Central Maine News: January 18, 2016

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

(AP) — Supporters of a law that would require labels on foods grown with the use of genetically modified organisms are getting ready for a new fight in the State House. The state crafted a law in 2014 that will require the labels if five contiguous states, including Maine, pass labeling laws. But some lawmakers then began a drive to repeal the trigger, putting the law in effect, and a key statehouse panel is expected to take up the issue in coming weeks.

(AP) — Maine lawmakers are getting conflicting views as they once again consider a proposal to drop the five-year-old Common Core math and English standards. Maine's 2015 Teacher of the Year, the head of the Maine State Board of Education and representatives from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce all support the standards. But critics say the standards are confusing and represent federal meddling in state education. Several states have rejected or changed the standards.

(AP) — Maine state police say they've uncovered a methamphetamine lab in Northport in the second such discovery of the new year. Police say they discovered the meth lab while checking on a Prescott Road resident who was free on bail on unrelated drug charges. Authorities say they charged 38-year-old Melinda "Mindy" Way. They say Way and a second person are expected to face drug charges.

(WGME) -- A Waterville woman and her teenage daughter face charges after police say they were assaulted while trying to serve a summons for underage drinking Friday night. According to WGME Sherrie Martins, 37, and her 16-year-old daughter were arrested on charges of assault, refusing to submit to arrest or detention and obstructing government administration.

(AP) — The U.S. Embassy says it's working "in full cooperation with Iraqi authorities" to find "several" Americans who've gone missing in Iraq. Local media is reporting that three Americans were kidnapped by militias in Baghdad while on their way to the airport.

(AP) — It was the last Democratic matchup between the Democratic presidential candidates before voting begins in two weeks. And Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders tangled repeatedly Sunday night over who's tougher on gun control. Clinton rapped Sanders for voting repeatedly with the National Rifle Association. Sanders, in turn, said Clinton's assertion that he kowtowed to the gun lobby was "very disingenuous" and pointed to his lifetime rating of a D- from the NRA.

(AP) — The U.S. Department of Defense says a proposal to bring a missile interceptor site to a rural, mountainous area in Maine will not go forward. The Missile Defense Agency says it has considered the Redington Township location for "ground-based interceptors for homeland defense." The agency says the site was rejected due to "irreversible" environmental impacts and construction concerns.