster industry wrap up

The 16th and final forum organized by the Department of Marine Resources is taking place today in York.

January 31

Patty, last of Andrews Sisters, dies

Patty Andrews, who was 94, was lead singer of the iconic trio that sold more than 80 million records.

January 31

Study turns tables on losing weight

Critics say the authors make some points, but question their financial ties to weight-loss products.