Applications for weekly unemployment benefits spiked last week, largely because companies let go of thousands of workers after the holiday season. Economists said such a jump is typical in early January and downplayed the increase. Weekly applications rose by 24,000 to a seasonally adjusted 399,000, the Labor Department said today. That’s the highest level in […]

Divers searched a half-mile stretch of an icy river Wednesday for any sign of a toddler who’s been missing for more than three weeks, and authorities said investigators are considering all possibilities related to the girl’s disappearance. The number of tips on the possible whereabouts of 20- month-old Ayla Reynolds has now topped 600, said […]

AUGUSTA ( AP) — The Maine Farmland Trust says it’s reached the 30,000-acre mark in its campaign to preserve 100,000 acres of farmland for future generations of farmers. Executive Director John Piotti announced the milestone at this week’s Maine Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta. The campaign was launched last year with the aim of making […]

BIDDEFORD (AP) — A Biddeford city official says he has been assured that the bankruptcy filing by the company that makes Wonder Bread and Twinkies will not immediately affect the company’s bakery in the city. Hostess Brands employs about 370 people in Biddeford. The Texas-based company on Wednesday announced that it has filed for Chapter […]

AUGUSTA ( AP) — The Maine Board of Education has signed off on improvements to six schools in critical need of renovation or replacement. Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen said Wednesday that the board approved the list of six schools that would be the first since 2005 to be slated for state construction funds. The schools […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Officials say Maine’s snowpack is currently at one of its lowest levels on record for this time of year. The results of Maine’s cooperative snow survey found measurable snow at only 14 out of 59 locations around the state where snow measurements were taken Jan. 3 and 4. Maine Geological Survey geologist […]

BANGOR ( AP) — The Maine medical examiner’s office says a man who died at a Bangor hospital last summer is the state’s first confirmed death as a result of an overdose of the drug known as bath salts. An office official said Wednesday that 32-year-old Ralph Willis died at Eastern Maine Medical Center after […]

ELLSWORTH ( AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a man found lying on the ground in an Ellsworth alley. Police say 64- year- old Ronald LaCasse of Machias was found Wednesday morning by a man headed to work at a nearby shellfish company. It was not clear how long he had been there […]

DIXFIELD ( AP) — The board of a western Maine school district has voted to allow a book that contains sexual themes and strong language in district middle school libraries, but will only lend it to students who have parental permission. The book, “ Stuck in the Middle: 17 Comics from an Unpleasant Age,” by […]

An overnight burglary attempt at the North Freeport General Store caused damage to a window. According to Freeport Police Lt. Susan Nourse, a neighbor of the store heard a banging noise and saw two people walking around the building around 3 a.m. Nourse said that when officers arrived, they found the building secure with signs […]