1. Gregory Nesbit, the landlord at the center of one of Portland’s deadliest apartment fires, is going to jail for 90 days. Six people died in the fall of 2014 at the building Nesbit owned on Noyes Street. Nesbit was acquitted of manslaughter charges, but was found guilty of not having windows that were up to code on the third floor of the building.
(News Center Maine)
2. New Hampshire is trying to lure more out-of-staters to its liquor stores, using a promotion that Maine-based critics say is a cheap shot. From now until Labor Day, out-of-state residents can get up to a 13 percent discount for alcohol purchases at state-owned liquor and wine outlets across New Hampshire. The “No Taxation on our Libations!” promotion is the first time that New Hampshire has offered a specific discount to lure out-of-state shoppers. Residents of Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont can receive a discount equal to double their home state’s sales tax. For Mainers, that means 11 percent off a purchase of up to $149.99. It is against Maine law to bring more than one gallon of spirits, one gallon of wine and three gallons of beer across the border at one time. Violators can be fined at least $500 and have their illegally transported alcohol seized by the state.
(Press Herald)
3. A bird species believed to have been seen only once before in the United States was spotted this week in Biddeford, much to the delight of Maine’s birding community and many enthusiasts across the country. According to Maine Audubon, a woman posted a photo of a “weird looking hawk” she spotted Monday along Maddox Pond Road in Biddeford, believed to be the first such record of any sighting in Maine. It looked like a great black hawk, a large raptor native to the Neotropics in Central and South America, an area that’s at least 2,000 miles southeast of Biddeford at its closest distance. Doug Hitchcox, a staff naturalist at Maine Audubon, confirmed the bird’s existence after spotting it roosting in a short pine, Thursday, near a pond off Lily Pond Road.
(News Center Maine)
4. Mookie Betts homered in the ninth inning to complete his first career cycle during the Toronto Blue Jays’ 8-5 win over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night. Betts is the 21st Red Sox player to hit for the cycle and the first in the major leagues this season.
(Boston Sports)
5. Saturday, September 1 (Labor Day Weekend) Hot 104.7 & Grass Monkey Present another #HOTSHOW starring Lil Jon at the State Theatre. Just added King Combs and Caye. Tickets are ON SALE HERE! Charge by phone at 800-745-3000, in person at the Port City Music Hall box office Wednesday-Friday 10AM-5PM or online at Hot1047Maine.com.
