Staff photo by Andy Molloy

Jeremy Bechard steam-cleans a lawnmower Thursday in front of the milking parlor at the Roseberry Farm in Richmond. The dairy hand said the mower is the smallest implement he cleans on the spread.

Judicial branch steps up to budget-cutting plate
AUGUSTA -- Maine Supreme Court Chief Justice Leigh Saufley on Thursday presented a plan to allow the judicial branch to function with $4.3 million less in the next 20 months.

AUGUSTA City sued in police crash
AUGUSTA -- A pedestrian injured when she was struck by a police cruiser two years ago is suing the city and the patrol officer involved.

State's public election fund disappearing
AUGUSTA -- At least three candidates for governor are worried the state's public financing system will run out of money in the midst of their campaigns.

Jefferson plugs into Web anew
AUGUSTA -- MidCoast Internet Solutions has completed installation of the backbone network needed to provide high-speed Internet service to Jefferson.

FOES OF GAY VOWS FACE PROBE
AUGUSTA -- State ethics commission staff will soon begin an investigation into the fundraising practices of a group that contributed at least $1.6 million to defeat gay marriage in Maine.

AUGUSTA City defends new radio operation
AUGUSTA -- The city's new $1 million public safety communications system may have multiple glitches, but it still provides communications to about 97 percent of the city, compared to about 60 percent with the old system, officials told city councilors Thursday.

No probe for city's TABOR fliers
AUGUSTA -- The state ethics commission decided Thursday against an investigation into whether South Portland should be required to file campaign finance reports because of a flier it sent regarding the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

CHELSEA Town hires new clerk
CHELSEA -- Angie Gordon, of Randolph, will replace Judy Jones as town clerk.

Wrestling event tonight aims to help Meals on Wheels
FAIRFIELD -- Independent Wrestling Entertainment returns to the Community Center in Fairfield tonight with a pro wrestling fundraiser to benefit the Eastern Area Agency on Aging's Meals on Wheels program.

GARDINER Bank hires new branch staff
GARDINER -- Brent L. Hall and Tracy L. Plourde have been named to staff Kennebec Savings Bank's new Gardiner branch, according to a news release from the bank.

Maine getting less swine flu vaccine than promised
Maine has received far fewer than half the number of H1N1 flu vaccine doses it was told to expect just three months ago and is now seeing shortfalls in weekly shipments, leaving a large part of its at-risk population unprotected.

High court rules on searches of ATVs
PORTLAND (AP) -- Maine's highest court has overturned a lower court ruling that a state law that authorized game wardens to stop all-terrain vehicle operators without cause was unconstitutional.

Winning author tells story of civil rights pioneer
PORTLAND -- Maine author Phillip Hoose said winning a National Book Award for his chronicle of a young civil rights pioneer was all the more moving because she took the stage with him when he accepted the honor.

Teacher's aide brings handgun to Portland school
PORTLAND -- The handgun that a teacher's aide brought into the Riverton Community School on Wednesday wasn't loaded, detectives who are investigating the incident said.

In hearing on Fort Hood shootings, Collins hits failure to 'connect dots'
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Susan Collins of Maine wanted to know if 13 people died at Fort Hood earlier this month because someone failed to "connect the dots." Sen. John McCain of Arizona wanted to know if "political correctness" prevented the Army from identifying Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan as a potential threat to his fellow soldiers.

WEST GARDINER Late-night fire leaves family homeless
WEST GARDINER -- Fire forced a woman and three children from their Pond Road home late Wednesday night.

BRIEFS
WHITEFIELD -- Selectmen will hold an informational meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the Whitefield Elementary School to discuss property taxes.

WINTHROP Arrest, injuries in 3-car wreck
WINTHROP -- A man is facing charges after a three-car crash on U.S. Route 202 sent a woman to the hospital Wednesday night.

NEWS FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK