1. A devastating earthquake rocked central Italy early Wednesday, collapsing homes on top of residents as they slept. At least 37 people were reported dead in three hard-hit towns where rescue crews raced to dig survivors out of the rubble, but the toll was expected to rise as crews reached homes in more remote hamlets. (PH)
2. A decision will likely be made Wednesday on the future of the Sarah Long Bridge, which remains closed due to a mechanical problem. Motorists have used the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge for 76 years, but traffic came to a halt Sunday. Drivers said they are concerned about increased traffic on I-95 due to the bridge, particularly on weekends. (WMTW)
3. The saga of Wessie, the large snake that may or may not be hanging out on the banks of the Presumpscot River in Westbrook, has captured imaginations nationally. That frenzy was renewed over the weekend with the discovery of a large snake skinnear the Presumpscot River. On Monday, police Capt. Sean Lally took calls from reporters from CNN, USA Today, Huffington Post and the Boston Globe, prompting him to joke that he would need to hire someone to handle Wessie’s publicity. (PH)
4. The Cincinnati Zoo has taken down it’s Twitter accounts after being barraged with memes about Harambe, the gorilla that was killed at the zoo in May. This comes after the zoo director’s Twitter account was hacked Saturday night. Asked about the Twitter disruption, a zoo spokesman said, “Thanks. We know.” (WCSH)
5. It’s safer to kiss your dog than it is to kiss your significant other, according to a new report from dog fence company Havahart Wireless. Researchers determined that the human mouth has 1.4 times more bacteria than a dog’s mouth–which equates to about 2,000,000 germs. (People)
Made Hot in Maine by Neil’s Motors on Rt. 111 in Biddeford.
