The Canadian energy industry insists it has no plans to reverse the flow of a pipeline that carries crude oil from Maine to Montreal, but that has done little to reassure New England towns that oppose the idea and the 18 members of Congress asking for a full environmental review.

A historic decline in the number of U.S. whites and the fast growth of Latinos are blurring traditional black-white color lines, testing the limits of civil rights laws and reshaping political alliances as “whiteness” begins to lose its numerical dominance.

The celebrations in downtown Hallowell for St. Patrick’s Day centered around Irish music, with one for charity and others for the worthy cause of dancing and merrymaking.

Dugout Bar and Grill owner Shaun Riggs said he did not think it was appropriate that Gov. LePage signed the emergency legislation that lifts blue laws against selling liquor between 6 and 9 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day when it falls on a Sunday.

The Sandy River Recycling Association, which serves 18 towns, will be increasing its fees, in some cases doubling town recycling costs, because of a decrease in prices for recyclable materials along with a decline in area recycling and competition from the single-stream industry.

A proposal to divert $300,000 from the attorney general to the executive branch may violate state law; the concealed-weapons permits info ban bill is scheduled for a work session Thursday; Rep. Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, is throwing his weight behind a proposal that would crack down on people who exploit elders; Democrats have to admit Gov. Paul LePage has a decent sense of humor; budget hearings continue throughout the week; and the governor will be the guest of honor at the 10th annual Spring Paving Seminar.

Of 122 municipal police departments in Maine, only about 30 grant their officers statewide arrest powers, such as Winthrop does.