BC-VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW ENGLAND
Drug overdoses rise in NH; Hospitalizations in MA drop
As the number of COVID-19 cases have fallen and restrictions have been dropped in New Hampshire, drug overdoses are on the rise in some cities. American Medical Response says suspected overdoses in Manchester and Nashua rose by 26% in May. WMUR-TV reports that the 72 suspected overdoses was the most in a single month since June 2019. AMR Regional Director Chris Stawasz says overdoses decreased during the pandemic since more people were inside. In Massachusetts, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has dropped to fewer than 150 patients for the first time since Aug. 23, 2020.
FATAL MOTORCYCLE CRASH
Motorcyclist killed, passenger injured in Augusta crash
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Police say a motorcyclist was killed and his passenger seriously injured in a crash with a vehicle in Augusta on Saturday night. The Kennebec Journal reports that the crash happened as the driver of a sports utility vehicle was making a left turn off of Civic Center Drive onto Old Belgrade Road. Police say the motorcyclist, a 58-year-old man from Oakland, was traveling the other direction on Civic Center Drive. Police say the motorcyclist died and his passenger, a 51-year-old woman, was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland in serious but stable condition.
TRANSPORTATION WORKERS-UNION
Public transit workers vote to join union
Thirty-two drivers, mechanics and other workers in the Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach transit service have voted to join a union. BSOOB Transit is the primary provider of public transportation in the Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach region with express commuter bus service that connects the communities to downtown Portland. It also operates seasonal trolleys that serve tourist destinations in the area. The provider carried 360,000 passengers in 2019.
SUMMER MEALS
Maine nonprofit gives out more than $400K for summer meals
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A nonprofit group in Maine has given out more than $400,000 to school districts and community organizations to help with summer meals for children. Full Plates Full Potential says the funding will go to 64 organizations around the state. The funding is a bump of more than $20,000 from last year. The money will help with programs such as opening new meal sites, transporting and delivering meals to homes and launching services such as meal pick-up.
ROAD STRIPING
Fewer lines painted on roads because of paint shortage
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine motorists are going to have to make do with fewer center stripes on roads because of a shortage of resin needed for the paint. WGME-TV reports that a winter storm that battered Texas created lasting delays at chemical plants, and the state is struggling to find adequate paint supplies. Brian Burne from the Maine Department of Transportation said that as of now 1,000 miles of roads won’t get stripes this summer. However, interstate and high-priority highways, and new roadways, will get painted.
BC-VIRUS OUTBREAK-NEW ENGLAND
Vermont city to hold fireworks; Dartmouth grads get 2 guests
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The annual Independence Day celebration is returning to Vermont’s largest city. WCAX-VT reports that Burlington expects thousands of people to gather along the Lake Champlain waterfront for the fireworks display on July 3. The event was cancelled last year amid the coronavirus pandemic. In New Hampshire, the Dartmouth College class of 2021 will be honored Sunday, with two guests allowed per graduate at the outdoor ceremony. The college originally planned to prohibit guests because of the coronavirus pandemic but later decided to allow two tickets for each student receiving an undergraduate degree.