Maine

Portland officials are considering a new 200-bed homeless center on city-owned land near a facility that provides nursing and rehabilitation services.

City Manager Jon Jennings tells the Portland Press Herald he'd like to build the new facility near the Barron Center campus. It would replace the Oxford Street Shelter.

Oxford Street Shelter Director Rob Parritt says a bigger center would help more people and allow his staff to better work with service agencies that provide health and dental care. He estimates the new shelter will cost about $10 million.

Maine officials say the northern Maine state park that includes Mount Katahdin has a new director.

The Baxter State Park Authority announced on Thursday that Eben Sypitkowski has been named the new head of Baxter State Park, the home to the state's highest peak. Sypitkowski is currently the park's resource manager.

The state says Sypitkowski will direct about 60 year-round and seasonal employees who maintain the park, which is a major tourist attraction in northern Maine.

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine lawmakers are returning to the State House to consider more than 100 unfunded bills and bonds.
 
The Legislature's special session is set to start Tuesday.
 
The Appropriations Committee unanimously sent lawmakers nearly $64 million worth of widely supported bills in two packages. They tackle issues from the opioid crisis, to lead abatement, school health centers,  reimbursement for personal care aides, and county jail funding.
 

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine - The annual George H.W. Bush Cape Arundel Celebrity Golf Classic is kicking off in Kennebunkport, Maine.
 
The fundraiser is held each summer at the club where the nation's 41st president enjoyed golfing while in Kennebunkport. This year's honorary co-chairs are two of his grandchildren, Sam Bush LeBlond and Marshall Bush.
 
Celebrity participants on Tuesday include former Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant and England Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown.
 

The organizers of the Lewiston-Auburn World Refugee Day celebration say they've decided to postpone the celebration, after two recent deaths in the community.

One of those deaths was the result of a brawl near the city's Kennedy Park that's been connected to perceived racial tensions. Many of the city's black residents are refugees or come from refugee families.

Fatuma Hussein is exectuive director of the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine, and is part of the planning committee for the celebration. She says this just isn't the right time for a celebration.

AUGUSTA, Maine - First up when lawmakers return to the State House this week will be two spending bills that were unanimously approved by the Appropriations Committee. 

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Maine's health and human services agency is delaying a billing change that several addiction treatment agencies warned would threaten their operations.