Under the new laws, police will have to show probable cause that the information they’re seeking is relevant to a criminal case, unless they can prove that waiting for a warrant will put someone’s life or safety in danger.

A trove of stolen goods found last week by authorities came from between 50 and 60 locations in at least three counties, a sheriff’s office official said.

Kennebec County Treasurer Robert Crockett has resigned due to health problems, effective in January.

Eugene R. Charleston, of Manhattan, N.Y., and Ricardo David Perry, of Lancaster, Pa., are accused of keeping 23-year-old Ryan J. Partridge overnight inside a Chelsea home, beating him with a gun and threatening to slash him with a knife.

A 1936 deed states that the Water Street property can be used only for town purposes, but Summit Natural Gas of Maine wants to build a regulator station at that location.