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Sunrise Herald is the early morning news update feature at pressherald.com. It is updated at 6, 7, 8 and 9 on weekdays.
Welcome to the Sunrise Herald with Giselle Goodman, the place to go to get the news from overnight and beyond...
IN THE WEATHER
At 9 a.m., it was 37 degrees with unexpected sunny skies in downtown Portland.
We were expecting more precipitation than we got, but it seems most of the gray clouds have moved somewhere other than Portland.
Some more rain (as seen in the south in green on the radar) may come our way before 2 p.m., but the chances of snow here are long gone for today.
ON THE OCEAN:
A gale warning this morning until 11 a.m. tells us we'll have a southwestern wind blowing 15 to 20 knots with gusts up to 35 knots. Seas rocking at 3 to 6 feet.
Tide comes up today in Portland at 3:05 p.m. Low tides at 8:53 a.m. and 8:58 p.m.
ON THE ROAD:
• URGENT TRAFFIC ADVISORY: A water main break at 1651 Broadway in South Portland has closed down that section of the road for the most part of today. Know that you will be detoured if your travel plans include Broadway from Cash Corner to Westbrook Street.
There are signs directing travelers around the area, which might be open in time for the evening commute, but certainly not before.
The area will be closed down until the water department can get the water leak under control, which could be for most of the morning commute.
The green arrow in the location map below represents the location of the water main break.
• ON THE MAINE TURNPIKE: At mile 5 in York, a northbound lane closure is scheduled between 7a.m. and 3 p.m. for road work. --- Between mile 26 in Kennebunk and 38 in Saco, north and southbound lane closures are scheduled between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. for road work. --- Between mile 38 in Saco and Exit 53 in Falmouth, north and southbound lane closures are scheduled between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. for road work.
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A NEW HAMPSHIRE MAN WAS HURT last night when his car collided with Amtrak's Downeaster passenger train at a crossing in Dover, N.H.
Police said 23-year-old Michael Hudon suffered non-life-threatening injuries when his car hit the train just before 8 p.m. He was reported in good condition.
No one on the northbound train was hurt. (AP)
IT IS NOW UP TO GOV. JOHN BALDACCI to decide whether repeat drunk drivers should be forced to install an ignition interlock device (IID) into their automobile.
The Maine Senate Tuesday enacted a bill sponsored by Sen. Lynn Bromley, D-South Portland, that was designed to keep repeat drunk drivers off the roads.
Under the bill, a person with four or more operating-under-the-influence offenses must have an ignition interlock device installed on the motor vehicle the person operates for a period of 4 years after the full period of license suspension has expired. Anyone who is required to use the device who is caught operating a vehicle without it can be charged with operating after suspension.
The device monitors the concentration of alcohol in any person who attempts to start their car using a key. The car will not start without a breath sample or if alcohol is detected.
If signed by Gov. Baldacci, the bill would become a law.
A MAN FROM FRANKLIN COUNTY pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor yesterday to possession of child pornography.
According to U. S. Attorney Paula D. Silsby, Brian P. Hinkley, 26, of Strong faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.
According to court records, on July 21, 2005, agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation acting on a tip executed a search warrant on the home in Strong that Hinkley shared with his grandmother. The agents seized Hinkley’s computer and related computer media, examined it and found that it contained more than 500 images of child pornography, 143 of which depicted identified minors.
Furthermore, in a separate investigation in April of 2006, officers of the Maine State Police executed a search warrant on the home of a friend of Hinkley’s in Sabattus. Hinkley was present at the time. During an interview of Hinkley, officers learned that he visited his friend’s residence nightly and used his laptop to log onto their wireless connection. Hinkley turned over his own laptop computer after telling officers it likely contained child pornography. Examination revealed that it contained approximately 300 images of child pornography, more than 80 of which depicted identified minors.
DON'T BE ALARMED. Colby College is conducting a preliminary test of its new emergency siren between 10 a.m. and noon today. The test will include a loud tone or tones and a voice message that are expected to be audible within about two miles of Colby. It may sound multiple times.
The new system is the college's response to the news of school shootings around the country. These awful events have prompted colleges and universities nationwide to reassess and bolster emergency response plans. Colby added the siren to expand its ability to alert students, faculty, visitors and the Colby community about a potential life-threatening emergency.
Colby will notify the community when the date is determined for future tests.
Except for infrequent planned tests, the siren would be used only in the event of an actual threat of violence, environmental danger or other threat to public safety.
A STUDENT FROM AN AUGUSTA MIDDLE SCHOOL threatened another student with a weapon yesterday afternoon after school hours, school officials said.
The incident took place on the grounds of the Hodgkins Middle School school, but outside of the building, Principal Jeff Boston said.
Boston said he and other administrators are working with Augusta police to investigate the incident. He declined to release further details, citing the pending investigation.
“No one was hurt and everyone was safe,” Boston said.
Police received the call about the incident at 2:47 p.m.
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At 8 A.M. in AUGUSTA, volunteers from the Maine Red Cross will gather at the Hall of Flags at the state house to meet with State House Representatives and talk about all the accomplishments of the Red Cross over the year.
Red Cross Maine expects to have a total of 151 Red Cross volunteers shadow all 151 State House representatives for a day of shared learning and celebration.
Also today, Gov. John Baldacci will proclaim March “Red Cross Month”.
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