MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Dorian powered toward Florida with increasing fury Friday, becoming an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm but leaving forecasters uncertain whether it would make a direct hit on the state’s east coast or inflict a glancing blow. The storm’s winds rose to 130 mph (215 kph) and then, hours later, to a […]

A $5.1 million legal settlement won by Maine against German automaker Volkswagen Group and its affiliates is being used to fund a new statewide rebate program for buyers of hybrid and electric vehicles. The program, announced Friday by Gov. Janet Mills, will provide rebates of $1,000 to $2,000 on qualifying plug-in hybrid and battery-powered electric […]

Former Harpswell resident and Hyde School dean Matt Newberg will be the new head of school at the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences. Newberg spent 14 years at Hyde School in Bath, where he served in a variety of roles: teacher, coach, director of the school’s performing arts program, and dean of students and faculty, […]

LEBANON – The suspect charged with aggravated assault who allegedly told police they wouldn’t be able to find him – and was then arrested 2 ½ hours later – faces up to 10 years in state prison if convicted of Class B felony aggravated assault for allegedly strangling a man during a fight. A court […]

An effort by residents of a Casco Bay island to secede from Maine’s largest city appears to have failed. Residents of Great Diamond Island fell three signatures short of kick-starting the secession effort, the Portland City Clerk’s Office said. “This isn’t going to stop the process,” said Matt Hoffner, co-chair of the Great Diamond Island […]

BIDDEFORD — ShuttleBus-ZOOM officials said they are responding to feedback from bus riders and are working out kinks in new bus routes. ShuttleBus-ZOOM provides daily bus service between Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, and Portland, and has an annual ridership of about 355,000. On Aug. 1, the bus service rolled out a new local bus system […]

SANFORD – Students in Barbara Noone’s fifth-grade class will soon be “walking the plank” to write on the white board in her classroom, dubbed Pirate’s Cove, come Tuesday. That is the first day of classes for most students in Sanford – and also in nearby SAD 57. On Thursday, Noone and other teachers across Sanford […]

SPRINGVALE – A new priest will be installed as pastor of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish and St. Matthew Parish at a special Mass at Notre Dame Church, 10 Payne St., Springvale, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 6 p.m. Bishop Robert P. Deeley will install Rev. Wilfred Labbe as pastor of the two parishes, which […]

The new director at Hobbs Funeral Home said a career focused on death and dying has given her a new perspective on life. “So many people have unexpected experiences or tragic accidents, and some deaths are a little more expected than others … ,” Katelyn Syphers said. “But it gives you an appreciation for what […]