Courts, BMV act after license retained after fatal crash
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles and court officials have scrambled to close a gap in tracking and sharing information about criminal convictions that should result in license suspensions. The problem surfaced when a man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter following a crash during a police pursuit caused another crash — again while being chased by police. A one-page document that would’ve allowed the BMV to process his driver’s license suspension was never sent by court staff despite the BMV’s requests. On Friday, officials including Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Valerie Stanfill, Maine’s chief justice, came to an agreement on correcting the problem, but details haven’t been released.
Maine math teacher is back at it on Pi Day
BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) — You may have heard through the grapevine that it’s Pi Day. That means a Maine teacher dubbed the “Pi Guy” is at it, again. Biddeford High School math teacher Jon Jacques always tries to make Pi Day fun through goofy antics, including musical parodies posted online. This year, he’s provided his take on Marvin Gaye’s “Heard It Through the Grapevine” featuring the Biddeford Singers, jazz band and Pi-inspired lyrics. Pi Day is a faux holiday on March 14 — which falls on Monday — that celebrates the mathematical ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter of 3.14.
Collins, Pingree-backed bill to protect survivors is law
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — A proposal supported by a pair of lawmakers from Maine to protect the rights of sexual assault and harassment victims has become law. The proposal takes aim at forced arbitration. Republican Sen. Susan Collins said it is designed to stop people who commit sexual assault and harassment from using such pre-dispute agreements to push victims into private arbitration proceedings. Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree also supported the measure. Collins said the pre-dispute agreements are used to prevent survivors from taking their cases to court.
LAND PORT IMPROVEMENTS
Upgrades coming to entry ports on Maine border with Canada
HOULTON, Maine (AP) — Maine will use more than $150 million to modernize five land ports of entry along its border with Canada. The state’s U.S. senators, independent Sen. Angus King and Republican Sen. Susan Collins, said the money comes from the U.S. General Services Administration and is authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The ports are Coburn Gore, Calais-Ferry Point, Fort Fairfield, Limestone and Houlton. The senators say the average land port of entry is almost 40 years old, and many are overdue for improvements. They say the Maine ports will see upgrades such as new buildings and inspection facilities, and improvements to traffic flow.
LAND PRESERVATION GRANTS
Maine looking to use conservation program for farms, forests
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine is looking for proposals of working farmlands and forests to preserve through its conservation grant program. Maine uses the Land for Maine’s Future Program to conserve land around the state. Gov. Janet Mills says the program has existed for more than 30 years, and more than half of the 600,000 acres it has protected have been working lands. The state approved $40 million for the program over four years as part of the Maine budget.
GREENVILLE SKI RESORT
Multiple issues contribute to ski resort development delay
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Developers of a proposed ski resort on Big Moose Mountain says costs are growing, with a ski lift costing $1 million more than it did six months ago. Fluctuating material costs and shortages, a changed financial structure for the redevelopment and an upcoming public hearing are all contributing to delays. Developer Perry Williams says a purchase and sale agreement with the owner of the property has been extended 15 times. The Maine Land Use Planning Commission has approved a public hearing but it may not happen until this summer.
BIOMETRIC DATA
Maine looks to set limits on collection of biometric data
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine is looking to enact tougher regulations about corporate collection of biometric data. The proposal before the Maine Legislature would require companies to get consent before they collect biometric information such as facial features, voices and fingerprints. It would also ban companies from selling biometric data and set rules about how long they are able to keep it. The proposal has won support in the Maine Legislature’s Judiciary Committee and is expected to go before the full Legislature.
FATAL CRASH-PRINCETON
Single-vehicle crash leaves 1 dead in Princeton, police say
PRINCETON, Maine (AP) — Maine State Police are investigating a Saturday morning crash that left one person dead. Police say 59-year-old Peter Leighton, of Princeton, was traveling southbound on Main Street at about 5:40 a.m. when his truck veered off the road and crashed into a tree. State police responded to the scene along with rescue workers from Princeton, Indian Township and Baileyville. Leighton was later pronounced dead. Police said it appears he suffered a medical event while he was driving.
PHONE COMPANY PURCHASE
Unity-based telecom is bought by Idaho company
UNITY, Maine (AP) — Unity telecommunications company UniTel has been sold to an Idaho-based broadband provider that plans to rapidly expand fiber internet service. Direct Communications of Rockland, Idaho, has found a niche providing high-speed internet in small rural areas. Currently, UniTel is an internet service provider for Unity, Albion, Knox, Thorndike and surrounding towns.