AUGUSTA

Panel rejects bill to require photo ID in order to vote

A legislative committee on Friday killed a bill that would have required Mainers to show photo identification to be able to vote.

In its place, the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee substituted language that calls for a study of Maine’s election system by Secretary of State Charlie Summers. The bill now heads to the House and Senate for consideration.

The original bill, L.D. 199, was sponsored by Rep. Richard Cebra, R-Naples, and co-sponsored by more than 80 fellow Republicans. Supporters say it will help Maine’s elections be more secure.

But many Democrats, the League of Women Voters of Maine and the Maine Civil Liberties Union opposed the measure, saying it put an unfair burden on thousands of voters.

Across the country, several states have adopted stricter voting requirements in recent years, including the mandate that residents show identification before entering the voting booth. Fifteen states require or ask voters to show a photo ID, while 16 states require non-photo ID, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Scam tries to extract ‘rent’ from nonprofits, churches

Maine’s attorney general is warning churches and nonprofit social service agencies to closely scrutinize calls from people seeking help paying their rent.

Attorney General William Schneider says his office has received several reports from church officials who have received phone calls from people asking for money so they can make their rent payment.

They appear to be scams.

He says in one case the caller requested $170 to pay rent on a home in Winthrop. It turned out the home was for sale, but still occupied by the owner.

The caller requests that payments be sent to the “landlady” whose address is a post office box in Washington, D.C.

State confirms 11 rabies cases in January, which is a rise

Health officials say rabies cases are on the rise in Maine.

The Maine Center for Disease Control confirmed 11 cases of rabies in January in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford and York counties. In January 2011, only one animal tested positive for the virus.

Officials say the most common wild animals to carry rabies are raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes and coyotes, but that domestic animals can also get rabies.

State epidemiologist Stephen Sears says people should avoid contact with wild animals and makes sure their pets are up to date on their vaccinations.

Mainers saved $6.3 million on Medicare drugs, feds say

The federal government says nearly 12,000 Maine residents who receive Medicare saved $6.3 million on their prescription drugs in 2011 due to changes in the health care overhaul law.

The Department of Health and Human Services also says savings for people with Medicare will increase over time to nearly $4,200 by 2021 because of the Affordable Care Act.

The law provides a 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs, and this year a 14 percent discount on generics. Last year, it provided a 7 percent discount on covered generic medications for people who hit the prescription drug coverage gap known as the doughnut hole.

Reality TV: Lugnut raises her bear cubs, you get to watch

Maine’s game department says a black bear named Lugnut can be viewed live on a webcam.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the newly formed Wildlife Research Foundation are streaming video 24/7. It’s on the foundation’s website at www.wildliferesearchfoundation.org.

The camera was placed in the den of Lugnut, who gave birth to two cubs on Jan. 16. The camera in the den will remain with Lugnut and her growing cubs until the spring when they’ll venture outside and can be tracked with radio collars.

The two other collared bears, Spunky and Nell, have also been filmed and their stories are told on the website.

The website had more than 15,000 visitors in its first two weeks of being live. Now entering its fourth week, it’s had about 78,000 viewers.

BIDDEFORD

Sheriff seeks federal help as burglars target firearms

Police are asking federal officials for help in investigating a rash of break-ins resulting in the theft of firearms.

The York County Sheriff’s Department says 27 daytime home burglaries have been reported in a 30-day period in rural York County. Thieves stole at least 10 firearms and ammunition, as well as jewelry, electronics, computers and tools.

Maj. William King said the sheriff’s office has enlisted the help of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Dale Armstrong, the ATF agent-in-charge in Maine, told the Journal Tribune that his office is concerned that the stolen guns get traded for drugs and end up in the hands of gangs in Boston.

PORTLAND

Man indicted in alleged threat over Social Security

A convicted murderer from Lewiston has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of threatening to kill an official with the Social Security Administration.

Harold Rowe made his first appearance Thursday in U.S. District Court. Rowe, 54, did not enter a plea to the charge of mailing threatening communications to the deputy commissioner for Budget, Finance, and Management of the Social Security Administration in September.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John Rich continued the hearing for at least a week.

Rowe spent 27 years in prison for a December 1982 shooting death.

The Bangor Daily News reports that Rowe threatened to kill again if his Social Security checks were stopped.

Prosecutors have requested he be held without bail.

Portland building flashes new message: Go Pats

The Time and Temperature sign on top of 477 Congress St. is now flashing the message “Go Pats” in anticipation of Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Portland Downtown Director Janis Beitzer said the sign message was switched over at about 1:30 p.m. Friday.

“The Giants may have the Empire State Building but our call to action message can be seen for miles!” Beitzer said in an email announcing the message. The Empire State Building was to be lit in New York Giants colors for the Super Bowl, she said.

Portland’s signature sign, the advertising rights for which are currently held by the Law Office of Joe Bornstein, typically flashes the message “Call Joe” along with the time and temperature. Bornstein’s local staff agreed to go with the fan message leading into this weekend.

OXFORD

New casino gets name … wait for it … Oxford Casino

A casino scheduled to open later this year in western Maine now has a name and a logo.

The developers of the casino under construction in Oxford have named the facility the Oxford Casino. The casino logo features the name of the facility with a mountain peak symbol above the words to convey the image of a Maine lodge and outdoor recreational opportunities.

The Oxford Casino will be the second casino in Maine when it opens in late spring or early summer. It will have slot machines as well as poker, black jack and other table games.

Maine voters approved the casino in a statewide referendum in 2010.

NORRIDGEWOCK

Official fired as office clerk over secret audio recordings

The woman who collected payments for hunting and fishing licenses, sewer bills and other services at Norridgewock Town Hall has been fired for making secret audio recordings of conversations in the building.

Town officials say Charlotte Curtis, 66, who is an office clerk and holds the separate elected positions of town clerk and treasurer, recorded conversations when she was not in the room.

Her Jan. 30 termination letter from the town manager says audio recording devices are not allowed because of confidentiality violations.

Curtis tells the Morning Sentinel she cannot discuss why she was recording conversations because she is fighting the termination and filing a grievance. She said she was not recording the public.

She can carry on with her elected positions unless she is voted out of office.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H.

Removal of span expected to draw nighttime crowd

New Hampshire transportation officials expect the removal of the lift span of the historic Memorial Bridge will be a spectator event.

Officials have scheduled removal of the 2-million-pound span for Monday night, sometime between 8 p.m. and midnight. High tide is 10:34 p.m.

The lift span of the 90-year-old bridge will be disconnected from the cables that support it and lowered onto a barge in the Piscataqua River.

The removal is the first major event in the demolition of the Route 1 bridge that spans the Piscataqua between Portsmouth and Kittery.

Officials say good views of the removal project can be had from Prescott Park, Badger Island, Four Tree Island and Peirce Island.

The new bridge is expected to open in July 2013.

PINKHAM NOTCH, N.H.

Spots fill fast for bike race up Mount Washington road

Cyclists who want to compete in New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Auto Road Hillclimb had better act fast. Only nine of 600 spots remain.

Once registration closes on the 40th running of that race, registration will open on a second race up the auto road — Newton’s Revenge.

Hillclimb registration opened Feb. 1.

The Hillclimb attracts cyclists from around the world who declare it more difficult than the most challenging alpine climbs in the Tour de France.

The fastest men’s time on the 7.6- mile climb is 49 minutes, 24 seconds — set last year. The fastest women’s time is 59 minutes, 14 seconds — set in 2000.

— From staff and news services