Part-time police officer accused of sexual assault of teen
STOCKTON SPRINGS, Maine (AP) — A part-time police officer in Maine has been arrested on a charge of sexually assaulting a teenager many times over a span of several months. The Bangor Daily News reports the 32-year-old officer, who works in Stockton Springs, faces 12 counts of gross sexual assault and is being held on $10,000 cash bail. The Daily News reports that the officer denied the charges during an interview with police and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 27, 2022. He has yet to enter a formal plea in the case. Court documents say the series of alleged assaults of a 15-year-old girl began in the spring and became more frequent over the summer.
Power line foes petition to revoke permit, stop construction
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The leading environmental opponent of a $1 billion electric transmission line in western Maine is asking state regulators to revoke the project’s permit following a referendum vote. Mainers voted Tuesday to reject the New England Clean Energy Connect. But the vote doesn’t become law for about two months, and construction is continuing. The Natural Resources Council of Maine said the permit should be revoked immediately to reflect the will of the people and to prevent further damage to the woods in western Maine. There was no immediate response Friday from the Department of Environmental Protection.
MEMORIAL-POLICE SHOOTING
Memorial held for Augusta shelter resident killed by police
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A riverside memorial has been held for a Maine man who was shot and killed by police after he injured a fellow resident of a shelter with a knife. The Kennebec Journal reported Wednesday that 34-year-old Dustin Paradis was living at the Bread of Life Shelter in Augusta last month when two police officers shot him. Paradis’ mother told the newspaper her son had a mild form of autism. The man injured by Paradis is expected to survive. Other residents say the man had been harassing Paradis earlier in the day. The Augusta police and the Maine attorney general’s office are investigating.
FISH PASSAGE
Project to improve central Maine fish passage completed
FARMINGTON, Maine (AP) — A road project that conservationists hope will improve fish passage in central Maine has been completed. The project is a road-stream crossing replacement in Farmington, near the border with Temple. It was completed in late October. The Atlantic Salmon Federation said the upgraded crossing will reduce flooding, create better road safety and allow better fish passage in Cummings Brook. The replacement follows another culvert replacement project in the area this year. The federation said the projects will benefit Atlantic salmon and brook trout in Kennebec River tributaries.
ENERGY ASSISTANCE
Maine and NH get heating assistance, but fuels costs to rise
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The $3.4 billion in heating assistance released by the Biden administration this week includes more than $60 million for Maine and New Hampshire. Maine is slated to get about $36 million and New Hampshire about $25 million. However, the cost of all fuels is expected to rise this winter, with natural gas, propane and heating oil seeing the biggest increases. Last year, a home that used natural gas paid about $573 in heating costs during the winter months. The Energy Information Administration says this year it’s estimated to cost about $746.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-MAINE CONTEST
Maine wants kids to make videos promoting COVID-19 shot
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine wants children in the state to participate in a video competition to encourage their peers to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Maine Department of Education are looking for youths age 5 to 17 to create and submit half-minute videos they think will convince children and parents to get the shot. The state said Wednesday it would promote the winning videos via social media and public service announcements. The first-place winner’s school will receive $50,000. Second place carries a $25,000 prize and third place $10,000.
ELECTION-DRAWING LOTS
After vote ends in tie, candidates to draw straws, basically
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A city council election in Maine that ended in a tie will be decided, basically, by drawing straws. Portland, Maine, is one of a handful of cities that uses ranked choice voting for local races. The method allows voters to prioritize candidates in races where there are more than two people running. The Tuesday race for an at-large council seat resulted in a numeric tie between Roberto Rodriguez and Brandon Mazer. The city clerk is slated to draw lots Thursday morning in front of City Hall. The clerk hasn’t decided what will be drawn at random, but straws are often used.
HYDROPOWER TRANSMISSION CORRIDOR
Power line vote challenged in court; no halt to construction
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Voters in Maine have overwhelmingly rejected a $1 billion utility corridor that’s already under construction. But that doesn’t spell the end of the polarizing project, which would bring up to 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to the New England grid. Workers continued construction of the power line Wednesday, and a lawsuit challenging the referendum’s constitutionality was filed in Superior Court. Central Maine Power’s corporate parent said the vote is “not the end of the road.” The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent enforcement of the referendum. It also seeks to ensure construction can proceed while the lawsuit is heard.