1 missing, 4 hurt after fire destroys home in Camden
Officials say a fire that swept through a home in Camden, Maine, sent four people to the hospital and a fifth was missing. Camden Fire Chief Chris Farley said the house was engulfed in flames and several occupants were outside when firefighters arrived early Thursday. One victim was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland; the other three were taken to PenBay Medical Center in Rockport. Heavy equipment was being brought in to assist the state fire marshal’s office in the investigation.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MAINE
Maine governor supports COVID-19 Patient Bill of Rights
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine’s governor is throwing her support behind a proposed “COVID-19 Patient Bill of Rights” touted by top Democrats in the state. The Maine Legislature Office of the Presiding Officers has said the proposal is designed to “require state-regulated health insurance companies to cover COVID-19 screening, testing and immunization at no cost to the patient.” The proposal has the support of Senate President Troy Jackson and other prominent Maine Democrats. Gov. Janet Mills, who is also a Democrat, called the proposal “important legislation” on Tuesday and said she supports it.
SENIOR COLLEGE VOLUNTEER-SEX ABUSE
Man charged with child rape volunteered with senior college
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A retired drama teacher accused of sexually assaulting boys in Massachusetts and New York was allowed to teach in a senior-citizen program affiliated with the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston Auburn campus. USM staff and faculty members are subject to criminal background checks but they’re not required for volunteers like 75-year-old Reynold “Rey” Buono. The senior college’s board severed connections with him upon learning of the charges pending in Massachusetts. Massachusetts attorney Eric MacLeish, who represents several other alleged victims, said the charges could’ve been discovered with a simple Google search.
UMS TRUSTEES
Trustees approved 580-bed housing commons for USM
ORONO, Maine (AP) — The University of Maine System Board of Trustees on Wednesday gave the green light to a 580-bed Portland Commons affordable student housing residence hall project for the University of Southern Maine. The $93.7 million project is one of several housing initiatives aimed at bringing nearly 1,000 residence hall beds to campuses in Portland, Presque Isle and Farmington by 2023. Trustees also approved a $26.6 million Career and Student Success Center at USM that includes $19 million from a bond package that was authorized by voters.
Maine, Nevada senators eye expanded rural broadband
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A pair of senators has proposed providing up to $15 billion in matching grants to help expand rural broadband access. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada said Wednesday they are calling their proposal the “American Broadband Buildout Act.” They say the grants would be used to help states and state-approved entities build “‘last-mile’ infrastructure to bring high-speed broadband directly to homes and businesses in areas that lack it.” The senators said the projects must be located in unserved areas where broadband isn’t available at speeds that meet federal standards.