Central Maine News: Augusta’s New Recycling Program Exceeding Expectations but Not Getting Non- Recyclers to Start

These are some of the stories central Maine is talking about today.

A Maine organization is getting federal funding to provide more low-income families with access to nutritious local food. Maine's congressional delegation says  Maine Farmland Trust has been awarded nearly $250,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a project that aims to help people in the Supplemental Nutrition for Needy Families program buy more fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers. The group plans to implement the programs at at least 11 retail outlets across the state. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree's office says national nonprofit Wholesome Wave has also received a grant and will work with local groups like the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association to create incentive programs in local markets. (AP)

The Kennebec County Sheriff is asking local police to cut back on arresting non-violent offenders in order to ease overcrowding at the Kennebec County Correctional Facility. Sheriff Randy Liberty says his county jail in Augusta is chronically overcrowded and inmates often have to sleep on the floor due to lack of beds. Liberty's efforts to curb the arrests of non-violent offenders has paid off and drawn praise from defense lawyers and prosecutors alike. He says the jail's 147-inmate capacity is strained by suspects charged with minor offenses who can't afford to post bail. Augusta defense lawyer Walter McKee says jails are full of pretrial defendants who would not be incarcerated after they're convicted. (AP)

The Augusta Fire Department says an apartment building fire that displaced 13 people was caused by an improperly disposed cigarette. The fire was reported by a resident of the State Street building shortly before 7:30 p.m. Friday. Rescue crews got everyone out of the building safely. One person was taken to the hospital as a precaution. The neighborhood has suffered several fires over the last year. (AP)

Gov. Paul LePage is making an aggressive push away from the renewable energy policies of his predecessor as he looks to open the door to more hydropower from Canada and natural gas to bring down Maine's electricity costs. While many of LePage's past energy efforts have fallen flat, he will have an opportunity to strengthen his influence this spring when he replaces the last remaining Democratic appointee to the agency that regulates the state's utilities. But he faces resistance from the state's powerful environmental lobby, which says LePage's tendency to favor only the cheapest forms of energy today could be costly in the long run. Maine's electricity costs are the lowest in New England but are well above the national average. (AP)

Some Maine lawmakers are looking to block future efforts to change wildlife management laws at the ballot box. The move comes five months after Maine voters rejected a proposal to ban the use of bait, dogs and traps to hunt bears. The group that backed that proposal says it's considering trying to get a similar measure on next year's ballot. Sportsmen and lawmakers say wildlife management laws should be determined by scientists and protected from emotional campaigns spearheaded by out-of-state interest groups. But opponents say rolling back the public's right to use the citizen initiative process would create a dangerous precedent. (AP)

Gov. Paul LePage and Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap are encouraging Maine residents to register as organ donors. LePage and Dunlap joined officials from Donate Life New England and people who have benefited from organ donation at the Statehouse to raise awareness for the issue. Dunlap's office says more than 730 lives in New England were saved last year thanks to organ donors. LePage says 5,000 people in the region are currently waiting for life-saving organs. Officials say 52 percent of Mainers who renew their license at their local Bureau of Motor Vehicles office register as organ donors. Residents can also register online. (AP)

Augusta’s new single-sort, drop-off recycling program is exceeding expectations in its first month. But according to the KJ, officials speculate the program is not yet prompting residents who weren’t recycling already to start. Ultimately, city officials and others hope more recycling in Augusta and elsewhere will mean a longer lifespan for the Hatch Hill Solid Waste Disposal Facility. Supporters hope Augusta will expand the program beyond six months and potentially to collecting unsorted recyclables curbside on a regular basis. (centrlamaine.com)