Paul Engel, left, of Yarmouth, inspects a piece of pottery he recovered Wednesday from the site of Fort Richmond in Richmond while volunteering with the Maine Historic Preservation Commission at the dig.  Scientists and volunteers are working around the rain and currently excavating the cobblestone and brick addition to the fort erected on the banks […]

AUGUSTA — Some local and regional officials fear the state’s recent choice of the smaller of two proposals to build a natural gas pipeline in the region could kill what they see as a much bigger and better opportunity for residents and businesses.

In about two weeks, retiring congressman and leading gay-rights activist Barney Frank will marry his partner, Jim Ready of Ogunquit, in a private ceremony in Newton, Mass.

WASHINGTON — It seems as if the entire nation is holding its breath for the Supreme Court’s health care ruling — the presidential candidates, governors of virtually every state, insurers with billions at stake, companies large and small and countless millions of Americans concerned about their own medical care and how they’ll pay for it.