WATERVILLE — Councilors late Monday approved a $37 million municipal and school budget for 2012-13, despite pleas from the council chairman not to increase taxes.

AUGUSTA — While the outcome of November’s statewide referendum on gay marriage is very much up in the air, one thing is certain: Millions of dollars will be spent to influence voters.

FAIRFIELD — James Julia gets excited when describing the items sold by his antique auction house over the years.

A Chesterville man pleaded guilty recently to robbing a couple at gunpoint in their home and forcing the husband to withdraw money from a nearby automatic teller machine while his wife remained held hostage.

AUGUSTA — The National Organization for Marriage, which contributed nearly $2 million to help repeal the legalization of gay marriage in Maine in 2009, continues to fight Maine’s campaign finance disclosure laws in state and federal courts.

OAKLAND — Police say they have solved a series of 20 to 30 home and motor-vehicle burglaries from the past 18 months.

BINGHAM — United Way of Mid-Maine will host an Early Literacy Fair today from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Quimby Middle School library.

A former employee of a trailer manufacturer is under arrest after being accused of selling at least six trailers and pocketing the cash.