Central Maine News: ME Committee Rejects a Bill to Crack down on Tired Driving

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

A Maine committee has rejected a bill that seeks to crack down on people who drive while they're tired. It will now head to the full House and Senate for consideration. The law was sponsored on behalf of a family whose son was killed in an alleged case of fatigued driving. Some law enforcement officials told lawmakers that state law already covers fatigued driving.  The bill would make it a crime to drive if the person hasn't slept in 24 hours. (AP)

A Maine senator says he's withdrawing his "religious freedom" bill that's similar to proposals that prompted protests in other states. Sen. David Burns said that he doesn't believe his proposal would get a fair hearing in the Legislature. He says opponents and the media have "poisoned the well of public discussion."  Similar bills sparked fierce criticism, boycotts and protests in Indiana and Arkansas from people who say it would allow discrimination against gays and lesbians. Burns insists his proposal was different than the one in Indiana and based on a 1993 federal law. (AP)

Federal, state and industry officials are meeting again to discuss the spring flood risk in Maine as concern shifts from rising river levels to the threat of wildfires. The River Flow Advisory Commission is hosting a discussion Thursday following wildfire warnings prompted by a combination of dry conditions and warming temperatures. So far, snowmelt has been steady but weather forecasters continue to keep an eye on Maine's rivers. A combination of heavy rain and warm temperatures could lead to flooding. (AP)

The federal government is giving Maine two grants totaling more than $138,000 aimed at improving highway and traffic safety. More than $80,000 of the money will support state efforts to improve emergency services and safety for pedestrians and bicycle and motorcycle riders. That grant will also seek to reduce impaired and unsafe driving. The rest of the money is going toward assisting state efforts to reduce highway deaths and injuries with more enforcement and education about seat belts.(AP)

Orange banners with a white heart and the word "Boston" have been unveiled at the site of the Boston Marathon bombings, which took place two years ago yesterday. Jane Richard helped unveil one set of banners. She was seven years old when she lost a leg in the blasts that took the life of her 8-year-old brother, Martin. (AP)

Jurors who convicted former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez of murder say learning of another case against Hernandez only affirmed to them that they had made the right decision. After jurors convicted Hernandez, the judge told them that Hernandez also was accused of shooting to death two men in Boston after one of them had bumped into him at a club and made Hernandez spill his drink. (AP)

About 80 people turned out for a meeting about Waterville’s pay-as-you-throw trash collection system. According to the KJ, most said they like the program but not certain aspects of it, like that the special trash bags are odd-shaped and tear easily, that recyclables are not picked up often enough and more education is needed to teach people what to recycle and not recycle. The meeting was held to inform residents about the nuts and bolts of pay-as-you-throw and what will happen to city finances if voters at a referendum June 9 decide to keep or repeal the program. (centralmaine.com)