4th member of Maine delegation tests positive for COVID-19
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s congresswoman has become the final member of the state’s delegation to test positive for COVID-19. Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree said Monday that she is experiencing mild symptoms. The three other members of the delegation, Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, independent Sen. Angus King and Republican Sen. Susan Collins, tested positive for the virus previously. Pingree said in a statement that her positive test is “a good reminder that COVID is not done with us.”
Court: Health care workers in lawsuit must reveal identities
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Nine health care workers who sued Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills over the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate have until Money to reveal their identities. The workers have so far remained anonymous, but on Thursday a federal appeals court in Boston rejected a motion by the workers and gave them until Friday to file an amended complaint with their names. The plaintiffs were later given an extension until Monday. Attorneys for Liberty Counsel, a law firm representing the health care workers, said in a court filing Friday that the one-day extension is needed to give lawyers time to speak with each plaintiff about whether they want to proceed.
Weak protection for vanishing whale violates law, judge says
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A judge says the federal government hasn’t done enough to protect a rare species of whale from lethal entanglement in lobster fishing gear, and new rules are needed to protect the species from extinction. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled on Friday that the government has violated both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act by failing to protect the North Atlantic right whale. The whales number less than 340 in the world and have been declining rapidly in population in recent years. Boasberg’s ruling was a victory for conservation groups and a new challenge for lobster fishermen.
Driver gets over 3 years in Acadia park crash that killed 3
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A man who crashed his car in Acadia National Park in 2019, killing three passengers, has been sentenced in federal court to more than three years in prison. Thirty-one-year-old Praneeth Manubolu had pleaded guilty in January to charges of manslaughter, driving under the influence, and unsafe operation of a motor vehicle. The crash happened early in the morning of Aug. 31, 2019. Killed were Lenny Fuchs, Laura Leong, and Zeeshan Mohammed. They were all residents of New York City. The Bangor Daily News reports in court, Manubolu, who was sentenced to 41 months in prison, said he was sorry and deserved punishment.
Family of man with pellet gun shot by officer settles suit
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The family of a Portland man who was brandishing a pellet gun when he was killed by a police officer in 2017 has settled its lawsuit against the officer. Sgt. Nicholas Goodman shot 22-year-old Chance David Baker in the parking lot of a strip mall in February 2017. The Maine Attorney General’s Office said Goodman was justified in shooting Baker, whose air rifle appeared to be a real rifle, and that he appeared ready to pull the trigger. The Portland Press-Herald reports lawyers for Goodman and Baker’s family filed paperwork Tuesday in federal court to dismiss the case. No details about the settlement have been made public.