1. A federal judge has denied a motion by Gov. Paul LePage to dismiss a suit filed by two Maine women who were blocked from the Republican governor’s Facebook page after they made comments critical of him. Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. denied LePage’s motion to have the suit dismissed in a ruling issued in U.S. District Court on Wednesday. Woodcock in his ruling pointed out that the parties do not agree on whether the Facebook page is the governor’s official page that he uses to discuss policy issues or whether it is a “holdover campaign page that the governor uses to communicate with his base and his base with him. Is it somewhere in between?” (Press Herald)
2. Mosquitoes in York County have tested positive for West Nile virus and Mainers should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said. The positive test is the first direct confirmation this year that the disease is being carried by mosquitoes in Maine. Officials say the best ways to avoid mosquito bites are to get rid of standing water and to wear insect repellent. (Press Herald)
3. Animal rights organization PETA said Wednesday it had asked the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) for permission to build a “roadside memorial” along Route 1 near the site of an Aug. 22 crash in Brunswick involving a truck carrying live lobster. PETA says the 5-foot tombstone memorial would urge passersby to “Try Vegan.” “Countless sensitive crustaceans experienced an agonizing death when this truck rolled over and their bodies came crashing down onto the highway,” said PETA Executive VP Tracy Reiman. “PETA hopes to pay tribute to these individuals who didn’t want to die with a memorial urging people to help prevent future suffering by keeping.” (NewsCenterMaine)
4. Would you name your baby after your favorite fast food? KFC is offering $11,000 to the parents of the first child to be born on September 9 and named “Harland.” (Harland was the late Colonel Sanders’ first name and he was also born on September 9.) The amount of $11,000 is in honor of the the fried chicken’s 11 famous herbs and spices, and is meant to go toward the child’s college tuition. When a reporter from The Atlantic asked whether the promotion was real, KFC answered, “as real as a crying newborn baby.” (The Atlantic)
5. 2 DAYS AWAY!! 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 NOW. 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.
Made Hot in Maine by the US Army. The training and salary you get aren’t the only ways they strengthen you for tomorrow. Money for education, health care, vacation time, and special pay for special duties.
