Central Maine News: Oct 30, 2015

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

Tests scores show that Maine students' reading and math scores for fourth and eighth graders fell slightly or were not significantly different from the last time the National Assessment of Educational Progress test was administered. Maine's fourth and eighth graders had the worst reading and math test performance of the New England states. The students are on par with the national average, however. The biggest change in this year's test results was a six percentage point drop in fourth grade math scores, to 41 percent achieving proficiency. Maine NAEP Coordinator Paula Hutton says math scores generally fell across the nation, but it's too soon to say why. Reading scores remained more consistent. (AP)

Three people are taken into custody and a gun is seized after a reported shooting at a Lewiston McDonald’s. According to WGME, witnesses say it happened this afternoon on Lisbon Street, with a bullet hitting a van in the drive thru. Witnesses say the bullet ended up hitting the tire of a minivan that was going through the drive thru. They say after the gun was fired two of the men got into a silver Saab and took off, the third man was seen walking away on foot. Police confirm they had two men and a woman detained. However, they are still looking for a third man.  The case is still being investigated (WGME)

The Governor's Energy Office says the average statewide cash price for heating oil is unchanged from three weeks ago at $2.04 per gallon. Kerosene also stayed the same over the last two weeks at $2.60 per gallon and propane rose 3 cents to $2.18 per gallon. State officials say one factor keeping prices lower is the high inventory of heating oil and propane nationwide and in the Northeast. The highest average price for heating oil in Maine was $2.08 per gallon in eastern and central Maine. The lowest price was $1.95 per gallon in western Maine. (AP)

Current Publishing, a weekly newspaper group in southern Maine, is merging with the Lewiston-based parent company of the Sun Journal newspaper. Sun Media Group publishes the Sun Journal in Lewiston, the Forecaster weekly newspapers in southern and coastal Maine, and seven other weekly publications in western Maine. According to Current publications will retain their names. (AP)

A report in Science magazine says the rapid warming of waters off New England is a key factor in the collapse of the region's cod fishery. Fishery managers say cod spawning in the Gulf of Maine is only a fraction of sustainable levels and fishermen face dramatic quota cuts as a result. The scientists behind the report say the warming reduced cod's capacity to rebound from fishing pressure. The Gulf of Maine is a key fishing area that touches Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Canada. The lead author of the study is Andrew Pershing of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland. He says the gulf is warming at a rate 99 percent faster than anywhere else in the world. (AP)

A Maine woman was arrested on Interstate 495 in Massachusetts on charges of heroin trafficking. Massachusetts State Police said a trooper pulled Holly Grant, 39, of Palermo, over on 495 in Bolton, Massachusetts for speeding. According to WMTW Grant was found to have about 300 bundles of what troopers believe is heroin. She also did not have a driver's license. She is being held on $25,000 bail pending an arraignment. Grant was charged with speeding, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, distribution of a Class A substance and trafficking in heroin. (WMTW)

Police in Waterville responded to a reported pharmacy robbery Thursday afternoon. According to WABI, employees of the Rite Aid on Main Street told police that shortly before 3:30 pm, a man approached the pharmacy counter, displayed a knife and demanded property from the store. The suspect reportedly received property and ran away. Detectives say the suspect may have been picked up in a vehicle. Investigators say, for now, they’re not releasing any more information related to what was stolen or a description of the suspect until information and evidence gathered at the scene can be reviewed. (WABI/centralmaine.com)

An ambitious budget and debt deal is moving closer to passage in the Senate as lawmakers work overnight. The Senate has voted 63-35 to end any delaying tactics and put the deal up for a vote. But there's been strong opposition, including from White House hopeful Sen. Rand Paul, who left the campaign trail to return to Capitol Hill. Another presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz also canceled campaign events to return to Washington. (AP)

Honda is recalling more than 300,000 Accords in the U.S. because the side air bags can inflate if a door is slammed too hard. The ignition has to be on for the problem to happen. The recall covers Accords from the 2008 and 2009 model years. (AP)

A 10-year-old boy is recovering from his injuries after being bitten by a shark off a beach in Oahu. Raymond Senensi says the shark "just popped out of nowhere" Wednesday when he was boogie boarding. He says he kicked it, hoping it would go away. It's Hawaii's seventh confirmed shark encounter of 2015. (AP)