Maine House gives its final OK to some vaccine opt-outs
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A bill to end Maine’s religious and philosophical exemptions to vaccines needs to clear just one more hurdle before heading to the governor’s desk.
The House voted 79-62 Tuesday to enact the legislation , which now heads to the Senate.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills’ administration has backed the bill to end non-medical vaccine opt-outs by 2021 for schoolchildren, as well as nursery school and health care facility employees.
The Senate previously supported an amendment to protect religious exemptions. But the Senate and House have since backed the original bill.
Health officials say Maine’s exemptions rates are rising and could endanger children who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons.
Opponents say the bill would infringe on parental rights and stigmatize and expel children who don’t comply with vaccination requirements.
ATV crash in Down East Maine kills woman, injures man
SULLIVAN, Maine (AP) — Police in Maine say a crash involving an all-terrain vehicle in Down East Maine killed a woman and injured a man.
The crash happened early Tuesday in Sullivan. Police say the crash killed 25-year-old Whitney Doughty, who was operating the ATV. Her passenger, 25-year-old Garrett Young, was taken to the hospital for injuries that did not appear life-threatening. Both were from Sullivan.
WABI-TV reports the crash investigation is still going on. Police say the crash happened when the ATV drifted across a road and hit a tree.
Maine weighs taking guns from some individuals
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine could allow police to take guns from certain individuals as part of Democratic-led calls for firearm control.
The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee is set to work on the bill Wednesday.
Supporters including Portland’s interim police chief say Maine must keep firearms out of the hands of people in crisis. Advocates point to domestic violence homicides and Maine’s rising firearm suicides .
Critics warn of governmental overreach infringing on constitutional rights and say Maine’s crime rates are low.
Gun control efforts have faced odds in the largely rural state, where hunters tout a long history of responsible gun ownership.
Voters defeated a question on universal background checks backed by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2016. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has said Maine should respect the people’s will on the issue.
Maine confirms first case of measles in 2 years
MADISON, Maine (AP) — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the first confirmed case of measles in the state since 2017 involves a vaccinated child who has recovered from the disease.
Maine CDC says Tuesday the case involves a child from Somerset County. The agency says the child did not experience any serious complications, and officials have notified facilities where potential exposure occurred.
The agency says it’s unclear where the student was exposed to the disease. There have been more than 800 confirmed cases of measles in the country this year. It has been the worst year for the disease in the country in decades.
The state says people who aren’t vaccinated should receive at least one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which is easily available.
Body found at shore of Great Bay identified as missing man
NEWINGTON, N.H. (AP) — Police in New Hampshire say a medical examiner has determined that a body found on the shore of Great Bay is that of Maine man who has been missing since April.
Newington police and fire departments responded to the shoreline at Fox Point on Monday night. Police in Portsmouth were notified because of an ongoing investigation into the case of 32-year-old Adam Camarato, of Eliot, Maine, who was last seen leaving Portsmouth’s Clipper Tavern on April 27.
Lt. Darrin Sargent of the Portsmouth Police Department said in news release Tuesday afternoon the body was identified as Camarato’s.
Man who tore up road may be off the hook for restitution
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine man who used a tractor to cause $52,000 in damage to a road that was about to be paved has lost his criminal appeal. But he may be off the hook for restitution.
The state supreme court on Tuesday upheld Bruce Pelletier’s conviction for aggravated mischief for his actions during a property ownership dispute in 2016 in Frenchville.
The town had graded the road, laid geotextile fabric and applied two layers of stone and gravel in anticipation of paving Pelletier Avenue. That was before the defendant fired up the tractor and dug up a portion of the road with a farm implement.
Pelletier was sentenced to 10 days in jail. The state supreme court declined to rule on a state motion to “correct” the sentence because there was no restitution.
New trial ordered because jurors didn’t see cellphone video
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s supreme court says jurors who convicted a man of resisting arrest and assault should have been allowed to see cellphone video taken by the defendant’s sister.
A police officer arrested Abdiaziz Hussein, of Lewiston, after he allegedly refused to sign a criminal summons, tried to run and punched the officer. The video showed Hussein with a pen in his hand, signaling a possible willingness to sign, while pinned on the floor.
In a 6-1 decision, the Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday ordered a new trial, saying the judge made a mistake in declining to allow the video to be shown to jurors.
Dissenting Justice Donald Alexander said the trial judge didn’t err and that if he did then it was a “harmless” error.
Maine city restores funds for asylum seekers
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The City Council in Maine’s largest city is restoring funding for a program that provides financial help to asylum seekers who don’t qualify for state assistance.
The Portland Press Herald reports the Portland City Council voted to restore the funding to its Portland Community Support Fund on Monday night. The vote restores $50,000 to the fund.
The council was considering winding down the fund, but faced opposition from activists who believe the city has a duty to help asylum seekers.
Funding for noncitizens was a point of contention between liberal Portland and the state’s former conservative governor, Republican Paul LePage.
LePage, who left office in January, argued that providing aid to noncitizens would hurt the elderly and disabled in the state.
Acadia National Park slated for improvements in months ahead
BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — The National Park Service says numerous improvements are taking place at Acadia National Park in Maine over the coming months.
The service says work has begun at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and work is slated to begin on the Frazer Point Pier early in July. Hiking trails are also scheduled for improvements. Some work is already finished, including the rehabilitation of historic firepits at Seawall Campgrounds.
Acadia National Park is one of Maine’s top tourist destinations in the summer months. It’s famous for Cadillac Mountain, the high point of the North Atlantic’s seaboard.
The park service says the maintenance projects are paid for via methods including park entrance fees, federal funding and fundraising.
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