AUGUSTA — The Augusta Community Warming Center on 44 Front St. reopened Monday, the United Way of Kennebec Valley and Green Street United Methodist Church said in a release.

FARMINGTON — A homemade explosive was detonated on a remote road Monday night, scaring a nearby resident and prompting an investigation by state and federal law enforcement officials, police said.

FAYETTE — The town has an uphill battle to raise $30,000 by a March 7 deadline that will help create a public park on Hales Pond and Hales Brook.

AUGUSTA — A murder suspect made a brief court appearance Tuesday to hear a judge set a scheduling conference later this week in his case.

AUGUSTA — Republican lawmakers have rejected the most controversial piece of Gov. Paul LePage’s plan to balance the Department of Health and Human Services’ budget, which would have cut funding for homes that serve the elderly, the mentally ill and people with substance abuse problems.

WATERVILLE — It’s not unusual for police to advise people against speaking to the media.

FAIRFIELD — A Norridgewock man was arrested on a cocaine possession charge after the vehicle in which he was a passenger struck a utility pole Saturday morning on Route 139.

CHINA — Selectmen had planned to require financial audits from the three fire departments and China Rescue as a condition of their 2012 budget requests.