ShareA measure before the state Legislature this session would allow Mainers to choose a death ritual that stretches back to ancient times but has largely vanished from modern-day America: outdoor cremations.If adopted, it would let people in the Pine Tree State choose to go out like a Jedi or a Viking king in a blaze of glory in the open air.Anyone who has watched “Game of Thrones” or “The Phantom Menace” has seen at least a fictional funeral pyre, with bodies cremated on a bed of timber in a sometimes-elaborate ceremony.It’s a way of sending off the dead that’s still widely practiced in...…ShareA measure before the state Legislature this session would allow Mainers to choose a death ritual that stretches back to ancient times but has largely vanished from modern-day America: outdoor cremations.If adopted, it would let people in the Pine Tree State choose to go out like a Jedi or a Viking king in a blaze of glory in the open air.Anyone who has watched “Game of Thrones” or “The Phantom Menace” has seen at least a fictional funeral pyre, with bodies cremated on a bed of timber in a sometimes-elaborate ceremony.It’s a way of sending off the dead that’s still widely practiced in...WW…

ShareMainers know what questions to ask when someone is trying to sell them a used car.How many miles are on the odometer? Has it ever been in an accident? And, the question to end all questions, will it pass a state inspection?That third question could become moot if the Legislature adopts a pending bill that would eliminate the annual state inspection requirement for vehicles that are less than 20 years old.Sen. David Miramant, D-CamdenThe measure, sponsored by Sen. David Miramant, D-Camden, is among a half dozen bills to be taken up by the Transportation Committee on Tuesday that would...…ShareMainers know what questions to ask when someone is trying to sell them a used car.How many miles are on the odometer? Has it ever been in an accident? And, the question to end all questions, will it pass a state inspection?That third question could become moot if the Legislature adopts a pending bill that would eliminate the annual state inspection requirement for vehicles that are less than 20 years old.Sen. David Miramant, D-CamdenThe measure, sponsored by Sen. David Miramant, D-Camden, is among a half dozen bills to be taken up by the Transportation Committee on Tuesday that would...WW…

ShareChristian Foster considered selling his home in Cape Elizabeth four years ago, but decided to rent it out instead.He thought about it again in the fall of 2019, but his next-door neighbor’s home went on the market, so again Foster waited.Finally, this winter, with his tenants’ lease expiring, Foster listed the three-bedroom, two-bath home in a neighborhood close to Fort Williams. There was a one-day showing. Multiple offers came in. Three of them included escalation clauses.The price “kept going up and up and up,” Foster said. “Those escalation clauses are incredible. When you have...…ShareChristian Foster considered selling his home in Cape Elizabeth four years ago, but decided to rent it out instead.He thought about it again in the fall of 2019, but his next-door neighbor’s home went on the market, so again Foster waited.Finally, this winter, with his tenants’ lease expiring, Foster listed the three-bedroom, two-bath home in a neighborhood close to Fort Williams. There was a one-day showing. Multiple offers came in. Three of them included escalation clauses.The price “kept going up and up and up,” Foster said. “Those escalation clauses are incredible. When you have...WW…

ShareLongtime residents of Munjoy Hill in Portland are mourning the death of Bobby Lipps, 67, a fixture of the neighborhood for half a century who spent his life helping others.Lipps died Monday at the Springbrook Center nursing home in Westbrook, where he had been living for the last couple of years, his friends and family said.Born and raised on Munjoy Hill, Lipps made the neighborhood and helping people who lived there his life, said Deirdre Nice, who knew Lipps for 30 years and became his de facto guardian over the last decade.Bobby LippsAround the neighborhood, Lipps seemed to be...…ShareLongtime residents of Munjoy Hill in Portland are mourning the death of Bobby Lipps, 67, a fixture of the neighborhood for half a century who spent his life helping others.Lipps died Monday at the Springbrook Center nursing home in Westbrook, where he had been living for the last couple of years, his friends and family said.Born and raised on Munjoy Hill, Lipps made the neighborhood and helping people who lived there his life, said Deirdre Nice, who knew Lipps for 30 years and became his de facto guardian over the last decade.Bobby LippsAround the neighborhood, Lipps seemed to be...WW…

ShareInternet speed checks around the state could be just the ticket to upgrades in broadband access for Mainers, state and local officials say.The Maine Broadband Coalition is launching the speed testing initiative Monday at its website, . In addition to finding out their own upload and download speeds, users will help the coalition identify slow spots around the state where the speeds are not up to snuff. That will help the group determine where upgrades are needed or places where the internet is largely inaccessible.Faster connection speeds are imperative for the economy and society in...…ShareInternet speed checks around the state could be just the ticket to upgrades in broadband access for Mainers, state and local officials say.The Maine Broadband Coalition is launching the speed testing initiative Monday at its website, . In addition to finding out their own upload and download speeds, users will help the coalition identify slow spots around the state where the speeds are not up to snuff. That will help the group determine where upgrades are needed or places where the internet is largely inaccessible.Faster connection speeds are imperative for the economy and society in...WW…

ShareThe Emmy Rose, outbound from Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts on Sept. 29.The Coast Guard was searching overnight for four crew members who were aboard a Portland-based fishing boat that sank off the coast of Massachusetts early Monday.The Coast Guard cutter Vigorous, which is home-ported in Virginia Beach, Virginia, would search through the night for the crew members of the 82-foot Emmy Rose, and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft based at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod was scheduled to fly over the search area at first light Tuesday, Coast Guard spokeswoman Amanda Wyrick...…ShareThe Emmy Rose, outbound from Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts on Sept. 29.The Coast Guard was searching overnight for four crew members who were aboard a Portland-based fishing boat that sank off the coast of Massachusetts early Monday.The Coast Guard cutter Vigorous, which is home-ported in Virginia Beach, Virginia, would search through the night for the crew members of the 82-foot Emmy Rose, and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft based at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod was scheduled to fly over the search area at first light Tuesday, Coast Guard spokeswoman Amanda Wyrick...WW…

ShareCustomers reported finding razor blades and razor blade fragments in pizza dough sold by the Hannaford store in Sanford two months ago but the company didn’t notify police and consumers until this week, days after nearly identical incidents triggered a recall and police investigation in Saco.The previously unreported incidents in Sanford in August and recent reports in Dover, New Hampshire, mean police in three cities across two states are now investigating cases of alleged tampering with bags of pizza dough in Hannaford supermarkets.Nicholas Mitchell is accused of putting razor blades...…ShareCustomers reported finding razor blades and razor blade fragments in pizza dough sold by the Hannaford store in Sanford two months ago but the company didn’t notify police and consumers until this week, days after nearly identical incidents triggered a recall and police investigation in Saco.The previously unreported incidents in Sanford in August and recent reports in Dover, New Hampshire, mean police in three cities across two states are now investigating cases of alleged tampering with bags of pizza dough in Hannaford supermarkets.Nicholas Mitchell is accused of putting razor blades...WW…

ShareA 38-year-old man suspected in a pizza dough tampering case at the Hannaford supermarket in Saco was arrested Sunday night by police officers in Dover, New Hampshire.After Nicholas R. Mitchell was taken into custody, authorities said there have been reports of other tampering cases at Hannaford stores elsewhere in New England and in New York state.Nicholas R. MitchellA customer at the Saco Hannaford’s found razor blades in Portland Pie pizza dough purchased at the store on Oct. 5. But the police investigation widened in subsequent days, and on Sunday Hannaford issued a product...…ShareA 38-year-old man suspected in a pizza dough tampering case at the Hannaford supermarket in Saco was arrested Sunday night by police officers in Dover, New Hampshire.After Nicholas R. Mitchell was taken into custody, authorities said there have been reports of other tampering cases at Hannaford stores elsewhere in New England and in New York state.Nicholas R. MitchellA customer at the Saco Hannaford’s found razor blades in Portland Pie pizza dough purchased at the store on Oct. 5. But the police investigation widened in subsequent days, and on Sunday Hannaford issued a product...WW…

ShareROCKLAND — The two former Rockland police officers who were criminally charged last week killed porcupines with their retractable batons multiple times while on duty, according to an investigator’s report.A third officer is accused of videotaping one of the alleged killings on a cellphone and posting it on Snapchat to a group of other officers.Addison Cox, 27, of Warren and Michael A. Rolerson, 30, of Searsmont were both charged Oct. 2 with Class C aggravated animal cruelty and a misdemeanor count of night hunting.Cox was also charged with misdemeanor unlawful use or possession of...…ShareROCKLAND — The two former Rockland police officers who were criminally charged last week killed porcupines with their retractable batons multiple times while on duty, according to an investigator’s report.A third officer is accused of videotaping one of the alleged killings on a cellphone and posting it on Snapchat to a group of other officers.Addison Cox, 27, of Warren and Michael A. Rolerson, 30, of Searsmont were both charged Oct. 2 with Class C aggravated animal cruelty and a misdemeanor count of night hunting.Cox was also charged with misdemeanor unlawful use or possession of...WW…

ShareWASHINGTON — White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany says she has tested positive for COVID-19. This comes days after President Donald Trump tested positive for the coronavirus.McEnany says in a statement that she tested positive Monday morning and is experiencing no symptoms at this time. She spoke briefly with reporters Sunday evening, but says that no members of the White House press corps spent enough time around her to be considered close contacts.She says that she is beginning the quarantine process and “will continue working on behalf of the American People remotely.”—...…ShareWASHINGTON — White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany says she has tested positive for COVID-19. This comes days after President Donald Trump tested positive for the coronavirus.McEnany says in a statement that she tested positive Monday morning and is experiencing no symptoms at this time. She spoke briefly with reporters Sunday evening, but says that no members of the White House press corps spent enough time around her to be considered close contacts.She says that she is beginning the quarantine process and “will continue working on behalf of the American People remotely.”—...WW…