THANLYIN, Myanmar (AP) — Ecstatic cheers of “Long Live Aung San Suu Kyi!” echoed through the streets of this impoverished Yangon suburb today as she registered for elections, a sign of how vastly Myanmar has changed since the junta gave up power after decades of iron-fisted rule. Throngs of flag-waving supporters crowded the local election […]

LONDON (AP) — London Mayor Boris Johnson says his proposal for a major new airport in the Thames River estuary east of London is gaining some support. Johnson told BBC radio today that the government is getting increasingly interested in the proposal. He says both Prime Minister David Cameron and Treasury chief George Osborne have […]

WESTBROOK ( AP) — A Maine construction company has been fined $ 4,500 for blasts at a Westbrook quarry that violated vibration limits set in a consent agreement reached by the city, the company and a neighboring business. The city’s code enforcement officer issued the fine on Pike Industries on Jan. 11. Tom Spellman, Pike’s […]

ROME (AP) — Italian rescue workers suspended operations today after a stricken cruise ship shifted slightly on the rocks near the Tuscan coast, creating deep concerns about the safety of divers and firefighters searching for the 22 people still missing. The $450 million Costa Concordia cruise ship had more than 4,200 passengers and crew on […]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The nation’s top agriculture official is expected to announce today more than $300 million in emergency assistance to 33 states and Puerto Rico to help them recover from an unusually intense year for natural disasters across the U.S. Utah and Missouri will receive the most disaster aid, together taking in […]

AUGUSTA Public schools need more flexibility to try new methods and place more emphasis on real-life learning experiences, digital learning and independent study, a report released Tuesday by Maine Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen says. The report, presented at the Capital Area Vocational Technical Center, seeks to refocus the state education system on students rather than […]

WATERVILE (AP) — While temperatures dropped below zero in Maine, Colby College fired up a new biomass plant that will offset the need for oil by burning wood chips, bark and treetops. The Waterville college says its $11 million biomass plant will replace about 1 million gallons of heating fuel with about 22,000 tons of […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — A coalition that’s pushing for a referendum to mandate increased use of renewable energy in Maine says its initiative would reduce dependence on foreign oil, strengthen the economy and promote energy efficiency. The Maine Citizens for Clean Energy is holding a news conference today to release the results of a poll regarding […]

FREEPORT ( AP) — L. L. Bean is giving up to $1 million to the National Park Foundation with a goal of increasing family outdoor recreation and getting children to visit national parks. The Maine-based outdoors retailer says the Million Moment Mission aims to get people to share stories, ideas and photos of outdoor experiences […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Heating oil prices are continuing to climb in Maine, going up an average of 2 cents a gallon in the past week. Maine’s energy office said Tuesday the statewide average price of No. 2 heating oil was $3.70 gallon. The lowest prices are in southwestern Maine and the highest are in the […]