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

A Maine company is hoping to attract younger audiences to national parks by creating free mobile apps. Chimani will have access to a map, guidebook and activity planner of the park they're visiting. The app uses the device's built-in GPS and remains operational without phone or data connectivity since it preloads the content. It also shows the user's location in real-time as well as nearby points of interest. The Portland-based app can show users where to go hiking, bicycling, boating, swimming, horseback riding and fishing among other activities. It also suggests the best times to visit based on factors such as tides and sun positioning. The app makes money through in-app sponsorships.  Pronouncd "chee-mani"  (AP)

Two-time Academy Award winner Robert Redford was encouraging college graduates to be fearless in a world of challenges and to become collaborators with others and the environment to overcome life's daunting difficulties. Redford was the commencement speaker Sunday at Maine's Colby College. He received an honorary degree of fine arts from the school before an audience of thousands. The actor, director, and producer says that while they are "stepping into a world that's pretty rough," with wars, debt, and climate change, college graduates have been given the tools to make a difference. (AP)

Dozens of contentious issues in the Maine Legislature remain unresolved with just weeks until the mid-June statutory adjournment date. But legislative leaders say they'll everything they can to meet the June 17 deadline, even if that means some late nights at the Statehouse. The biggest item on the Legislature's agenda is finalizing the $6.5 billion state budget, which must be in place by June 30 to prevent a government shutdown. Among the many other issues that still need to make their way through the Democratic-led House and Republican-controlled Senate are proposals that would allow people to carry concealed handguns without a permit and increase the minimum wage. Lawmakers must also grapple with a handful of measures recently introduced by Gov. Paul LePage, including an effort to replace the secretary of state with a lieutenant governor. (AP)

Maine primary care physicians are giving out more than 13,000 free Maine State Park Passes starting this week. The physicians are from 148 practices around the state. They received the passes on May 18 and will begin making them available to pediatric patients and families on Tuesday. The pass is good at any of the 48 state parks and historic sites in Maine with the exception of Baxter State Park. It is good through December. Gov. Paul LePage says more than 2.5 million people visited Maine State Park sites last year. (AP)

A group of scientists and fishermen in Maine is working on a new tool they say will allow seafood consumers to learn the backstory of a piece of fish by scanning a code at the supermarket. Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Maine Coast Fishermen's Association are cooperating to develop the tool, which they say will likely be a smartphone application. Scientists say the planned application will allow consumers to learn the name of the fisherman who caught their fish and where they caught it. The tool is the latest in the fast-growing food traceability tech sector. Market research firm Visiongain says the world market for food traceability technologies will reach $11.15 billion in 2015. That is an increase of more than a half-billion dollars from the previous year. (AP)

Catalyst Paper is laying off about 50 workers at the Rumford mill. The company announced that a temporary shutdown of a paper machine has been extended to August. The particular paper machine manufacturers coated paper for magazines and catalogs. It's been shut down since May. Rumford mill spokesman says the layoffs are "directly market related." He says the mill will be "re-evaluating the situation throughout the summer." (AP)

Republican Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed a bill designed to help law enforcement and parents identify young drivers on the road. It would direct the Secretary of State to offer car decals to intermediate license holders, which supporters say would help parents and police officers determine whether a person is supposed to be driving with a passenger. LePage said the decal would make it easier for criminals to target young drivers. He says the state should focus on promoting safe driving. It was among six bills vetoed by LePage on Friday. Among the other vetoed bills is one that directs the administration to study the impact of ticks on Maine's moose population. (AP)

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