PORTLAND
Burglars break into bread store, damage registers

Police are investigating another burglary of a business in the area of Washington and Ocean avenues.

A worker at Borealis Breads at 182 Ocean Ave. discovered early Tuesday morning that someone had cut the telephone lines, forced their way through a rear door and smashed the business’s two cash registers. The money inside was stolen, totaling less than $1,000, police said.

The day earlier, witnesses saw three men leaving Steve and Renee’s Diner at 500 Washington Ave. with a cash register that contained a small amount of money.

A sandwich shop in the area was broken into last week, police said.

BIDDEFORD
Aborted robbery attempt at pharmacy ends in arrest

Police say an aborted pharmacy robbery in Biddeford still got a suspect arrested on felony charges.

A man handed a note to the clerk at the Rite Aid pharmacy at 335 Alfred St. at 8 p.m. Monday, demanding OxyContin. The clerk called to the pharmacist standing nearby, prompting the man to turn and leave, police said.

Police reviewed security video and identified a suspect. Jason Robertson, 25, who lives nearby at 175 Alfred St., turned himself in to police at 2 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

Police charged Robertson with robbery and violating bail conditions. He was taken to the York County Jail pending arraignment today.

STANDISH
Food Security Campaign seeking ideas on hunger

The Campaign to Promote Food Security in Cumberland County wants to hear your thoughts on hunger and food insecurity.

The 60-member coalition plans a forum to gather public comment from 4 to 6:30 p.m. today in Alfond Hall Auditorium at St. Joseph’s College.

The coalition came together in January in response to a significant increase in the number of emergency food requests. It is examining hunger and food access issues for vulnerable groups in the region.

The coalition is sponsored by the United Way of Greater Portland, TDBank, Preble Street and the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine.

FARMINGTON
1946 postcard finally finds former college student

A former student at Farmington State Teacher’s College now has a postcard that was sent to her in the fall of 1946.

The postcard, a thank you note, was sent to Ruth Webber at Purington Hall by “Gert and Charlie.” It was mailed from Winthrop.

The postcard showed up recently in the mailroom at the University of Maine at Farmington. Mailroom employee Andrea Butterfield said the postcard was in mint condition and had a 1 cent stamp on it.

The Sun Journal said there’s no explanation for where the card has been.

On Monday 83-year-old Ruth Webber McGary received the card. She said she worked with the Charlie who sent the card, but she doesn’t remember why it was sent.

AUGUSTA
Spending Revolt Bus Tour making stops in Maine

A bus that’s touring the country with the message that the federal government is spending too much is rolling through Maine.

The Spending Revolt National Bus Tour stopped in Bangor and Augusta before heading to Portland on Tuesday. Along the way, speakers warned that government borrowing is plunging the country into long-term debt.

The blue bus emblazoned with the words “Spending Revolt” started out in California and has made stops in 25 states. After Maine, it will head to New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Ohio.

Forbes ranks Maine last on list of best business states

Forbes magazine puts Maine at the bottom of its list ranking the best and worst states for business.

In Forbes’ fifth annual “Best States for Business” list, Maine ranked No. 50. Rhode Island was No. 49. The top states were Utah, Virginia and North Carolina.

Forbes said it based its rankings on business costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life.

Forbes said that growth prospects in Maine have deteriorated relative to the rest of the country, and that Maine’s job growth is expected to climb 1.3 percent a year over the next five years – one of the worst job outlooks in the country.

SANFORD
Town wins federal funds to help clean up mill site

The town has won about $175,000 from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to help clean up the contaminated Mill Yard area.

The 45-acre area in downtown Sanford contains at least 20 brownfields sites from a long history of industrial use. A brownfield site is property whose use may be complicated by the presence of hazardous wastes.

The grant will be used to develop a plan for the area that focuses on the reuse of infrastructure and allows for more green space and recreational opportunities.