NEW YORK

FBI seeking laptop of man linked to dead prostitutes

The FBI has asked a court for permission to search a computer belonging to a man under scrutiny for his ties to a prostitute whose body was discovered along with three other corpses near a Long Island beach.

An agent filed an application Thursday seeking access to a laptop belonging to Akeem Cruz of Brooklyn.

Cruz is one of the last people to have been with 22-year-old Megan Waterman of Scarborough, Maine, the weekend she disappeared after traveling to a hotel in Hauppauge to meet clients for sex.

Months later, she and three other prostitutes were found dead, their remains scattered along a beach road.

In the court filing, agents didn’t mention the killings, but said they were seeking evidence of sex trafficking.

Cruz is currently jailed in Maine on an unrelated drug charge. 

ALFRED

Icy roads cause 25 crashes in two hours in York County

A sudden drop in temperature turned wet roads into icy roads in southern Maine on Saturday, causing more than two dozen crashes in two hours.

Sgt. Ron Lund of the York County Sheriff’s Department told WMTW-TV that his department responded to about 25 crashes within two hours Saturday morning. He said several of the crashes were rollovers, and several people were taken to the hospital.

The accidents happened in South Berwick, Lebanon, Alfred, Lyman and Waterboro as rain that had fallen earlier in the morning froze on the road when the temperature dropped.

FORT KENT

Mushers depart in race across Aroostook County

With cheering fans and barking dogs providing the soundtrack, more than 20 dog sled teams took off from downtown Fort Kent on Saturday for the 250-mile Can-Am Crown, a grueling endurance race that takes mushers across the wilderness of northern Aroostook County.

Race Director Beurmond Banville said trails are in great shape, and could lead to fast race.

The field includes four-time winner Martin Massicotte of St. Tite, Quebec, and two-time champion Bruce Langmaid of Blackstock, Ontario. Three-time winner Matt Carstens of Whitefield, N.H., who won back-to-back races in 2009 and 2010, is sitting out this year.

Massicotte will be aiming for a fifth win, putting him ahead of four-time winner Andre Nadeau of Melanie, Quebec.

As always, the weather had the potential to play a role. Mushers were taking off to weather in the 30s, but warmer weather today had the potential to bring the wrong kind of precipitation — rain showers.

PORTLAND

Rep. Michaud is recognized for work on veterans’ issues

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-2nd District, is being recognized by the National Association of State Veterans Homes for his work in Washington on veterans’ issues.

The group last week awarded Michaud its Legislator of the Year award for his leadership in improving long-term care service and benefits for veterans and his work to provide adequate reimbursement for the nation’s network of 140 state veterans homes.

Michaud is the ranking member on the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health.

AUGUSTA

Gov. LePage stands behind proposed retirement cuts

Gov. Paul LePage said Saturday that freezes and cutbacks in the retirement system he proposed last week are sensible reforms that save $524 million in past-due payments and cut the state’s total unfunded pension liability in half.

In his weekly radio address, the governor said his proposal puts Maine on a sustainable path toward fully funding its retirement obligations as required in the state Constitution. But he said his fix requires shared sacrifice, including cost-of-living freezes and caps for retirees, and higher retirement contributions by active workers.

LePage said state workers and teachers who made their case against the changes to lawmakers last week are right in one respect: Promises made to them years ago could never be honored because Maine has limited resources.

In the Democratic response, Sen. John Patrick of Rumford said Mainers’ civil liberties are being threatened by bills to require voters to present a photo ID in order to vote, and to eliminate same-day voter registration.

BANGOR

Police searching for suspect in Bangor Savings robbery

Bangor police are searching for a man who robbed the Bangor Savings Bank branch on Broadway on Saturday afternoon.

The robbery at the bank, located at 652 Broadway, was reported at 2:18 p.m. Saturday, Bangor police Sgt. Chip Hodges confirmed. He said the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been notified.

Lt. Mark Hathaway released a description of the suspect and his vehicle and images from the bank’s surveillance system, in the hope the public can help identify him.

The suspect is described as a man between 25 and 35 years old, wearing a two-tone gray and black spring jacket and black baseball cap.

Surveillance images show the suspect at the counter and leaving the bank.

According to police, the man walked into the bank and handed a teller a note demanding money. An undisclosed amount of cash was given to the man, who then left in what witnesses described a red Jeep Liberty, likely a 2002-2004 model.

Anyone who has information is urged to call the Bangor Police Department at 947-7384.