The Maine Water & Sustainability Conference drew water resource professionals, engineers and environmental advocates to the Augusta Civic Center.

The pantry, named after a Cony High School graduate who died in 2012, will provide food and supplies for pet owners who fall on hard times.

The new church hopes to be open for Easter, which is April 20.

City Manager William Bridgeo says less money from the state, little earnings on investments and the need to keep city employee pay competitive all contribute to the proposed increase.

But not all Augusta city councilors agreed with the timing of the vote, nor the proposal to refinance existing debt to finance the overhaul.

Whether to bring the issue to voters in June or November is likely to be a big topic of discussion at the Thursday meeting.

Dean Lachance will join Catholic Charities of Maine in April.

A proposed excise tax change will be studied and then left for next Legislature to resolve.

The undeveloped parcel of land provides a wooded backdrop to Maine’s State House.