Don’t take selfies with seals while at beach

BOSTON (AP) — The feds have a warning for beachgoers in New England over Memorial Day weekend: Don’t take selfies with the seals.

Federal officials say people who approach a seal pup can put both themselves and the animal at risk.

In a statement Thursday, the Greater Atlantic Region of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries said it’s not unusual for a mother seal to leave her pup on the beach for up to 24 hours while she feeds.

But if the mother sees people near her pup, she might feel it is too dangerous to return and abandon her young.

Maine bills address lead poisoning

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — A state representative from Lewiston says a pair of bills would help prevent childhood lead poisoning in Maine.

Rep. Heidi Brooks, a Democrat, says the legislation would increase testing for lead in drinking water and lead paint in homes.

Brooks says one of the proposals requires testing of water at schools and childcare facilities that might have lead pipes.

The other bill would encourage lead testing among families that have young children, and make drinking water tests free for some families.

$25K bail for driver in wrong-way fatality

LEBANON, N.H. (AP) — A man charged in connection with a wrong-way crash on a New Hampshire interstate that killed a mother and seriously injured her 4-year-old son is being held on $25,000 cash bail.

State police say 38-yearold Daniel Cowdrey of Hartland, Vermont, was traveling north in the southbound lane of Interstate 89 in Lebanon when he struck a vehicle driven by Ellynn Koelsch in “near head-onfashion” on Wednesday night.

The 34-year-old Koelsch, of North Kingston, Rhode Island, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her son was hospitalized. His condition was not available Thursday.