Tonight’s ‘Idol’ episode critical for Portland singer

A Portland woman who hopes to advance to the next round of “American Idol” survived another episode on the popular TV show.

Jessica Cunningham, 24, was not shown competing on Wednesday’s pre-recorded show, but she was not eliminated. Her fate may be revealed when the show continues tonight on the Fox network.

If she makes the cut, she will advance to the final 24 and face the judgment of voters across the country.

Cunningham was shown briefly several times Wednesday night, but she didn’t perform and didn’t get a chance to meet with the panel of celebrity judges — Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson.

BELFAST

Knox man killed his friend with a shotgun, police say

State police say a 19-year-old man is being charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of his friend in Knox.

Police arrested Luke Bryant of Knox at a house he was visiting in Belfast on Wednesday afternoon. Bryant was taken to the Waldo County Jail in Belfast.

Police say Bryant was holding a shotgun inside his apartment Saturday when it went off, killing 19-year-old Tyler Seaney of Brewer.

An autopsy Monday concluded that the death was a homicide and the cause was a gunshot wound to the neck.

AUGUSTA

Panel tables bill to change state legislative terms, limits

A bill to revamp Maine’s legislative terms has been set aside until analysts can estimate the cost of the proposal.

The committee decided Wednesday to table the bill proposing a constitutional amendment to double the present two-year terms to four years. The same bill would also limit lawmakers to serving two consecutive terms, for a total of eight years.

Maine’s presently has an eight-year limit. House and Senate members serve two-year terms, but may serve no more than four consecutive terms in either chamber.

If the bill passes and is approved by voters, the amendment would take effect beginning with the statewide election in 2012.

The bill was set aside until legislative staff can estimate the cost of sending the proposal out to voters.

Bills would start school year after Sept. 1, add five days

Maine hotels and motels, restaurants, potato growers and summer recreational businesses support a bill that would prevent the school year from beginning before Sept. 1.

The rule would take effect in the 2012-13 academic year and apply to elementary and secondary schools, the University of Maine System and Maine Community College System.

Supporters told lawmakers at a hearing Wednesday that the law would ensure they have a supply of young workers while their prime season is still busy.

The Education and Cultural Affairs Committee also heard testimony on a bill to extend the school year from 180 days to 185 days a year. The sponsor, Republican Rep. Peter Edgecomb of Caribou, said Maine now has one of the shortest school years in the country and adding five days would be a step in the right direction.

Ouellette named director of Maine Office of Tourism

Carolann Ouellette has been named director of the Maine Office of Tourism, the agency announced Wednesday.

Ouellette will head the office’s operations and oversee the budget and strategic marketing plan. She is also responsible for the Maine Film Office.

Before joining the agency, Ouellette owned the Moose Point Tavern in Jackman and managed the New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket and the Sugarloaf Inn.

“Carolann’s professionalism, her proven track record leading the tourism office staff and its contractors and her knowledge of destination marketing makes her the right choice for the job,” said Philip Congdon, commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, in a statement.

Ouellette has a degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

WILTON

Would-be intruder flees after homeowner fires shot

Police are trying to determine whether anyone was hurt when a homeowner fired a shotgun at a person trying to break into his home.

Wilton police say that so far they have found no evidence anyone was injured.

Just after 9 p.m. Monday, the resident heard a noise and then saw someone trying to break in.

Police say the homeowner went to the door with a shotgun and told the suspect he had a gun, but the suspect continued to try to break in. The homeowner then fired one shot.

The suspect fled and got into a waiting car, according to the Sun Journal.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H.

U.S. grant for bridge work could be a budget casualty

A $20 million federal appropriation to help replace the aging Memorial Bridge between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine, could become a casualty of the federal budget cutting process.

Members of congressional delegations from the two states say they’re urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to set aside the money to help pay for the bridge.

U.S. Reps. Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass, both R-N.H., voted over the weekend in favor of eliminating several economic recovery grants, including the one for the bridge, according to WMUR-TV.

Both Guinta and Bass say they’re working to find funding for the bridge project.

Work on the $90 million project to replace the bridge is currently set to begin in the summer of 2012.

SACO

Counseling Services joining subsidiary of MaineHealth

Counseling Services Inc. has announced plans to join Maine Mental Health Partners, one of the first nonprofit integrated mental health-care delivery systems in the nation.

The nonprofit Counseling Services delivers mental health treatment and support programs throughout York and Cumberland counties. It will be the sixth organization to join Maine Mental Health Partners.

Maine Mental Health Partners, a subsidiary of MaineHealth, expects to save $500,000 by 2012 by combining the efforts of its member organizations, said communications manager Donna Murphy.

Since Community Counseling Center in Portland joined the network in 2009, there has been a cost savings of $700,000, she said.

“We are really working hard to save money in the provision of mental health services, and at the same time provide more effective treatment,” Murphy said.

Counseling Services will begin working with Maine Mental Health Partners on March 1 to build a common platform for sharing records electronically.

Counseling Services will maintain current services, and expand services to underserved regions of Maine and to medical facilities in the MaineHealth system.

BATH

Man arrested for sex crimes, then released on $5,000 bail

A 64-year-old Bath man faces several charges after police found a small amount of marijuana, DVDs, videotapes and a video camera inside his Union Street Court home.

Police Chief Mike Field said the search of Thomas Henderson’s home on Tuesday was part of an investigation into reported sex offenses that were committed in 2007.

Henderson was arrested Tuesday night at the police station on warrants charging unlawful sexual contact, a Class A crime; unlawful sexual contact, a Class B crime; and two counts of unlawful sexual touching, a Class D crime. Henderson posted $5,000 cash bail and was released.

Police allege that the victims are girls who were younger than 12 when the offenses occurred. Henderson’s first court appearance is scheduled for May 10 in West Bath District Court.