Police: Elementary school student brought gun to school
RICHMOND, Maine (AP) — Police are investigating a case in which a student brought a gun to an elementary school in Richmond, Maine. The gun was seized at the Marcia Buker Elementary School and police were called on Tuesday. No one was hurt and no one was threatened. The school and police interviewed the student and others who were affected by the incident. The child and parents could face charges upon further discussion with the district attorney.
Maine couple celebrates bicentennial with hidden treasure
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A Maine couple has hidden $20,000 somewhere in the state and they’re inviting treasure-seekers to come and get it. The creators of the treasure hunt and the company behind the hunt, Dirigo Treasures LLC, are Kurt and Kelly Stokes of Newcastle. The Bangor Daily News reports that the couple spent three years exploring and photographing locations around the state before creating an elaborate hide-and-seek game. They say the idea was to get people outside to explore the state, which just celebrated its bicentennial.
PUC to investigate CMP’s handling of solar projects
HALLOWELL, Maine (AP) — Maine’s utility regulators have formally launched an investigation into Central Maine Power’s handling of solar projects. The Maine Public Utilities Commission’s unanimous decision Tuesday follows an uproar over CMP’s warning that connecting solar projects to the grid may be far more costly than expected. CMP sent emails to the developers of solar power projects warning of additional costs because of unanticipated problems in connecting to the grid. It quickly backtracked and said less-costly solutions had been found. Gov. Janet Mills and the Maine Renewable Energy Association were among those pressing for an investigation.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Getting the vaccine to the world’s farthest corners means delivering it by boat to Maine islands, by snowmobile to Alaska villages and via complex Amazon waterways in Brazil. Although the vaccination rollout has been choppy in much of the world and some places are still waiting for their first doses, there’s an urgent push to inoculate people in hard-to-reach places that may not have had COVID-19 outbreaks but also may not be equipped to deal with them if they do. Robin Nandy, the chief of immunization for UNICEF, says before it’s over, drones, motorcycles, elephants, horses and camels will have been used to get vaccines to the most far-flung places.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MAINE
Mobile unit will bring COVID-19 shots to rural Maine areas
CALAIS, Maine (AP) — Maine officials say the state is going to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to get coronavirus vaccines to residents in rural and under-served communities. The administration of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said Tuesday the state and FEMA will partner on a mobile vaccination unit that will bring vaccines to communities. The governor’s office says the unit will be only the second of its kind in New England. The unit will start by bringing vaccines to Oxford on April 12. Maine is slated to open eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine to everyone 16 years old and older on Wednesday.