PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – A Maine lawmaker says New England’s largest egg producer is in negotiations to sell its operations to Minnesota-based Land o’ Lakes.

The possible sale of Jack DeCoster’s egg operations in Turner, Maine, came to light during legislative debate of a bill that would remove the right of DeCoster’s workers to unionize. A spokesman for DeCoster confirmed to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network that Land o’ Lakes expressed an interest.

Chris Grimbilas, DeCoster’s assistant, said Friday the operations are profitable and that there have been suitors. He declined to address Land o’ Lakes, other than to say there’s been no deal.

Land o’ Lakes said it doesn’t comment on “rumors or speculation in the marketplace.”

Don Hoenig, Maine state veterinarian, called the negotiations “the worst-kept secret in agriculture right now.”

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

GORHAM, Maine (AP) — Ron Paul said Saturday the Republican presidential race has “a ways to go” and he doesn’t intend to get out or get behind another candidate anytime soon.

The Texas congressman was campaigning Saturday in Maine, which holds caucuses beginning Feb. 4. He spoke to an overflow crowd at the University of Southern Maine and held an outdoor rally outside the famed L.L. Bean store in Freeport. He picked up the endorsement of Linda Bean, the granddaughter of the Bean company founder and a prominent Republican activist in the state.

Paul told reporters that it didn’t make sense for him to campaign in Florida, which holds its primary Tuesday and awards all its 50 delegates to the winner. Polling indicates Mitt Romney is leading the field there.

“Some other campaigns have many, many millions of dollars to run a campaign,” Paul said. “We maximize the delegates the way we’re doing it.”

Paul planned to campaign next week in other caucus states, including Nevada, which also holds its caucus on Feb. 4, and Colorado and Minnesota, which hold caucuses Feb. 7.

Paul dismissed suggestions he would back any of his GOP rivals.

“I think that’s premature. We have a ways to go,” Paul said, adding he was glad they were speaking favorably about some of his libertarian-leaning views.

“I’ll work with anybody who wants to come in the direction of Constitutional government,” Paul said.

He noted that Newt Gingrich had endorsed his views on monetary policy in a nationally televised debate this week. Paul has called for the Federal Reserve to be audited and ultimately eliminated, and wants the value of the dollar tied to gold.

Paul said he hoped the former House speaker and others would also adopt his noninterventionist foreign policy views, which are far outside the Republican Party mainstream.

“If he says ‘I agree with Ron Paul, we should bring the troops home from Afghanistan,’ my ears would pop up,” Paul said.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Mitt Romney hoped to reinvigorate his presidential prospects with a victory in Maine’s GOP caucuses Saturday while Ron Paul reached for his first triumph in what shaped up as a two-man race because neither Newt Gingrich nor Rick Santorum actively competed in the state .

This contest received far less attention than others on the calendar so far, but emerged as a crucial opportunity for Romney, the early front-runner now trying to stabilize his campaign after embarrassing rout Tuesday in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri. Santorum won all three, further exposing the problems Romney faces in uniting conservatives behind his bid to challenge President Barack Obama.

“I want to ask for your help today,” the former Massachusetts governor told Portland caucus-goers in a packed school auditorium. “If I get your vote, it’ll help me become our nominee. If I become our nominee, I’m going to beat this guy and bring America back.”

Romney visited two caucus sites Saturday after abandoning plans to take the day off. The change was evidence that his campaign can ill-afford another loss, particularly in a state so close to home and one that he won easily in his unsuccessful 2008 campaign for the nomination.

He also held a town hall-style meeting in Maine on Friday night. It was the first time he’d taken voter questions since campaigning in South Carolina last month.

But the stakes in Maine may be higher for Paul, the libertarian-leaning Texas congressman who has yet to win a single contest despite his vocal and deeply committed band of supporters. Paul hinted Saturday he may not stay in the race if his strategy of focusing on small, lower-cost caucus states such as Maine did not begin to bear fruit.

“I’m going to stay in as long as I’m in the race. And right now I’m in the race,” Paul said when asked whether he would stay in the race until the national convention in August.

Maine’s caucuses began Feb. 4 and have continued throughout the week. Party leaders planned to announce the results Saturday evening.

But there may be some questions about the results, particularly if the vote totals in the low-turnout contest were close, as expected.

Some Maine municipalities don’t vote until Sunday. Also, Washington County, in the state’s rural eastern region, postponed its caucuses until Feb. 18 because of a snow storm, disappointing some participants.

Helen Saccone, of Lubec, said those who wanted to caucus there should have had the chance. “It’s Maine. Life goes on when it snows in Maine,” she said.

The rural region is likely stronger territory for Paul, who has been more active than Romney in the state.

Maine’s nonbinding presidential straw poll had drawn virtually none of the hype surrounding recent contests in Florida and Nevada, where candidates poured millions of dollars into television and radio advertising.

Romney’s campaign had placed only a small cable television ad buy airing Friday and Saturday, at a cost of several thousand dollars. But he sent surrogates to the state in recent days and hosted a telephone town hall in addition to Friday’s campaign stop.

Romney consistently declined to criticize Paul, however.

Instead, he lobbed indirect criticism at Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, and Gingrich, a former House speaker, by repeating intensifying rhetoric of recent days that paints them as tainted Washington insiders.

“I have never spent a day in Washington working,” Romney said. “I expect to go there, get it fixed, and then go home.”

Paul made three appearances in the state Saturday, producing cheers and chanting at an early stop in Sanford. He acknowledged the significance of the Maine contest for his candidacy in particular.

Romney will “be better off if he wins it and I’m going to be a lot better off if I win,” Paul said. “So this will give me momentum and it will just maintain his. It’s a pretty important state as far as I’m concerned.”

But the contest comes at a critical time for Romney as well. Eager to prove he can assuage remaining skepticism among his party’s right flank, he said in a Washington speech Friday that he was “a severely conservative Republican governor.” Romney echoed that message in a subsequent campaign stop in Portland and in multiple appearances Saturday.

“In my home with my mom and dad I learned conservative values,” he said. “In my faith I learned conservative values. And in my business.”

Paul counts many conservatives as supporters as well. He won more than 18 percent of the Maine vote in his 2008 presidential bid, and his support has grown since then in a state whose electorate isn’t afraid to back candidates outside the mainstream.

With the next contests not until Feb. 28 in Arizona and Michigan, Romney hoped for a positive showing after arguably his worst week of the year.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Mitt Romney narrowly won Maine’s Republican caucuses, state party officials announced Saturday, providing his campaign with a much-needed boost after three straight losses earlier this week. But the former Massachusetts governor won just a plurality of the Maine vote, suggesting he still has work to do to unite GOP voters behind his candidacy.

At a gathering in Portland, state Republican Chairman Charlie Webster announced Romney had won with 2,190 votes, or 39 percent, compared to 1,996 — about 36 percent — for Ron Paul, the only other candidate to aggressively compete in the state. Rick Santorum received 989 votes and Newt Gingrich won 349, but neither actively campaigned there. Other candidates drew 61 votes.

The totals reflected about 84 percent of the state’s precincts. Webster insisted that any caucus results that come in after Saturday wouldn’t be counted no matter how close the vote.

“Some caucuses decided not to participate in this poll and will caucus after this announcement,” Webster said. “Their results will not be factored in. The absent votes will not be factored into this announcement after the fact.”

Romney’s win, combined with his victory in the presidential straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference in Washington hours earlier, helped slow an embarrassing skid that began Tuesday when he lost contests in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado to Santorum. The twin triumphs dampened the perception — for now — that conservatives were unwilling to support Romney.

Romney’s campaign has demonstrated skill and flexibility in winning a big state like Florida and eking out a victory in a low-turnout contest like Maine, where organization and voter contact are essential. Out of Maine’s 258,000 registered Republicans, nearly 5,600 cast ballots in the weeklong contest.

But questions about Romney’s durability as the party’s presumed front-runner persist. Fully 61 percent of Maine voters selected another candidate than Romney in a state practically in his back yard. And Romney’s showing was down considerably from 2008, when he won 51 percent of the vote.

Maine’s caucuses began Feb. 4 and continued throughout the week. Several communities elected to hold their caucuses at a later date.

Caucuses in Washington County that had been scheduled for Saturday were postponed until Feb. 18 because of a major snowstorm that blanketed the region. Earlier, party Executive Director Michael Quatrano said county officials had been told the results of that caucus would not count toward the total.

But Washington County GOP Chairman Chris Gardner objected, saying he had known his county’s tally wouldn’t be included in Saturday’s announcement but didn’t realize it wouldn’t be counted at all. He said he had called state party leaders and “expressed my complete and utter dismay.”

Gardner, a Romney supporter, said the snowstorm had left him no choice but to postpone the caucuses.

“Refusal to reconsider under those circumstances would be extremely disheartening,” he told The Associated Press. “I trust that the party will make the right decision here.”

He added, “We will proceed next Saturday. We’ll have our vote and we are going to submit it to the state party for them to reconsider.”

Many Paul supporters were angry.

“There’s a very good chance that you’ll find that Washington County goes for Ron Paul,” said Mark Willis, a county coordinator for the Paul campaign.

His wife, Violet, added, “We don’t want to be disenfranchised.”

Webster told reporters there were less than 200 votes in Washington County and he doubted that including them would have changed the outcome.

Speaking to supporters in Portland, Paul expressed disappointment that only a portion of the state’s caucuses had counted toward the total.

“I wish all the caucuses had met today,” Paul said, adding, “It’s almost like we could call it a tie.”

Romney was attending a fundraiser in California late Saturday, after visiting caucus sites in Maine earlier in the day, where he pressed voters for their backing.

“I thank the voters of Maine for their support,” Romney said in a statement late Saturday. “I’m committed to turning around America. And I’m heartened to have the support of so many good people in this great state.”

Romney visited two caucus sites Saturday after abandoning plans to take the day off. The change made clear that his campaign could ill-afford another loss.

Romney also held a town hall-style meeting in Maine on Friday night. It was the first time he’d taken voter questions since campaigning in South Carolina last month.

Maine’s nonbinding presidential straw poll had drawn virtually none of the hype surrounding recent contests in Florida and Nevada, where candidates poured millions of dollars into television and radio advertising.

Romney’s campaign had placed only a small cable television ad buy airing Friday and Saturday, at a cost of several thousand dollars. But he sent surrogates to the state in recent days and hosted a telephone town hall in addition to Friday’s campaign stop.

Romney consistently declined to criticize Paul, however.

Instead, he lobbed indirect criticism at Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, and Gingrich, a former House speaker, by repeating intensifying rhetoric of recent days that paints them as tainted Washington insiders.

“I have never spent a day in Washington working,” Romney said. “I expect to go there, get it fixed and then go home.”

He added, “In my home with my mom and dad I learned conservative values. In my faith I learned conservative values. And in my business.”

Romney won 11 delegates in Maine and Texas Rep. Ron Paul won 10, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich were shut out.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

(AP) – Foes and supporters of same-sex marriage are gearing up for five costly and bruising statewide showdowns in the coming months on an issue that evenly divides Americans.

It’s an election year subplot sure to stir up heated emotions — even beyond the confines of North Carolina, Minnesota, Maryland, Maine and Washington state. National advocacy groups will be deeply engaged, and advertising is likely to surface from each side that outrages the other.

“It’s crunch time,” said Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage, the paramount fundraiser for opponents of gay marriage. “We view it as a massive opportunity for a national referendum.”

Brown predicts same-sex marriage will be rebuffed in all five states, while gay-marriage supporters hope they can score at least a few victories and break a long losing streak. Since 1998, 31 states have had ballot measures related to same-sex marriage, and in every state the opponents ended up prevailing.

However, the most recent vote was in 2009. Gay-rights activists believe public opinion is moving inexorably in their direction, citing both national polls and policy developments such as repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military.

“The events of past few years are bringing new energy and vigor to our side that allows our messaging to constantly evolve,” said Fred Sainz of the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay-rights group. “The other side has remained very stale and stagnant.”

A look at the states likely to vote on marriage this year:

—In North Carolina on its May 8 primary day and in Minnesota on Election Day in November, voters will weigh in on constitutional amendments placed on the ballot by Republican-controlled legislatures that would ban gay marriage. Neither state allows same-sex marriage now, but supporters say the amendments — similar to those approved in 29 other states — would prevent courts from empowering same-sex couples to wed in the future.

—In Maine, gay-marriage supporters have placed a bill on the Nov. 6 ballot to legalize same-sex marriage. The legislature approved a similar bill in 2009 but it was overturned by 53 percent of the voters in a referendum that fall. The key question is whether voter sentiment has changed enough in three years to reverse the outcome.

—In Maryland and Washington, foes of same-sex marriage are expected to gather enough signatures in the coming weeks to place measures on the Nov. 6 ballot that would overturn recently passed same-sex marriage laws. The laws are strongly backed by Democratic Govs. Martin O’Malley of Maryland and Christine Gregoire of Washington — both Roman Catholics — and strongly opposed by the Catholic hierarchy.

Washington may provide gay-marriage supporters with their best chance of victory. It has the only electorate in the nation that has voted to grant gay couples the same rights as heterosexual married couples — upholding a comprehensive domestic-partnership law in 2009.

“We can’t take anything for granted — we have to make the case,” said Evan Wolfson, president of the national advocacy group Freedom to Marry. “We believe Washington is a state we can we win.”

Freedom to Marry is among numerous national organizations girding for what Wolfson calls “multimillion-dollar slugfests” in the five states. It’s launching a “Win More States” fund with a goal of raising $3 million for the campaigns.

Bigger contributions are likely to come from the Human Rights Campaign in support of gay marriage and from the National Organization for Marriage opposing it, although neither group has publicly detailed its spending plans as they ponder how to deploy resources for multiple battlefronts.

“It’s going to be a big challenge, but I think we’re up to it,” said NOM’s Brown. “All we need is enough to get our message out.”

Sainz said the Human Rights Campaign was encouraged by the zeal of O’Malley and Gregoire.

“These governors have put their heart and soul into these laws, and are serious about defending them at ballot box,” he said. “That’s a factor the opponents don’t have.”

The opponents do have the Catholic Church leadership firmly on their side. One example: the Minnesota Catholic Conference has already contributed at least $750,000 for the amendment campaign, with more to come.

“It’s Democracy 101,” said Jason Adkins, the conference’s executive director. “Our clergy has a duty to inform our people about the consequences of redefining marriage.”

In Maryland, Maine and Washington, Catholic leaders also have pledged active campaigns.

In two of the most recent defeats of gay marriage, a California-based firm, Schubert Flint Public Affairs, played a key role. In California in 2008, when voters passed Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage, and also in Maine in 2009, the firm’s strategists oversaw ad campaigns warning that “homosexual marriage” would be taught in public schools.

Gay-rights backers denounced the ads as inaccurate scare-mongering, but they were widely credited with influencing the outcome of the votes.

Schubert Flint has been signed up to provide tactical advice for the gay-marriage opponents in Minnesota, and a leader of the Maine campaign against gay marriage indicated he’s open to doing likewise.

“We’ll likely use some of the same people we used before,” said the Rev. Bob Emrich, chairman of the Christian Civic League of Maine. “They did a good job last time. They suffered a lot of criticism, but at the end of the day we won.”

Brown said the National Organization for Marriage planned to continue with aggressive ads.

“The other side is going to scream … but this is no time for retreat,” he said. “Whatever we do, we’ve gotten to a point where many on the opposite side resort to calling folks bigots who disagree with them.”

Sainz contends that gay-marriage supporters will be more adept this year in countering opponents’ ads.

“With every passing day, their arsenal of dirty tricks is more tired and predictable,” he said.

Maine, Washington and Maryland all could make history by affirming same-sex marriage via popular vote. In the jurisdictions that now allow gay marriage — Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Iowa and the District of Columbia — it resulted from court rulings or legislation.

Barack Obama won Maine, Washington, Maryland and Minnesota in 2008, and gay-rights forces hope that high turnout by voters seeking to re-elect him might help the same-sex marriage cause.

In Maryland, however, there’s a possibility that numerous black voters — even if they back Obama — might vote against same-sex marriage. A recent Washington Post poll found that among Democrats in Maryland, 71 percent of whites supported gay marriage compared to 41 percent of blacks.

Obama, while supportive of gay rights, says he is still “evolving” in regard to gay marriage, and it’s unclear to what extent he might speak out on the ballot measures. Meanwhile, gay-rights groups are urging the Democratic National Committee to contribute funds to the state campaigns.

In Washington state, the measure to quash same-sex marriage would share the ballot with a proposal to legalize recreational use of marijuana — a combination which gay-marriage opponent Joseph Backholm hopes will aid his side.

“Having those two things together there — I think it will give people some pause,” said Backholm, director of the Family Policy Institute of Washington.

However, he acknowledged the possibility that Washington voters could break the 31-state streak on gay-marriage measures.

“Nobody wants to be the first to lose,” he said. “But that’s a reality that people in Washington state are thinking about.”

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Jack Connolly, Caleb Herbert and Jake Hendrickson scored second-period goals as defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 5-2 win over Maine on Saturday in the Northeast Regional.

The Bulldogs will face top-seeded Boston College on Sunday night in the regional final, a matchup of the past two NCAA champions. The Eagles won their 16th straight game earlier in the day, beating Air Force 2-0 on a pair of goals by Chris Kreider.

J.T. Brown added a third-period goal for the Bulldogs (25-9-6) and Hendrickson sealed it with an empty-netter in the final minute.

Spencer Abbott and Matt Mangene scored for Maine (23-14-3).

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – The Human Rights Campaign is donating $225,000 to Mainers United for Marriage as part of its national campaign in support of gay marriage.

The donation is part of $1 million in contributions to gay marriage campaigns in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington.

Mainers United for Marriage said the Human Rights Campaign has contributed $7.3 million to legislative and electoral marriage issues in 2011-2012.

HRC President Chad Griffin said voters in the four states have a chance to make history in supporting marriage equality at the polls.

Maine voters are voting on a ballot Nov. 6 that legalizes same-sex marriage.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A gay rights group on Monday urged President Barack Obama to speak in support of same-sex marriage in Maine and three other states that have ballot initiatives on it next month.

A Los Angeles-based organization called LegalizeLove.com said it plans to air a one-minute TV ad in those states using Obama’s own words when he declared support for gay marriage.

To drive home their call for Obama to speak out, two of the group’s organizers were delivering a bullhorn and a wedding cake with two grooms to Obama’s campaign headquarters in Portland on Monday as the first stop of a campaign that will visit all four states with marriage votes on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Maine, Maryland and Washington are holding up-or-down same-sex marriage referendums. Minnesota’s ballot measure proposes a constitutional ban on gay marriage.

Those states are all expected to go for Obama in the presidential election, and the TV ads will help make sure the president’s support for gay marriage is “heard loud and clear,” said Eduardo Cisneros, who is traveling his partner, Luke Montgomery, from state to state in a Volkswagen Beetle plastered with more than 1,000 “Legalize Love” bumper stickers.

“Because of a tight national race, we understand the president might not be able to hammer home his support for gay marriage himself, so we are stepping in to make sure that this new TV spot using his own words gets that message out no matter what,” he said in a statement.

Obama last May announced his full support for the right of same-sex couples to wed, serving as a rallying point for gay marriage supporters.

In April, before Obama vowed his support for gay marriage, an Obama campaign spokeswoman in Minnesota released a statement saying the president opposed the proposed constitutional amendment in that state. But he has not voiced support for the specific ballot initiatives in the other states.

Mainers United for Marriage, the organization spearheading the gay marriage campaign in Maine, took Obama’s announcement as blanket support for gay-marriage initiatives, said spokesman David Farmer. The president’s words have already had a positive impact on the campaign, he said.

“We feel like we have his support,” Farmer said. “He was pretty straightforward.”

To drive home Obama’s support for same-sex marriage, Cisneros and Montgomery have produced a TV ad that features gay and lesbian couples in wedding dresses and tuxedoes with Obama speech quotes edited together.

They said they plan to buy air time in all four states.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

ESTERO, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Lomberg’s first career goal in the second period was the game-winner as Maine beat Minnesota-Duluth 1-0 Friday in the semifinal of the Florida College Classic men’s hockey tournament.

Lomberg’s short-handed goal at 13:26 of the second period was all the Black Bears (3-11-2) needed to reach the championship game. They are the defending champion and have won five titles in 12 previous appearances.

Maine goalie Martin Ouellette made 31 saves against Minnesota-Duluth (7-9-3), including 23 in the final two periods.

Maine is 2-3-2 in its last seven games, all of which have been decided by one goal or less.

UMD is 4-2-1 in its last seven games.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

RANGELEY, Maine (AP) — Riders didn’t let the massive snowstorm stop a snowmobile parade in Maine on Saturday, but the bad weather meant the effort fell far short of breaking the record.

All told there were 157 snowmobiles for the event, which raised close to $7,000 for cystic fibrosis research, said Judy Morton of the Rangeley Chamber of Commerce. To the south, the storm dumped more than 30 inches of snow and many riders were unable to make it to the Rangeley region.

The existing record of 820 snow sleds in a parade was set in 2004 along a 29-mile course in Roseau, Minn., according to Guinness World Records.

For Saturday’s event a few miles from the New Hampshire state line, riders gathered in Oquossoc village and rode a 30-mile route that took them to Rangeley village and back to Oquossoc, where a band was providing outdoor entertainment. A 5-year-old girl from Lewiston who has cystic fibrosis led the parade.

All proceeds will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Northern New England.

The event was organized by the chamber, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, area businesses and others, Morton said.

The group is already planning another record attempt on Feb. 8, 2014.

Jim Milligan, one of the organizers, said he hopes to make the snowmobile parade an annual event. He also hopes that other snowmobile rides and events can be organized in the area to raise money for other charitable and nonprofit organizations.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

FORT KENT, Maine (AP) — A Minnesota man won a 250-mile sled dog race through the wilds of northern Maine that’s billed as the longest and highest-caliber race in the eastern United States.

Ryan Anderson, a 31-year-old carpenter from Ray, Minn., finished the 250-mile Irving Can-Am Crown race in Fort Kent at about 4 a.m. Monday in a running time of 31 hours, 22 minutes, 16 seconds. Anderson also won the 2012 race.

“He seems to have tunnel vision when the race starts, and his goal is the finish line,” said race spokesman Beurmond Banville. “He likes to get there first.”

Denis Tremblay, of St. Michel des Saints, Quebec, finished second, about 41 minutes behind. Laura Daugereau, of Port Gamble, Wash., was third.

Besides the 250-mile race, the 21st annual Can-Am Crown Sled Dog Races also featured 30- and 60-mile races that were run on Saturday.

Thirteen teams from the U.S. and Canada entered the featured 250-mile race, which serves as a qualifier for Alaska’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Including mandatory layovers, the race can take more than two days to complete on a course that takes the mushers south from Fort Kent to Portage, where racers turn west toward the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. They then turn north toward the town of Allagash and then east through the woods and back to Fort Kent.

Five teams dropped out during the race, and the final competitor — a first-time racer — wasn’t expected to finish until Tuesday morning.

Anderson won $4,500 for finishing first, plus extra money for winning different stages of the five-stage competition and for completing the race. The total purse among all mushers was $29,000.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

(credit: UWE ZUCCHI/AFP/Getty Images)

SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a revision in the critical habitat designation for a species of lynx listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The proposal would designate more than 41,000 square miles as critical habitat within the states of Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Wyoming for the Canada lynx.

As part of this proposal, federal officials are considering excluding more than 1,900 square miles of tribal lands within the states of Maine, Montana and Washington.

The new critical habitat adds some land as well, including some private timber lands in northern Maine, as well as Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service land in northeastern Wyoming. The lynx have been protected since 2000.

The Center for Biological Diversity is applauding the Fish and Wildlife proposal, saying the extra space could help the rare wildcat whose population has been reduced by trapping and habitat loss.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Thanks to everyone who sent in Good Question suggestions this week! Please keep them coming! In the meantime, I wanted to answer a few that didn’t make air.

1) Rosy has a question I’ve never thought about before: Why do people put an “s” on the end of email, as in emails? We don’t say we are going to pick up our snail mails from the post office.

Good point, Rosy. I looked up the definition of email in the dictionary and found three definitions – two for nouns and one for a verb. The first noun definition is for the entire system as a whole (like mail), and the second definition is for an individual message (like a letter).

So, people can add the “s” if they’re using the second definition. They can also use this term as a verb, as in, “I’m going to email Santa Claus with my Christmas list.”

2) Steve from Backus asked: What makes a river a river, a creek a creek, a stream a stream or a brook a brook?

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a stream is a general term for a flowing body of water, so it would encompass rivers, brooks and creeks. Then, I went to the great state of Maine to help break it down further. A river is a large freshwater surface stream, a brook is a small stream and a creek lies somewhere in the middle.

3) Dawn wants to know: How does the highway department determine where “Deer Crossing” signs are put?

MnDOT tells me they actually stopped putting up “Deer Crossing” signs back in 2005 because they found it’s not effective in reducing deer-vehicle crashes. So at this point, it’s MnDOT’S policy to no longer install those signs and take down existing signs as they reach the end of their useful lives. Here’s a link to the MnDOT fact sheet on signs for further information.

4) And Craig asked me a question on a topic of which I know nothing about: men’s fashion. What’s the difference between a sport jacket, blazer and sport coat?

For this question, I completely defer to the experts at Modern Men Daily. The suit jacket is the most formal, lighter and paired with pants. The sport coat is bought on its own and is usually heavier. And the blazer is what I picture when I think of East Coast prep schools.

Sedona, Arizona

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The cooler temperatures in February mean this is the perfect time to visit the stunningly beautiful city of Sedona, Arizona. This is the perfect trip for anyone that loves the outdoors, as it offers a lot of amazingly scenic hikes and views. If you aren’t the hiking type, you can also rent a fun pink Jeep and head off-road to check out all the sites. The guided tours offered through Pink Jeep Tours will take you through the stunning rock formations in Sedona, including Capitol Butte, Doe Mesa, Chimney Rock and Lizard Head. When you are done exploring the wilderness, relax at the beautiful Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa, or even seek out a psychic to tell you what the future has in store for you and your love. Yes, Sedona happens to have tons of spiritualists in residence here, as the area’s large rock formations are supposed to have special energy and powers.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

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Take advantage of the lower gas prices and drive into Colorado Springs for a wonderful trip that is great for the whole family. In addition to the beautiful mountains that surround the city, you’ll find plenty of great activities for everyone. Check out the Air Force Academy and the Olympic Training Center, where you can get tours and learn more about the historic events that have all happened in these locations. You can go for a hike in the Garden of the Gods to catch the towering red rock formations, or wander into Manitou Springs to check out the amazing food and adorable shops, as you can easily spend hours just perusing this lovely little town. The best part? Visiting any of these locations is totally free, which leaves you more money for a special hotel—like the famous Broadmoor Hotel or Cheyenne Mountain Resort—for the two nights that you’ll be in Colorado Springs.

Austin, Texas

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If you are a fan of live music, who loves discovering new sounds and learning about up-and-coming musicians, then bring your sweetie to Austin, Texas. This southern city is often considered the “live music capital of the world.” Of course, the dining in Austin is also something worth visiting on its own, as there are tons of amazing local barbecue joints, chop houses and more. Or you can visit the growing international cuisine scene in Austin—there are plenty of romantic European bistros and other spots to escape for a special meal. Make sure to save some time to wander down 6th Street to experience the Austin talent at it’s best. Lots of bars and live music venues line the street, as music-loving fans wander from bar to bar checking out all the incredible talent. When you are ready to wind-down from a busy day, retire to a beautiful, historic room at the Driskill or enjoy a bite to eat at its 1886 Café and Bakery.

Williamsburg, Virginia

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Visit a whole town dedicated to history. You can walk in the very same footsteps of the founding fathers and teach your children all about American history by visiting many of the same locations in which historical events took place. A trip to Colonial Williamsburg is perfect for the whole family, though it’s just as fun for the adults as it is for the kids. It’s like a theme park for history fans. If you are visiting without the kids, you may also want to make a stop at the Williamsburg Winery, where you and your date can enjoy some tastings of several local wines in a beautiful and romantic atmosphere. When you find yourself exhausted from a day packed with learning about American history, retire to a beautiful room at the nearby Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel for a delicious meal and a soak in the large pool, or just sleep it off and get ready for another day of adventure.

Kennebunkport, Maine

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If you’re in the North East, then a romantic getaway to Kennebunkport, Maine is the perfect escape for the long Valentine’s Day weekend. It’s pure, romantic bliss in a beach-side city filled with fresh lobster, quaint shopping and quiet beaches. Spend some time strolling around Dock Square, getting lost in all the different boutique shops, bakeries and restaurants. Or head out to Walker’s Point, where you can enjoy a truly breathtaking view of the coastline and you may even get a sighting of one of the Bush family, as this is near the Bush family summer home. However, if a relaxing beach is what you seek, then Gooch’s Beach is the place to be. Make sure to check the tide report before you visit, as the cold winter months can be dicey. However, if you luck into a warm and low-wind day, you’ll love this gorgeous beach and all the surrounding scenery. After you’ve spent enough time exploring Kennebunkport, retire to a cozy room at the Captain Lord Mansion Inn and Spa.

Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

Silver Lake State Park, Michigan

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Located in West Michigan along the Lake Michigan shoreline between Muskegon and Ludington, the Silver Lake Sand Dunes area boasts 2,000 acres of rolling sand dunes and miles of breathtaking beachfront for swimming, boating, fishing and relaxing. There are also plenty of trails for biking and hiking, along with beach buggy and boat rentals. Surrounding towns include Hart and Mears, which offer an array of camp sites, hotels, lots of yummy food and quaint shops. This natural oasis is just a few hours’ drive from Chicago or Detroit.

Padre Island National Seashore, Texas

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A large part of Padre Island National Seashore’s appeal is the vast amount of undeveloped wilderness to explore. The natural haven is southeast of Corpus Christi. Miles of sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico are chock full of interesting shells, driftwood and other relics for avid beachcombers to add to their collections. You can also drive along expansive stretches of shoreline, which are only accessible with a 4-wheel drive vehicle, to take in the sights. Other fun activities include camping, sand dune climbing, biking, fishing, windsurfing, and kayaking. Watching sea turtle hatchlings get released and head for the Gulf is a wondrous sight. Malaquite Beach is great for swimming and the visitor center loans free beach wheelchairs that easily navigate sand for visitors who may need them.

Shaw’s Cove Laguna Beach, California

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This hidden West Coast gem is located south of the hustle and bustle of more densely populated Laguna Beach shorelines. Dramatic cliffs, expansive reefs and long, remote stretches of sand offer a tranquil setting and a great place for swimming, diving and snorkeling. All kinds of marine life inhabit the area including a wide variety of fish, sea urchins and anemones. Shaw’s Cove is accessible by car in the Laguna Beach area by turning south on Wave Street from Pacific Coast Highway. Wave Street will form a “T” into Cliff Drive. From there, look for parking on the right—it offers the closest access to the beach—which you will enter from a stairway at street level.

Nye Beach Newport, Oregon

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There may be no better place to kick back and enjoy a classic “beach read” than Nye Beach in Newport, Oregon. About two-and-a-half hours southwest of Portland, the quaint town nestled along the Pacific Ocean is a popular writer and artist’s haunt and a virtual literary-lover’s paradise with several inviting book shops, scenic ocean views and lots of dining options. Enjoy fish and chips at The Chowder Bowl or tantalizing fine dining overlooking the water at Zach’s Bistro. The rustic Sylvia Beach Hotel offers more book lover’s bliss with author-themed rooms like a J.K. Rowling room complete with a Moaning Myrtle mural, shared guest meals in the Table of Contents dining room, a library, in-room journals and NO technology – that’s right, no TV, radios, in-room phones or WiFi. It’s peace and quiet at its relaxing, surfside, page-turning best. The gorgeous panoramic view includes the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. More active visitors can enjoy beachcombing, surfing, sail-boarding and clam digging.

Goose Rocks Beach, Maine

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If you’re looking for a less-crowded alternative to Kennebunkport Beach in Maine, nearby Goose Rocks Beach rests on the Atlantic Ocean and offers three miles of quieter shoreline that is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and hunting for beach treasures. Paths through rocks and dunes along Kings Highway lead down to the beach. Small tidal pools are great for children to play in and island views are spectacular. Goose Rocks proper has a general store, a restaurant, pub and two inns. Dock Square, which is Kennebunkport’s center hub, is five miles away and offers a wide variety of shops, casual and fine dining, ice cream parlors, golf courses and fantastic harbor views.

Lori Melton is a freelance writer. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Portland man was so enamored by a shelter dog he saw on the Internet that he bought a one-way ticket to Minneapolis, adopted the puppy and is now couch-hopping on the 1,500-mile trek back home.

Joel Carpenter found Sadie online and flew out last week to rescue the dog. But he only had enough money for the flight to Minnesota to pick up the collie, German shepherd and husky mix. Sadie was picked up as a stray and landed in the shelter at 3 months old.

Now, the 23-year-old says he’s hitching rides, sleeping on couches and posting on Craigslist for help to get home.

By Wednesday, Carpenter and Sadie were on their way to Detroit and hoped to be back within a week.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) — A Minnesota-based aircraft development company has chosen Maine’s Brunswick Landing as the site where it will develop a new amphibious aircraft.

The Lewiston Sun Journal reports that the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority announced the lease with MVP Aero on Friday. The MRRA is in charge of redevelopment at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station.

MVP company officials say the new aircraft’s wings will be able to be folded, allowing it to access marinas, boathouses and other tight quarters. The aircraft’s design will also allow it to be trailered and stored off site.

MRRA executive director Steve Levesque said Brunswick Landing’s large runways and hangar space make it very attractive to the aviation industry.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The Latest on health care legislation:

2:20 pm.

Talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel is thanking Arizona Sen. John McCain for rejecting the latest Republican bill to repeal the Obama-era health care law.

McCain’s statement of opposition Friday likely deals a fatal blow to the last-gasp GOP measure in a Senate showdown expected next week.

In a tweet, Kimmel thanks McCain “for being a hero again and again and now AGAIN.”

Kimmel has been in a war of words with Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy over the GOP bill.

Kimmel said he felt a sense of personal betrayal from Cassidy, a co-sponsor of the bill who went on Kimmel’s ABC show this spring after Kimmel talked about his newborn son’s medical problems. Kimmel said he believes that Cassidy lied to him about Republican health care plans. Cassidy said the comedian was misinformed.

——

2 p.m.

Sen. John McCain says he won’t vote for the Republican bill repealing the Obama health care law. His statement likely deals a fatal blow to the last-gasp GOP measure in a Senate showdown expected next week.

The Arizona Republican says he can’t back the partisan GOP measure because “we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats.”

He also says he can’t back it without knowing the proposal’s impact on insurance coverage and premiums. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said its estimates on that won’t be ready next week.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has said he’ll oppose the bill and Maine Sen. Susan Collins says she’s leaning against it.

Republicans control the Senate 52-48. All Democrats oppose the bill so three GOP “no” votes would doom it.

——

12:50 p.m.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine says she’s “leaning against” a Republican proposal to eliminate the Affordable Care Act, despite new pressure from her state’s GOP governor.

Gov. Paul LePage joined Vice President Mike Pence in Washington Friday. LePage says the bill represents the “best chance” to reform the current system and to return decision-making about funding health care to the states.

LePage cites a study from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that says Maine would gain 44 percent more in funding by 2026 under the proposal by Republican Sens. Lindsay Graham and Bill Cassidy. The same analysis shows other states would lose ground.

In Maine, Collins says there are lots of numbers floating around, and she’s awaiting an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office before she makes a final decision.

——

11 a.m.

Sen. Rand Paul says despite President Donald Trump’s attacks on him for opposing the new GOP health care bill, the measure is a “fake” and he won’t support it.

The Kentucky Republican says in an interview with The Associated Press that the White House “just wants a legislative victory, they’re not as concerned with the policy” in the bill. He says the measure doesn’t really repeal President Barack Obama’s health care law because it leaves most of its tax increases intact.

Trump tweeted Friday that Paul or other Republicans who vote against the bill will “forever … be known as `the Republican who saved ObamaCare.”‘

Paul says top Republicans pushing the measure toward a showdown next week have been “tarting it up with special stuff” to try winning enough votes for it to pass.

He says he doesn’t resent Trump’s Twitter attacks on him for opposing the bill. He says, “I’m a big boy.”

——–

7 a.m.

President Donald Trump is lashing out at a Republican senator who opposes the last-ditch effort to overturn the Obama-era health care law.

On Twitter Friday, Trump says: “Rand Paul, or whoever votes against Hcare Bill, will forever (future political campaigns) be known as `the Republican who saved ObamaCare.”‘

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has said he’ll oppose the latest bill because it doesn’t abolish enough of Obama’s 2010 law.

The proposal to scrap President Barack Obama’s health care law would shift money and decision-making from Washington to the states. It nearly has the support it needs for the vote expected next week, a deadline that’s focused the party on making a final run at the issue.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

CBS Local — The recent nor’easter brought up a relic from the past on a Maine beach: the remains of an old shipwreck.

According to York Police, the old ship made of wood is buried at Short Sands Beach, and resurfaced on the beach after the winter storm on Mar. 2.

“Every once in a while after a storm, the ocean moves enough sand for it to be seen. Thought you might like to see it,” the police department said in a Facebook post.

According to The York Weekly, people have been flocking to the beach to see the skeletal shipwreck, which appears periodically after a significant coastal storm. First seen in 1958, the last time the shipwreck appeared was in 2013, before the March nor’easter.

The newspaper reports that the shipwreck dates back to the Revolutionary War era.

[H/T CBS Boston]