Central Maine news, sports & weather from Augusta to Waterville| The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME and Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME

Unity College laying off 15% of staff, exploring sale of main campus under ‘hybrid’ model

Unity President Melik Peter Khoury said the announcement is "not simply a reaction to the pandemic,” although the "financial impact of COVID-19 certainly expedited our plans."

Health care

Bar Harbor hospital says at least 35 potential COVID-19 spreaders from other states have been in area

Out-of-state visitors took tests at home but didn’t learn they tested positive until they were in Maine and possibly interacting with others.
Related Stories
- Bar Harbor hospital sounds warning on undetected COVID-infected visitors
Local & State

Augusta Food Bank to give away 1,000 boxes of local food Thursday

The federally-funded Farmers to Families Program has given away more than 15 million boxes of local food to families nationwide.

MAINE CONFRONTS PANDEMIC

Outdoors

Maine ski areas prepare for winter season during the pandemic

Managers at big resorts and smaller mountains face the challenge of safely offering amenities at their lodges.
- Read all of our coverage on how coronavirus is affecting Maine
Local & State

Maine reports 15 new cases of COVID-19, one additional death

The state has had success using an automated system to help people exposed to the virus report symptoms, according to a study by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Read our complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic
Local & State

COVID-19 cases among blueberry workers worsen farm labor shortage

Maine health officials are confident that two outbreaks at Hancock County businesses will not spread, but if migrant workers are sidelined because of the coronavirus, there may not be enough local workers to fill those gaps.
- Federal funding not enough to meet farmers’ needs, state official says
- Already in an unpredictable business, farmers face more uncertainties than ever

Waterville City Council to consider final budget vote, charter changes

The council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Mid-Day Cafe of Mid-Maine Technical Center at Waterville Senior High School.

Local & State

Portland man injured in Chelsea crash

Police say Mark Anderson was injured Friday when his motorcycle was struck by a car driven by Dalton Pushard on State Route 9 in Chelsea.

Local & State

Hot, dry conditions persist across Maine as summer reaches midway point

While the remnants of Tropical Storm Isaias are expected to begin sweeping through New England on Tuesday night, the forecast for August continues to suggest conditions that are both hotter and drier than average.

Local & State

You can live in this historic Calais house for free, if you’re willing to fix it

The National Park Service is holding an open house on Thursday at the McGlashan-Nickerson House in Calais.

Local & State

Shark-related water restrictions lifted at 3 Maine state parks

Activities at Reid State Park remain limited to waist-deep water because of a shortage of lifeguards.

Local & State

Freedom to protest takes center stage in decade-long dispute between Waterville Christian school, parent of former student

Temple Academy in Waterville is seeking a new protection from harassment order from the district court against Tim White, who has been protesting outside the school for 10 years after his son was expelled.