The Latest
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Massachusetts firefighters continue to battle stubborn brush fires across state
Hundreds of acres in the greater Boston area have already burned in the past week with new fires cropping up in the western and central parts of the state. In Massachusetts, an average of 15 wildland fires are reported each October. This year, the month’s total capped at about 200 — an increase of about 1,200% over the average, rivalling...
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Maine to Give Someone $1 for Each Vaccinated Person in the State
Maine is going to offer a cash prize of more than $875,000 to try to convince more people in the state to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. More than 56% of the state’s total population is fully vaccinated against coronavirus. That’s one of the highest percentages in the country. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said Wednesday the state will hold a…
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Maine to Adopt Mass. Shark Warning Flag After Fatal Attack Last Year
Maine state coastal parks will adopt a flag system used in Massachusetts to warn beachgoers of the presence of sharks. The move comes after the state’s first documented fatal shark attack in the state last summer. A woman was killed on July 27, 2020, by a great white while swimming about 20 yards offshore in Harpswell. “It’s nothing new, but...
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Rhode Island Lifts Remaining COVID-19 Restrictions
Most of Rhode Island’s remaining COVID-19 restrictions are set to be lifted on Friday. Businesses such as stores, restaurants, gyms and offices will be allowed to operate at full capacity with no physical distancing, according to WJAR-TV. Businesses can still implement their own restrictions as they see fit. Limits on social gatherings and restrictions on houses of worship, funeral...
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Rhode Island Removes Mask Rules For Fully Vaccinated People
Rhode Islanders who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus no longer have to wear face coverings in most situations starting Tuesday, but there remains some uncertainty as rules may vary from place to place. Gov. Daniel McKee announced the updated mask regulations on Friday in line with federal guidance, the Providence Journal reported. Some businesses are awaiting further instructions. Many…
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Investigation Continues After 9 Wounded in Providence Shooting
Nine people were injured Thursday in Providence, Rhode Island, in what police believe to be the largest shooting in city history. Multiple guns were used in a shootout in which some 50 shots were fired just before 7 p.m. Thursday involving an “ongoing feud” between two groups known to authorities, according to Providence Police Chief Col. Hugh T. Clements. A…
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Family Member Cleaning Out Father's Home Discovers Human Remains
Maine State Police are investigating the discovery of human remains found over the weekend in Casco. A family member told police they were cleaning out the residence of their father who died earlier in the year on Saturday afternoon when they found the skeletal remains in an outbuilding on the property, located at 196 Poland Springs Road. Police described the…
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Maine Governor Seeks to Broker Peace Between Fishing, Wind Power
Maine’s governor introduced a proposal on Wednesday that would establish a decade-long moratorium on new offshore wind projects in state waters, but would not stop projects in federal waters from moving forward. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, a proponent of wind power, made the proposal as members of the state’s fishing industry raised questions about locating wind turbines in the...
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Maine Lifts Outdoor Mask Mandate, Effective Immediately
Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday lifted the state’s requirement that people wear face coverings outside, effective immediately, after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control updated its guidance on masks. In a statement, the Maine Center for Disease Control said masks are no longer required in public, but recommended that people continue to wear them “in outdoor settings where...
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Mass. and Maine Resume Use of J&J Vaccine; Vermont Will Next Week
Officials in Massachusetts and Maine said that administration of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine should resume Friday after federal health agencies lifted the pause of its use. The vaccine will be used again in Vermont starting next week, health officials there said. The pause on Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose shot was in effect for 11 days due to the…
