Dylan Ketcham, 26, who was found guilty last year of murder and attempted murder in the 2020 death of Jordan Johnson and machete attack on Caleb Trudeau, is seeking a new trial.

Augusta Task Force on Homelessness seeks solutions to improve lives of homeless area residents.

The forecast suggests Thursday night might be a great opportunity to see the northern lights in parts of Maine.

All Maine polling locations will remain open until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The town's previous chief, Frank Wozniak, resigned in August after spending nearly two months on paid administrative leave for impersonating a public official.

The chipmunks, mice, and red and gray squirrels have been bolder the last few summers, as the cat Brian’s years caught up with him, he passed away the first of October, a few days after his 17th birthday, Dana Wilde writes.

James W. Oliver, 57, allegedly pushed a woman into the bushes and assaulted her in Augusta.

Diane Potter is not seeking reelection for her seat on the MSAD 11 school board after three years of service.

Members of the Hallowell City Council had assumed they could cut property taxes this year after formal approval, but learned late last month that they cannot.

Gardiner Police Chief Todd Pilsbury said Sgt. Stacey Blair is still a member of the department and that discipline would be handled by the city of Gardiner as a 'personnel matter.'

Select Board Vice Chairperson Mike Carlson said the Fayette School Committee is reconsidering its policy on use of Fayette Central School.

Thomas Lowrie, 41, of Waterville has been charged in the Aug. 18 death of Charles Bellows, 43.

The crash was reported just before 10 a.m., when a Subaru hydroplaned and veered into the center lane and hit a truck towing a camper, according to officials.

Artists gathered at Tandem Glass Works in Dresden to share inspirations and patrons.

The event this Saturday, modeled after Oktoberfest in Germany, celebrates the work of breweries, wineries, distilleries and meaderies across the region and state.

Youth Voting Summit seeks to inspire high school, college-age youths to engage their peers in voting and civic leadership.

Earlier this year Augusta councilors approved allowing recreational cannabis retail stores, after years of only medical marijuana sales being allowed in the city.

Maine's education commissioner says local officials from affected schools may uphold new protections in the Title IX updates because they are already guaranteed under the Maine Human Rights Act.

The candidates will gather for a candidate forum at 6 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Bailey Public Library, where each candidate will have the opportunity to answer resident-submitted questions and make opening and closing statements.

Donald McLeod and Larry Beane are running to fill the seat vacated by longtime Select Board member Bob Gasper, who resigned in August.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Interim Superintendent Becky Foley and Nick Poole, Winthrop's finance director, found an additional $275,000 to put toward the budget shortfall.

The moratorium on solar facility applications is retroactive from July 12 and active until Dec. 12 to create the ordinance.

Wade Willette, 46, contacted a covert FBI agent over the messaging app Kik after the agent posted on a forum frequented by people interested in child pornography, according to a federal prosecutor.

A pair of songwriters, one from Turner, the other from Belgrade, wrote and recorded the song "Leave the Maine Flag Alone," to express their thoughts on the matter.

The apartment where a fire started on South Belfast Avenue on Tuesday night did not have a working smoke detector, officials said.

The Corniche Trailhead is closed temporarily as a 16-space gravel parking lot is under construction near intersection of Middle Street and Litchfield Road.

For nearly half a century, women have been able to choose whether they have children or not, Liz Soares writes.

Christopher Ratte was located the day after police broke off their pursuit of him due to safety concerns.

Damian W. Chamberlain, 29, who grabbed a woman by the neck and wrestled her to the ground during an argument in June, also pled guilty to contacting the victim in violation of his bail conditions.

A dozen religious leaders gathered Tuesday near the Maine State House to read passages and pray for the victims and families impacted by last October's deadly shooting in Lewiston.

The Lincoln County Historical Association puts on an annual cider pressing event in early fall on the grounds of the only pre-Revolutionary War courthouse in Maine.

A tractor trailer ran off U.S. Route 201 in The Forks on Friday around 3 p.m., killing Leland Moore, 60, of Madison.

The first Woodworkers Tool Festival hosted by the Maine Cabin Masters and Kennebec Cabin Co. had dozens of woodworking vendors, demonstrations and classes.

A social media post helped authorities identify the suspect, police said.

Lisa Barney, 54, of Oakland, who earlier this month was arrested and charged with manslaughter in the death of a 4-month-old child, closed her family child care business the same day as the alleged incident that led to the death.

While an appeal process is ongoing, the state extended the contract with Penquis to the end of this year.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

A privately funded $5.9 million expansion allows the Children's Center of Augusta at 1 Alden Ave. to help more children, but need in Maine exceeds availability of services.

Regional School District 4 officials said they hoped more voters will show up and the budget will pass on a fourth attempt.

The vote is on Oct. 2 in a special town meeting before the regularly scheduled Select Board meeting.

Jeremy R. French, 46, who called the victim in domestic violence cases against him 100 times from jail, was sentenced to serve six months in prison, officials said, while additional charges were dismissed.

The Hallowell City Council passed a budget in July that raised property taxes by about 20%, but tried to cut from the budget after taxes were committed in response to pushback from residents on the tax increase.

Winthrop Interim Superintendent Becky Foley said she found the shortfall last week but wants to be more sure about exactly why the deficit happened before suggesting any budget adjustments.

Tyler Quirion, 20, is charged in connection with the killing Feb. 19 of Justin Iraola, 22, in Waterville.

Jon W. Devoe was identified by police as the motorcyclist killed in the Sunday morning crash on state Route 197.

Sophia Hayes was operating a motorcycle Friday afternoon that collided with an SUV on Watson Pond Road, officials said.

The crash occurred at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday near Percy's Hardware Co. at 483 Richmond Road, according to officials.

The brewery and taproom, which opened in August on the north shore of Cobbosseecontee Lake, take their inspiration from the local history of drinking and dancing.

The county's MD3 pilot program may run out of money at the end of the year. One of its doctors says that would be a mistake.

The crash happened at 1:04 p.m. and involved an SUV.

Interim Superintendent Becky Foley spotted the error in her second week on the job and told the Winthrop School Board Wednesday.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

The decision to take the buses out of commission for a two-week test period after the recall was made by Interim Superintendent Becky Foley.

A resident told city councilors that having one up-or-down vote on funding for a number of unrelated projects deprives voters of choice.

The highest bidders can take home one of 25 fiberglass sculptures celebrating the Kennebec River's leaping leviathans.

The crash happened about 3:15 p.m. Tuesday when a youth riding a moped turning across traffic into the Rusty Lantern parking lot was struck by a southbound pickup truck.

University of Maine System employees interrupted a legislative hearing on Tuesday to express their financial discomfort from what they consider low wages.

Statewide, 2,300 more direct care workers are needed to fill the coverage gap for those needing at-home or nursing home care, officials say.

Six candidates seeking election to the Augusta City Council and School Board in November are all newcomers to local politics.

Starting in 2026, the Maine DOT will repave and reconstruct U.S. Route 201 through Hallowell, excluding a portion of downtown where work has already been completed.

The Augusta Conservation Commission is advocating for the removal, including with the use of pesticides, of invasive plants.

The Friday evening wreck occurred as traffic was stopped because of a construction zone land closure, according to police.

PFAS levels in Hallowell water are below current state standards but well above new federal standards set to go into effect in 2029, causing residents to wonder about their exposure to the forever chemicals.

The district hired engineering firm Wright-Pierce in May to design and construct the facility, which officials said will bring PFAS in Hallowell's drinking water to non-detectable levels.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Formerly The Blind Pig, the newly-conceived restaurant 266 StillWater opened this week to offer a different variety in cuisine in a downsized, refurbished space.

The Walmart Supercenter at 201 Civic Center Drive was evacuated Thursday afternoon following discovery of a threatening message at the store.

The forecast suggests Thursday night might be a great opportunity to see the northern lights in parts of Maine.

Following a year and a half of gathering information from a variety of sources, Dresden's Education Exploratory Committee laid out four likely options for educating the town's students, including remaining in Regional School Unit 2 or closing the school altogether.

The event, put together by Winthrop schools graduate Aaron Wilmot, brought in several professional disc golf players to teach students the basics of the booming sport.

One resident answered the former superintendent's call to try to remove from office two school board members, but the town charter does not allow her to proceed.

City councilors have been making cuts to the municipal budget approved in July, intended to give residents tax relief. They were told Monday night that it's likely too late.

The Hallowell City Council voted to explore improvements to working conditions and pay during its Monday night meeting.

The announcement, written by an Augusta-area woman after her estranged mother's death, has been read around the world after appearing in the Kennebec Journal and the Morning Sentinel.

The forecast suggests Tuesday night might be a great opportunity to see the northern alerts in parts of Maine.

Workshops at Viles Arboretum taught beekeepers and would-be beekeepers about the world's smartest insect, including how bees communicate.

Annual Litchfield Fair kicked off Friday and continues through Sunday.

After extensive changes based on community feedback, the Maine School Administrative District 11 board of directors adopted the policy Thursday by a 10-2 vote.

The case was the latest positive test in what has been an active season for mosquito-borne illness, officials said.

During the public comment period of Wednesday night's School Board meeting, Jim Hodgkin called on the community to "remove members of the board who are problematic" and, in his view, not fulfilling their elected duties.

Becky Foley, a former superintendent for Regional School Unit 5, was hired Wednesday night by the Winthrop School Board.

The proposed cuts, aimed at reducing tax burden on residents, come with legal uncertainty and other potential costs.

Devon Pomelow, 24, of Benton, pleaded guilty to setting a fire at a Waterville duplex building occupied by five people.

Andrew Coombs, 33, of Portland died after driving his car into the oncoming lane on Route 27 and seriously injured four others, police said.

Warren L. Sidelinger, 42, has been charged in connection with the death of Joseph McKenna, who died two weeks after being attacked on Water Street in Augusta.

The fire burned through the roof of the Cape-style home and the attached garage, causing severe damage to the house and destroying belongings inside.

The 10-day Windsor Fair ended on Monday with a steer auction put on by the newest generation of farmers.

The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Officials: A Chevrolet Equinox driven by Klay Dunning, 18, of Chesterville hit a Hyundai Elantra driven by Jared Peaslee, 38, of Fairfield. Marietta Peaslee, 41, of Fairfield was inside the vehicle with Jared Peaslee.

The event was organized to support two local labor unions now in contract negotiations with their employers.

The fire caused 'significant' damage to the attic, but the house is still structurally sound, officials said.

Matthew A. Greenlaw, 42, of Augusta, was arrested after the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit received information from an undercover federal Homeland Security Investigations agent.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Residents voted in March to return the deed of the one-room former schoolhouse back to the town of Pittston, with the hope of hastening much-needed repairs and improvements.

John Neal, a longtime music educator, pianist and composer, was hired by KPAC in May to succeed Charles Milazzo. Earlier this week, the group held its first rehearsal of the season.

The University of Maine at Augusta's enrollment has increased steadily over the years, and the incoming class has 300 students, or 17% more than last year's entering class, according to officials.

Jim Hodgkin, who was planning to step down Nov. 1 and expecting to help with the school district's transition to an interim superintendent, was told last week that his contract would be terminated Aug. 30.

Gregory Fisher, 52, of Gardiner, faces charges of intentional or knowing murder in the July death of Alfred MacMaster, 75.

Sellers of animal bones, homemade jewelry, paintings, clothing and jars filled with everything in between line the walls at the center.

Derek Taylor, 40, who a judge said has an 'abysmal' criminal history, was found guilty, in two trials, of domestic violence aggravated assault, domestic violence assault and criminal threatening.

A mental competency evaluation of Spridal Hubiak, who is charged in the Dec. 27, 2023, stabbing death of Angela Bragg at Damon's Beverage, has been ordered.

A plan under consideration for the Buker Community Center at 22 Armory St. would replace residential air conditioning units with heat pumps, at a cost of about $108,000.

Colby Lemelin-Smith, 22, allegedly brandished a firearm during an incident in which two vehicles collided, the Maine State Police said.

Frank Wozniak was placed on paid administrative leave after he was charged with impersonating a public official in June.

The 10-day long fair runs through Sept. 2 and offers different events each day.

Firefighters from nearly a dozen towns in three counties turned out to knock down the fire Thursday on Somerville Road at a former industrial building that's now being used to grow cannabis.

Restoration work on doors and windows for the century-old downtown Augusta theater is to be followed by expansion and restoration of its stage.

The Hallowell City Council hopes to make a total of $300,000 in cuts to the budget it passed in July but repealed at its Aug. 12 meeting.

The new play space, which opened earlier this month, is one of only a few like it in central Maine.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Ryan Ansart, 22, and a coconspirator stole 15 firearms from J.R.'s Trading and Pawn Shop in 2022.

The fair, which runs through Labor Day, is offering public Wi-Fi this year and new events, including a manure-throwing contest.

The board heard a presentation Wednesday from a group that could help conduct the search to replace Jim Hodgkin, who resigned effective Nov. 1.

More permanent repairs on the highway bridge over Bond Brook are planned for September, officials said.

Zebbie Thomas, 32, was arrested after a short standoff on Sadies Way in Augusta and transported to the Kennebec County jail.

At Tuesday's public hearing and meeting, the board also said it would work toward renovating the historic building without the use of taxpayer money.

The homeowner at 41 Palmer Road shot a man after he allegedly broke down the home's door on Monday night, police said.

The repair to a failing bridge joint is expected to close one southbound lane for several hours Monday evening, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Tree Tops Housing is aimed at tenants earning 80% or less of the area's median income for the next 45 years, with specific rent limits set by Maine State Housing Authority.

Superintendent Michael Tracy said district officials will be conservative with spending this year, after spending on special education and transportation was higher than anticipated last year.

Photojournalist Anna Chadwick sat down with her mother, Laurel Chadwick, recently to reminisce about her time as a pig scramble champ at the Pittston Fair.

"I don’t agree with the direction that certain activities may move in the future, so it’s time to move on," the longtime selectman said in a press release.

All photos by Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

Overall, Regional School Unit 4 is down 17 people since July. Officials are confident they can fill the positions by the time school starts.

The $30.9 million project, which will replace the heavily trafficked bridge carrying U.S. Route 202 over Interstate 95 in Augusta, will impact traffic for about a year.

The victim was clearing a house lot off Windsor Neck Road when the incident occurred, according to Fire Chief Arthur Strout.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Several people spoke at Thursday night's special board meeting, including Maranacook Community High School teachers and a student who said communication from administration is lacking.

The new location for the discount retailer fills the space of the former Christmas Tree Shops, which closed last year.

A GoFundMe set up to help the family recover has reached over $4,600 in donations.

The 36th annual festival on Main Street will coincide with the monthly Vintage Vault market on Saturday.

After 17 months of traffic restrictions, the Rines Hill Bridge replacement is complete and Water Street is now open to two-way traffic at the south end of downtown Augusta.

Francis R. Wozniak, Manchester's full-time fire chief, has been on administrative leave since June 28 after being charged with impersonating a public official.

The departure of Christopher Lewis, the second Hallowell chief in two years to leave for a better-paying job in Gardiner, will reduce to three the number of officers in Hallowell.

The letter signed by school officials urged board members to make decisions on behalf of the district's mission to be a 'caring community dedicated to excellence.'

After massive pushback from residents, the council made more than $230,000 in cuts to bring the increase to about 12%, according to Mayor George Lapointe.

Police say Shari Allimah of Lewiston strangled and stabbed 90-year-old Gerald Marin, killing him at his Litchfield home.

Mayor George LaPointe will need to appoint a Hallowell resident to fill Martin's position until after the November election.

The prosecutor in the case says police are not happy with the plea deal, which requires Brent Elisens, 37, to undergo mental health treatment or face up to seven years in prison.

Gardiner officials are asking the public's input in finding a successor to Andrew R. Carlton, who is leaving the city's top administrative job to become director of public education for the Waterville Public Schools.

Mark J. Judd, 20, is described as a beloved member of the community who touched the lives of everyone who knew him, according to a GoFundMe page.

Group hopes to expand cultural offerings in Dresden by expanding the use of the former St. John's Episcopal Church.

Inaugural Hallowell Backyard Games features tests of strength and technique, with veterans helping newcomers.

The storm clearing the area Saturday was good news for several area events and for viewing the Perseid meteor shower, expected to peak Sunday night.

The Hallowell City Council recently approved an approximately 20% increase in property tax rates, which caused outrage among many residents.

The funds would be used to repair deteriorating streets and the Augusta Civic Center, officials said.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

Swift's three concerts in Vienna, Austria, were canceled after officials arrested two suspects accused of plotting an attack on the stadium, but Erin Fontaine, 19, of Augusta, had already boarded a plan when the announcements were made.

Superintendent Jim Hodgkin, who has served the Winthrop Public Schools for four years, will stay on through Nov. 1.

A water quality nonprofit is advising residents to avoid recreation in the lake with visible algae and where water is discolored or has an odor.

The vote on selling the Grange Hall by the end of 2025 will be held Nov. 5, the same day as the presidential election.

Police dog tracks men down after they fled into the woods.

One pickup truck caught fire and another rolled over in the early morning crash, authorities say.

City councilors voted 5-1 to allow recreational cannabis sales in Augusta, where previously only medical cannabis businesses were allowed.

Carl A. Hunter, 30, allegedly strangled and beat a woman at a Waterville hotel, causing her to temporarily lose consciousness.

The program, which guides officers to interact more safely with people who have emotional, developmental or behavioral disorders, has been adopted by over 30 agencies across Maine so far.

Fees for Augusta’s Hatch Hill landfill users are going up in September. The landfill is used by residents in eight surrounding communities.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

The Augusta Police Department temporarily closed the Kennebec River Rail Trail Wednesday to search for Jason Spaulding, 47, of Gardiner, who fled on foot after he was involved in an argument on Swan Street.

Unlike last year, no money is appropriated in the new spending plan for trash pickup.

Prosecutors say Chanda Lilly, now 35, who pleaded guilty to robbery in connection to the 2019 murder of Andrew Sherman in Richmond, violated probation by marrying Tyon Shuron, now 47, who was found not guilty of Sherman's murder.

'I knew Martha’s passing would leave a huge hole in our lives,' Liz Soares writes.

Gregory Roe, who told the court Tuesday that addiction to drugs prompted him to make bad decisions before apologizing to his victims and family, was sentenced to three years in prison.

Arthur E. True, 50, of Albion, was charged in January with allegations he copied computer information without authorization and stalked a co-worker while he worked as director of the agency, in April 2023.

A Winthrop man suffered minor burns while saving his dogs from a burning mobile home this weekend, officials say.

Police say Alfred MacMaster, 75, was killed by his son, Gregory Fisher, 52, who made his first court appearance Monday.

The temblor was reported at 2:50 p.m. Sunday in Gardiner, according to the United States Geological Survey.

A seaplane took people on tours around Merrymeeting Bay during Richmond Days.

Gregory Fisher, 52, of South Gardiner was arrested by detectives from the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit and charged with murder.

The police officers who responded to the report of a break-in believed that Liban Mohamed posed an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death when they returned fire and killed him, the attorney general's office said.

Safety concerns prompted the cancellation of Saturday's land tours on Swan Island, but a contracted ferry service will still bring people over to the island on weekends in August.

The Windsor farm is just getting started and showed people during Open Farm Day some of their stress release activities, like color with goats.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

The break-in to the Main Street shop was reported to police around 2:30 a.m. Thursday by guests staying in an Airbnb above the shop.

Sam Snow's pay had been withheld by the Select Board over concerns about his job performance.

The Silent Film Fest: The Show Must Go On is sponsored by the Augusta Colonial Theater. It is held this year at Johnson Hall Opera House in Gardiner.

This is the season in Maine when spiders are most active, and when you're most likely to see one, writes Dana Wilde.

Robert Brandt, 39, was sentenced in federal court to serve 18 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and pay $18,000 in restitution as a result of his conviction for accessing child sexual assault material.

Randolph residents to consider a municipal spending plan that represents a less-than-1% increase over the current fiscal year.

From flags to trash art to trees, this year's Old Hallowell Day festivities had an emphasis on renewing old traditions while beginning new ones.

The crash was one of two involving Maine State Police cruisers on Friday, authorities say.

Officials are considering allowing recreational marijuana businesses in Augusta where only medical marijuana businesses are currently allowed.

Road closures and traffic pattern changes will accommodate about 2,000 athletes and spectators next Sunday for the 2024 Ironman 70.3 Maine.

Nathaniel White of Fairfield will take on Rep. Scott Cyrway, an Albion Republican, in the Senate District 16 race in November. Democrats in the Pittston area also tapped Judith Tunkle of Dresden to face Rep. Michael Lemelin, R-Chelsea.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

The District 1 seat on the City Council became vacant in June when longtime City Councilor Terry Berry died.

A civil engineering firm has evaluated Jewett Road and presented three options for repairs.

I’m attached, and that concerns me a bit, but not enough to make me go on a cleansing “phone fast,” Liz Soares says.

Jason Hewett, 39, of Augusta, is charged with eluding an officer, domestic assault and manslaughter, following a standoff of more than four hours that closed Route 3 between Churchill and Bolton Hill roads in both directions.

Federal authorities in Pennsylvania, in announcing indictments against the "Fentanyl Robbery Gang," say the group used dating sites to connect with victims, then would drug and rob them.

Road Commissioner Sam Snow has been at the center of municipal controversy over the past year regarding the services he provides the town.

Three people suffered serious injuries, with one having to be taken by a LifeFlight of Maine helicopter to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Organizers of the show, believed to be the last before a new 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases goes into effect in August, said proceeds would go toward funding a legal challenge of the law.

Here are some of our favorite Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel photos from the past week.

The town of Manchester plans to open an investigation into Francis R. Wozniak, 42, after he received a summons in June for impersonating a law enforcement officer.

Jack Turcotte, the consultant, is urging a town withdrawal committee to slow down and establish priorities, aiming for a vote in 2025.

After a previous budget proposal failed at the ballot in June, about $600,000 was cut. Residents on Wednesday added back about $73,000, then approved the budget for a July 30 referendum.

Irineu B. Goncalves, 35, of Revere, Massachusetts, was convicted last month of strangling and beating the mother of his children in June 2023 outside a Waterville hotel. 

The Town Council voted against the proposed spending plan in early June, sending it back to the School Board.

Before approving the budget, city councilors plan to seek cuts to reduce the hit on taxpayers.

Mayor George LaPointe made the comment in a conversation that was recorded without his knowledge and shared on social media.