BOSTON (AP) — A Boston woman in her 30s is the first swine flu-related death in Massachusetts, health officials announced Monday. State and city health officials said at a Monday news conference that the woman who died Sunday had some other medical issues but they are not sure if they directly contributed to her death. […]

SACO — City councilors are considering a new ordinance that would allow domestic ownership of chickens.   The proposed ordinance would allow the ownership of up to six chickens in a backyard hen house or pen, and no roosters. Chickens would be kept in a hen house or pen on a one acre property or on […]

Biddeford High School Salutatorian Amanda Reuillard, left, and Valedictorian Mary Kircher led her 186 classmates through the throngs of family and friends to the front of the Tiger Gymnasium at the high school during the 125th Biddeford High School graduation. The ceremony took place Sunday at 1 p.m. (DINA MENDROS/Journal Tribune)

BIDDEFORD — Biddeford High School Senior Class President and Valedictorian Mary Kircher, led her 186 classmates through the center aisle of the high school’s Tiger Gymnasium at 1 p.m. on Sunday where they were cheered on by family and friends. Two hours later, after listening to words of wisdom from classmates and adults who addressed […]

ALFRED — With family and friends looking on, a 40-year-old nurse was led from the rear of York County Courthouse to a waiting sheriff’s office transport van Thursday, on her way to serve eight years in prison for driving drunk on the Maine Turnpike and killing two people when her sport utility vehicle slammed into […]

Donna Bartlett of Wells, shown here with her attorney, John Webb, was sentenced to eight years in prison Thursday. Bartlett pleaded guilty to manslaughter, aggravated drunk driving and a host of other charges in connection with an April 28, 2008 fatality on the Maine Turnpike in Wells that killed limousine driver James McLaughlin, 65, and […]

ALFRED — York County government is facing what commissioners have described as a “dramatic” shortfall that may result in lay-offs this year. And, officials said Wednesday that next year will likely be no better. The shortfall comes as county officials a year ago built jail revenues into the 2009 budget, as they have for many […]

BIDDEFORD —The Legislature passed a bill Tuesday that would prevent the automatic transfer of the solid waste license of the Maine Energy Recovery Company if the downtown incinerator is sold. Instead, local communities would have time to investigate the potential owner and ensure it is a good corporate citizen. The bill was co-sponsored by all […]

ALFRED — A Springvale woman who, along with her son, was charged by police in March with setting an apartment fire in January has also been indicted on a second arson charge. A York County Grand Jury returned indictments charging arson against Janice Fortier, 46, and her son, Raymond R. Fortier, 23, both of Springvale, […]

Rep. Joan Nass (R-Acton) was among many who spoke at a D-Day “Witness to History” event sponsored by the American Legion Post 214 in Lebanon Sunday. Lebanon resident Florien St. Arnault, center, and Rochester, N.H. resident Fred Hall, right, were among the thousands who stormed Omaha Beach June 6, 1944, which signaled the start of […]