Central Maine News: Oct 29, 2015

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

Backers of a Maine infrastructure bond referendum say the state's economy hinges on its bridges and that's why they're campaigning for voters to approve borrowing. The bonds are on the Nov. 3 ballot in the form of a question about whether to authorize $85 million for infrastructure projects. Most of the money would pay to construct, reconstruct or rehabilitate state highways and replace and rehab bridges. A group of bond supporters held a news conference at Portland International Jetport on Wednesday to rally for bridge repairs. The group cited a report by Washington, D.C.-based group TRIP that says about a third of the state's approximately 2,400 bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Maine State Chamber of Commerce Dana Connors says money is needed to secure tourism and shipping. (AP)

A Belgrade woman's homeschool project to get her family's barn included on the National Register of Historic Places has resulted in the nomination of the drafty old structure. 20-year-old College of the Atlantic student Kenya Perry started the nomination process several years ago as a capstone project during her last year of home schooling. The barn is called the Foster Barn at Winterberry Farm and was built sometime between 1900 and 1910.The barn currently houses animals and an area where those who buy shares in a community-supported agriculture program can pick up their goods. Mary Perry moved her family to the farm in 2001, at which time the barn had not been used for more than a quarter century. (AP)

The DOT may add a half-mile turn lane to an area of KMD in Oakland. A planned Dunkin’ Donuts on the road prompted the discussion. The Dunkin’ Donuts would be at  848 Kennedy Memorial Drive next to Waterville Custom Kitchens. According to the KJ, the DOT is thinking about changing the traffic configuration from the Oakland town line to Country Club Road from the four lanes there are now to two travel lanes with a middle turning lane.  The plan already has full support from Town Manager Gary Bowman, who said that it will solve problems with speeding, accidents and the lack of a breakdown lane on that stretch of Kennedy Memorial Drive.  (centralmaine.com)

The Republican presidential candidates have a few words for the mainstream media. At Wednesday night's debate, hosted by CNBC, they repeatedly expressed frustration about the questions the moderators asked. Early on, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said, "The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don't trust the media." After the debate, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus told reporters he felt the debate had included too many "gotcha" questions. (AP)

Secretary of State John Kerry is heading to Vienna for another round of talks on Syria. And for the first time, Iran will be taking part in the effort to resolving the more than 4-year-old civil war. Tehran is a crucial backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad, and it had been shunned from all previous talks. Its inclusion now marks recognition by the United States that no discussion on Syria's future can succeed without Iran at the table. (AP)

South Korea's highest court has sentenced the head of a ferry operator to seven years in prison for the ship sinking last year that killed more than 300 people. The Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that sentenced Kim Han-sik on charges that include manslaughter. The court found Kim responsible for failing to prevent the overloading of cargo and improper storage on the ship that judges said contributed to the sinking. Nine passengers are still missing. (AP)

Authorities say a Kentucky fugitive who's been on the run for five days has been spotted again, but fled into a cornfield after crashing his car. The Tennessee Highway Patrol says U.S. Marshals spotted 62-year-old Floyd Ray Cook in the small town of White House, Tennessee, late Wednesday. Authorities say Cook is now traveling with another man, and is believed to have fired at the marshals before he fled. Cook allegedly shot and wounded a Tennessee officer on Saturday and fired at a Kentucky trooper who tried to stop him. (AP)

The Washington state high school football coach who prayed at games despite orders from the school district to stop has been placed on paid administrative leave. Bremerton School District officials say that assistant football coach Joe Kennedy's leave was necessary because he refused to comply with district directives that he refrain from engaging in overt, public religious displays on the football field while on duty as a coach. (AP)