US states seek to ease inflation burden with direct payments
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Governors and state lawmakers throughout the U.S. are floating proposals to send checks to help residents cope with soaring inflation at a time when state budgets are bursting with cash. The relief ideas come at a time when many states actually have too much money on their hands because of billions of dollars of federal pandemic aid and ballooning tax revenue. It’s also happening as the war in Ukraine has compounded soaring prices for fuel and other essentials. According to the Wharton Business School, the average family had to spend $3,500 more last year to buy the same amount of goods and services as they purchased in previous years.
NATIONAL GUARD-SEX ABUSE
Panel to help Maine National Guard improve assault response
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Janet Mills has established a permanent advisory council to improve the Maine National Guard’s responses to assault and harassment — and to ensure assault survivors are connected to available resources. The 10-member council is charged with making recommendations by Dec. 1 about improving the way the guard handles sexual assault and sexual harassment within its ranks, with an emphasis on coordination with law enforcement authorities. Earlier this month, the Maine National Guard proposed steps to improve its handling of those cases. The council is one of them.
TRUCKER-CRASH-STREAMING
Trucker was streaming Netflix at time of double-fatal crash
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A trucker was streaming Netflix when his tractor-trailer struck a car, killing a retired couple in Maine. The driver told a state trooper that he was listening to the audio, but had his phone turned away so he couldn’t watch the video. Killed in the crash on the Maine Turnpike in January 2021 were Geoff and Elizabeth “Betsy” Gattis, of Falmouth. The truck driver was indicted last summer on a charge of manslaughter. His attorney said Thursday he’s going to file a motion to dismiss the charges.
CUTLER-INVESTIGATION
Former gubernatorial candidate’s homes searched by police
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine State Police have executed search warrants at two homes owned by former independent gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler. Tax records indicate homes that were searched on Wednesday in Portland and in Brooklin were owned by Eliot Cutler and his wife. Cutler, 75, declined to comment to The Associated Press. No charges have been filed. Cutler, a wealthy attorney, launched his first gubernatorial campaign in 2010 as an independent and narrowly lost to Republican Paul LePage. He lost again to LePage in 2014.
BELFAST FIRE
Governor surveys fire damage at processing plant in Maine
BELFAST, Maine (AP) — Officials say residents were told to shelter in place during a massive fire at a food-processing plant in Maine. Firefighters spent hours battling the fire that started early Thursday at the Penobscot McCrum plant, which processes potatoes in Belfast, Maine. No one was hurt but the blaze put 130 people out of work. Gov. Janet Mills surveyed the damage with company CEO Jay McCrum and City Manager Erin Herbig. She said her administration will do all it can to help the company, workers and community recover.
FRAUD-OFFICE MANAGER
Office manager pleads guilty to stealing over $500K
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A Maine woman has pleaded guilty to stealing over $500,000 from a New Hampshire company. The 35-year-old woman was an office manager. The U.S. attorney’s office says between January 2019 and March 2021, she used her access to the company’s finances to make unauthorized purchases and transfers of funds to accounts that she controlled. They said she transferred funds from the company’s bank accounts to her own, used its credit card, drafted checks payable to herself drawn from the company’s bank account, and stole nearly $44,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. The woman pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a plea agreement that drops several other charges.