QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Armed men kidnapped a British Red Cross worker from the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta today, highlighting the fragile security situation in the country, police said. The incident took place hours after Islamist militants elsewhere in the country killed 15 Pakistani security officers they had seized last month close to the […]

BEIRUT ( AP) — Syrian authorities have released more than 500 prisoners accused of involvement in anti-regime activities, state TV reported today, in what appeared to be another gesture to comply with the Arab League plan to end the regime’s 9-month-old crackdown on dissent. The plan, being monitored by about 100 Arab League observers now […]

WATERBORO (AP) — Bail has been set at $250,000 for a 23- year- old Maine man accused of robbing a supermarket and suspected of several other robberies. Sheriff ’s detectives arrested Christopher Dimastrantonio of Gorham on Tuesday. Police say a masked man walked into a Hannaford Supermarket in Waterboro and told employees he had a […]

PRESQUE ISLE ( AP) — The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency says its investigation into a meth lab in Presque Isle has led to two arrests and a warrant for a third suspect. On Wednesday, police arrested 28-year-old Leland Alger of Presque Isle and issued an arrest warrant for 21-year-old Ronald Lewis of Littleton for trafficking […]

PORTLAND (AP) — A conservative advocacy group has fired a reporter for its newly established online news service after he was accused of having a history of making racist comments. Maine Heritage Policy Center Chief Executive Officer Lance Dutson released a statement to a political blog, “ The Tipping Point,” announcing that reporter Leif Parsell […]

YORK (AP) — A hunter has been charged with fatally shooting a family’s dog in southern Maine. Gregory Brown, 39, says he mistook the dog for a coyote. Matthew and Heather Henriksen of York say their 5- year-old mixed-breed dog bled to death on Dec. 27 after a bullet from a .22-caliber rifle severed an […]

ORONO (AP) — Two Maine companies are teaming up to make limited edition 100th anniversary paddles for L.L. Bean. Shaw & Tenney in Orono has been making wooden oars and paddles since 1858. West Branch Heritage Timber in Millinocket reclaims historic timber left behind in Maine waterways from the river logging drive days of a […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection is resurrecting a program that recognizes environmental stewardship. The DEP is taking nominations for the Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence. The awards honor businesses, nonprofits and public entities. Applicants will be asked to show how their project or program was innovative while resulting in meaningful environmental and […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — Augusta police say they have arrested a man who abducted a woman at random from a Walmart parking lot last month. Shawn Doray was arrested Wednesday following tips from the public and is facing charges including armed robbery and criminal restraint or kidnapping. Police say Doray approached the 51-year-old woman just after […]

AUBURN ( AP) — Four Lewiston men and a woman from Waterford are facing welfare fraud charges. Police say the suspects were involved in the sale, purchase and trade of electronic benefit cards, or EBTs, issued to them through the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Authorities say in some cases the suspects traded […]