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

A Maine government survey says the average statewide cash price for heating oil climbed 7 cents in the past week. The Governor's Energy Office says the average price was $2.86 a gallon, up from $2.79 the previous week, according to the March 2 survey. The average kerosene price of $3.37 was 6 cents higher than a week ago. Propane prices stayed the same at an average of $2.71. Heating oil averaged $3.86 per gallon a year ago at this time, while kerosene was $4.32 and propane was $3.51. The highest price for heating oil in the state was $3.21 while the lowest price was $2.65. The average propane price topped out at $2.75 in central Maine. (AP)

A new effort to raise the minimum wage is underway in Augusta. A bill would raise the minimum wage from $7.50 to $12 per hour by 2020. The bills sponsor was joined other advocates to lobby for the bill at the Statehouse Wednesday.Gov. Paul LePage vetoed a bill in 2013 that would have boosted the minimum wage to $9 by 2016 and then raise it occasionally for inflation. LePage has said that the state should focus on lowering energy costs and reducing the tax burden to bring higher paying jobs to Maine instead. (AP)

Gov. Paul LePage says he anticipates a tough fight in his effort to eventually eliminate Maine's income tax. The governor said at a luncheon for the conservative think tank The Maine Heritage Policy Center he believes that the "war is more than one battle" and doesn't expect it to be won this year. But he told the roughly 70 attendees at the Cross Insurance Center that he will use that against lawmakers in the next election. He vowed to dedicate the rest of his term to working to eliminate the income tax and lower energy costs.(AP)

State transportation officials are sharing more information about what was happening just before the 75 car pileup in Etna last week. According to WGME the Maine DOT says those flashing hazardous-weather speed limit signs are also collecting information about how many cars are on the road and how fast they're going. Data from the signs shows drivers were going about 55 miles per hour, that’s 10 miles an hour over the posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour. At least one driver in the area of the wreck was going at least 72 mph.  State police call the 75-vehicle pileup the largest chain-reaction crash in Maine history. (WGME)

Augusta school officials are looking at cuts to make up a $1 million school budget gap from a drop in state funding for the city’s schools. According to the KJ, the superintendent warned the budget gap could swell to as much as $2 million if current proposals to ask taxpayers for more money don’t meet with the Augusta City Council’s approval. Some of the cuts could be delaying technology upgrades and projects, replacing school nurses with LPN’s and some cuts in classes. (centralmaine.com)

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