Central Maine News: June 23, 2015

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

Lawmakers have overridden 13 vetoed bills. Nine bills were sustained in one of the two chambers and are now dead. Among vetoed bills that will now become law is one that directs the state to create a group to examine how to study hayride safety. It was introduced after a 17-year-old girl was killed during a Halloween-themed hayride last year. (AP)

The Maine House of Representatives has endorsed a measure to ensure people seeking asylum in the state continue receiving municipal welfare benefits. Gov. Paul LePage's administration is no longer reimbursing cities and towns for general assistance provided to certain immigrants, including asylum seekers and people who came to the U.S. illegally. Supporters would have to pick up twenty votes in the House to overturn an all-but-certain veto from LePage. (AP)

The Maine Senate has dealt a blow to an effort by the state's American Indian tribes to open a casino. The Senate voted 18-16 against the bill Monday. The House approved it last week. If the two chambers can't work out their differences, the bill will die. Maine's two existing casinos are located in Bangor and Oxford. (AP)

A Delaware couple has reached an out-of-court settlement with Maine's Sugarloaf ski resort over a 2010 chairlift malfunction that sent them and their two daughters plunging about 30 feet. The lawsuit contended the father suffered a traumatic brain injury and that both girls suffered closed-head injuries. The family was riding on the East Spillway lift when a cable jumped its track, causing five chairs to plummet. That chairlift was removed and replaced with a new one. Seven people were hurt in another incident last March when a different lift began moving backward. (AP)

Home rental prices are climbing across much of the United States, with the biggest gains coming from not from big citis but Jackson, Mississippi, and Portland, Maine. Real estate data firm Zillow said Tuesday that prices nationally climbed a seasonally adjusted 4.3 percent in May from a year ago. Rents still are rising at double-digit rates in Denver, San Francisco and San Jose, California, with their job opportunities drawing new residents at a faster pace than construction can match. Jackson rent saw a 22.7 percent yearly increase and Portland was up 17.4 percent. (AP)

Maine State Police are investigating whether an innkeeper violated state law in an essay contest with her 210-year-old country inn as the prize. An investigation was opened into whether the "Win an Inn" contest violated laws governing games of chance. Some contest losers felt the odds were stacked against them. They contend Center Lovell Inn owner marketed the contest to "dreamers" but instead awarded the prize to a couple with hospitality business experience in the Virgin Islands. The entry fee was $125 and there was a hope of 7,500 entries. The money was going to fund the current owners retirement. (AP)

The Maine House has supported an effort to get permission from the federal government to ban the use of food stamps to buy junk food. The House voted 73-70 in favor of an amended version of the bill. It would direct Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to request a waiver to restrict the purchase of certain products, like soda, chips and candy. A provision added also requires the department to help organizations create initiatives to improve the diets of people in the food stamp program. The Senate approved a different version that would only direct the department to seek the waiver. (AP)

Waterville residents and visitors will see more police officers this summer on bikes in downtown and in the South End. According to the KJ, the department’s summer bike patrol kicked into gear Monday. The summer patrol is good for community outreach as well as a better way for police to keep an eye on things. The bike patrol has been in existence some 15 years, but it has been more active at times when staffing allowed. This summer, with five officers able to alternate patrols, it will be in full swing. (centralmaine.com)

A new, two-year contract for teachers, providing money for raises each year, is up for approval by the Augusta Board of Education. Board members already approved similar new contracts with unions representing custodians, administrators and support staff in the city’s schools. And there were no major changes to benefits packages for the teachers. According to the KJ, base teacher pay in the contract up for approval would increase from $32,000 to $33,500, a 4.7 percent increase (centralmaine.com)

Officials say severe storms across northern Illinois included at least one tornado and at least seven people have been injured. High winds caused property damage and uprooted trees. In Michigan, a fire official says a severe storm badly damaged at least four houses and knocked down dozens of trees and power lines about 25 miles southeast of Saginaw. Forecasters say they have reports of two tornadoes in Michigan. (AP)

Support is building in South Carolina for removing the Confederate flag from public display. South Carolina's governor and a number of lawmakers say its use as a symbol of hatred by the man accused of killing nine black church members has made it too divisive. Similar sentiment has been expressed in Mississippi and Tennessee and Wal-Mart says it's removing confederate flag items from its shelves. (AP)

Authorities in northern New York say DNA testing will take place to determine if items recovered from a remote hunting cabin can be linked to a pair of convicted killers who escaped from a nearby prison more than two weeks ago. State Police Maj. Charles Guess characterizes the latest search efforts a confirmed lead and that "specific items" had been recovered. (AP)

Sentencing is scheduled today in a Pennsylvania rock throwing incident that severely injured an Ohio teacher traveling on Interstate 80. Union County court officials say 19-year-old Brett Lahr pleaded no contest to a conspiracy count in March. His 18-year-old brother, Dylan Lahr, is expected to plead guilty to an unspecified charge during a separate hearing today. (AP)