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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 this morning...
IN THE WEATHER
At 9 a.m., it was 54 degrees and clear in downtown Portland.
Possibly the nicest day of the week (and weekend) arrives today with settled winds (although still breezy at the immediate coast) and warm temperatures. Readings are expected upward of 70 inland. Enjoy it...rain may come back in time for the weekend.
From Bill in Rockland: 43 degrees under calm, clear skies at 5:26 here in Rockland. A crew of rowdy raucous crows have been discouraging more mellow songsters. From Shawn in Yarmouth: The dawn of another beautiful day. 40 degrees, clear blue sky, lots of bright sunshine already at 6:30 a.m.! Another day to be outside and not sitting in a cubicle, if you can.
From James in Cape Elizabeth: Here we have a temperature of 40 at 6 a.m. with clear skies. From Karen in Steep Falls: Good Morning! It's a chilly 44 degrees here in Steep Falls. The sky is bright blue and the sun is coming up! Happy Wednesday!
ON THE ROAD:
In Gray, a southbound lane closure is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for bridge work. And in New Gloucester, north and southbound lane closures are scheduled between 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Mayall Road Bridge for bridge work.
• Interested in participating in Commute Another Way Week? Call a friend and head into work together. Today is Carpool Wednesday. A great way to save on gas, and have somebody to talk to besides yourself. Commuters who register at Commute Another Way Week could win prizes including a "Car-Free Mini-Vacation," the event grand prize.
ON THE OCEAN:
High tide today in Portland is at 7:41 a.m. and then again at 8:16 p.m. Tide will be lowest at 1:56 p.m.
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BARRINGTON, N.H. — An enginner at Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick, who lives in New Hampshire, survived the earthquake in China that killed thousands.
John Cafasso of Barrington, N.H., said it started as a vibration in his chair and then became one of the most devastating earthquakes in Chinese history.
Cafasso was working in Chengdu, China, on Monday when the quake hit.
He's fine, but he told Foster's Daily Democrat Tuesday evening that tremors were still rumbling through the land. He looked out his hotel window to see people camping on the streets.
At his office, he said his chair vibrated, windows rattled and the ceiling, floor and desks began to jump. He and co-workers ran for their lives, and outside they felt the ground jumping up and down and saw the parking lot ripple like a wave.
He's trying to find a way out of the country and back to New Hampshire. (AP)
STATEWIDE — The fire danger in Maine remains high today despite the fact that the wind from the past few days has settled. All of Maine's zones are in a class 3, high-fire danger. This level is described by the fire service as such: "All fine dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes. Unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape. Fires spread rapidly and short-distance spotting is common. High-intensity burning may develop on slopes, in concentrations of fine fuel. Fires may become serious and their control difficult, unless they are hit hard and fast while small."
In short, no burn permits today. Clicking on the chart below will bring you to the Maine Forest Service's fire danger page to learn more.
NASHUA, N.H. — A woman who allegedly ran a man down with her car and killed him after after getting into a Red Sox-Yankees argument is scheduled for a court hearing today on reckless second-degree murder and drunken driving.
Police say Ivonne Hernandez, 43, was speeding early May 2 toward a small group that included Matthew Beaudoin, 29, and never hit her brakes, a prosecutor said. Beaudoin died of massive head trauma at a hospital.
Hernandez, of Nashua, was arrested at the scene. She said she had been drinking and refused to take a breath-alcohol test, prosecutors said. Hernandez said she had been in an argument with the group.
Authorities won't describe the argument, but witnesses said it occurred after Beaudoin left a bar and escalated when the group saw a Yankees bumper sticker on Hernandez's car.
(AP)
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STATEWIDE — This is National Police Week and for today and tomorrow, the focus is on law enforcers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Memorial ceremonies will be held in Lewiston today at 4:30 p.m. at the Simard/Payne Law Enforcement Memorial Park.
Also coming up in Augusta will be the honoring of 82 law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
A service for them will be May 15, at the 20th annual observance of the Maine Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial on State Street in Augusta.
Some of the officers honored on the memorial died in the 1800s. The ceremony takes place at the memorial, which is adjacent to the State House, at 11 a.m.
Tomorrow, flags around the nation, including Maine, will fly at half-staff per order of the president in honor of those and other lost law enforcers.
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A regular Sunrise Herald feature, combating the harmful rays of too much bad news. Get your daily dose of the good stuff here.
PORTLAND — Former Sen. George J. Mitchell will be honored by the World Affairs Council of Maine tonight during presentation of the council’s International Leadership Award at the Portland Country Club. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m.
Celebrating its 30th year, the World Affairs Council of Maine plans to give the award annually to recognize an individual, business or organization that has provided significant leadership and service to help make a major difference in our world and to advance the cause of peace.
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AUGUSTA — The Maine Association of School Nurses at the Blaine House today will honor the school nurse of the year during a tea from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Brenda White, RN, MS from the Morse Street School in Freeport is this year's school nurse of the year.
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