WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, as extreme storms and flooding continue to hammer Maine, New England and the midwest, U.S. Senator Angus King expressed continued concern at the lack of urgency in tackling the climate crisis. In a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource (ENR) Committee, Senator King addressed Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy, David Turk, about the significant impacts of cl  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: ORLANDO, Fla. - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the return of an indictment charging Jackie Jamal Hines (46, Melbourne) with possession with the intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine. If convicted, Hines faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also no  more

ATLANTA, Georgia, Jan. 13 -- CNN issued the following news on Jan. 12, 2024: Ahead of the New Hampshire GOP primary, CNN Anchor Wolf Blitzer will moderate a live CNN Republican Presidential Town Hall with Governor Ron DeSantis at 9pmET on Tuesday, January 16 from New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. CNN has a longstanding tradition of hosting presidential candidates for Town Halls and political events as a critical component of the network's robust campaign coverage. The 2024 Republ  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 11 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: BOISE, Idaho- Peter Timothy Eromenok, 34, of Idaho Falls, was sentenced to nearly 12 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, Eromenok was interviewed by investigators on May 9, 2022, about suspected fentanyl left behind at an  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Jan. 13 -- The Maine House Democrats issued the following news release on Jan. 11, 2024: On Tuesday, Maine's Legislative Council voted to advance a bill from Rep. Poppy Arford, D-Brunswick, that would help more Mainers access birth control by requiring state-regulated health insurance plans to cover over-the-counter contraceptives. In July 2023, the FDA approved Opill, an oral contraceptive pill, for nonprescription use. It is the first daily oral contraceptive approved for use  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Jan. 12 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission issued the following order (No. 2023-00250) on Jan. 11, 2024: * * * VERMONT RENEWABLE GAS, LLC, Request for Approval of Certification For RPS Eligibility Pertaining to Lyndon Biogas Electric Facility ORDER GRANTING NEW RENEWABLE RESOURCE CERTIFICATIONS BARTLETT, Chairman; and SCULLY and GILBERT, Commissioners I. SUMMARY On September 27, 2023, Vermont Renewable Gas, LLC requested certification of its 2.2 megawatt (MW) biogas g  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Jan. 12 -- The Maine Public Utilities Commission issued the following order (No. 2022-00047) on Jan. 11, 2024: * * * VERSANT POWER, Request for Approval of Certification For RPS Eligibility (Two Facilities) ORDER GRANTING NEW RENEWABLE RESOURCE CERTIFICATIONS BARTLETT, Chairman; SCULLY and GILBERT, Commissioners I. SUMMARY Versant Power (Versant)'s petition filed on November 1, 2023 requests certification of two solar facilities totaling 4.70 Megawatts (MW) as Class I and C  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 13 -- Gov. Maura Healey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release on Jan. 12, 2024: The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO), which is responsible for bringing fairness to the state's bidding and procurement process, has entered into a new partnership that will help veteran-owned businesses bid on contracts across the state. The SDO is is partnering with the National Veteran Owned Business Association (NaV  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: ORLANDO, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell sentenced Denisse Munoz-Mora (31, Mexico) to 18 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute heroin. Munoz-Mora had pleaded guilty on October 25, 2023. Munoz-Mora's conspirator, Irving Cepeda-Chico, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2021 to 14 years   more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, Jan. 12 -- The National Center for Lesbian Rights issued the following statement on Jan. 11, 2024: * * * Today the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order allowing Alabama's ban on medical care for transgender adolescents to take effect. This order grants a request by the state of Alabama to stay the trial court's 2022 decision blocking the law from being enforced while the challenge against it proceeds. Lawyers representing parents of transgender adolesce  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. -United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the charging of Maximo Espinosa (44, Kissimmee) with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and fentanyl. If convicted, Espinosa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. Because Espinosa was on federal supervised release at the time of t  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: MIAMI - A south Florida defendant pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a synthetic opioid, protonitazene. Will Catis, Sr. (Catis), 42, of Deerfield Beach, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal. According to the agreed upon factual proffer, on April 12, 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcemen  more

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts, Jan. 13 -- Springfield College issued the following news: Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper was named Vice Chair of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Board of Governors at the NCAA Convention earlier this morning. In her new role, Cooper's leadership and advocacy will continue to shape the role the NCAA plays in the well-being and lifelong success of college student-athletes. Cooper was named to the NCAA Board of Governors in 2022 and   more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: A Springfield man pleaded guilty today to possessing cocaine intended for distribution. Hector Quinones, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for May 9, 2024. Quinones was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2022. On Jan. 20,  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard sentenced Andrew Tyler Harp (31, St. Augustine) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As part of his sentence, the court also en  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 11 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: ST. LOUIS - Two doctors from the St. Louis area were indicted Wednesday and accused of illegally administering ketamine to patients and fraudulently billing Medicare for certain services related to a psychiatric clinic. Dr. Asim Muhammad Ali, 53, and Dr. Mohd Azfar Malik, 70, were each indicted on 22 felony counts: conspiracy to illegally di  more

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Jan. 12 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Division issued the following news release: TAMPA, Fla. - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Santiago Gonzalez-Rodriguez (58, Louisville, KY) and Elier Sanchez-Suasteque (37, Lehigh Acres) with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and possession with the intent to distribute, five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine.   more

NEW YORK, Jan. 13 -- The United Nations issued the following news release on Jan. 11, 2024: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced today the appointment of Major General Cheryl Pearce of Australia as Deputy Military Adviser for Peacekeeping Operations. Major General Pearce succeeds Major General Maureen Patricia O'Brien of Ireland, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her dedication and leadership. Currently serving as the Deputy Chief of the Army of the Australi  more