Central Maine News: Lewiston Native to be Named Head of Federal Highway Administration

These are some of the stories central Maine is talking about today.

President Obama plans to nominate Lewiston native Greg Nadeau to lead the Federal Highway Administration. Nadeau is currently deputy administrator of the agency. Under the Gov. John Baldacci's administration, he served as the Maine Department of Transportation's deputy commissioner for policy, planning and communication. He also was the senior policy adviser to Gov. Angus King from 1995 to 2002. (AP)

A legislative committee today will hold a public hearing on a bill that would remove the philosophical exemption that allows parents to avoid vaccinating their children. Another bill would require parents to get their doctor to sign off if they choose to opt out for personal reasons. (WGME)

27 veterans of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars visited memorials during the trip organized by Honor Flight Maine. Yesterday, a couple hundred well-wishers showed up at the Portland International Jetport to welcome home 27 war veterans from their Washington, D.C. trip. (Kennebec Journal)

After the summer like conditions yesterday, we received a summer like thunder and lightning storm that left just under 10,000 power outages to CMP customers across the state. The outages were mostly in Cumberland, York and Waldo Counties. (WABI)

Amanda "Mandi" Leigh Rines, 25, of Greene, died Saturday as a result of injuries suffered in a crash. A family friend said Rines drove off Allen Pond Road in Greene and struck a tree, not far from her home. (Sun-Journal)

Maine State Police say a Raymond man has died in a head-on crash in Hollis. Police say 24-year-old Travis Lowberg was killed when his car crossed the centerline and collided with a tractor trailer on Route 202 around 3 a.m. yesterday. (AP)

Maine's congressional delegation says Sagadahoc County will receive federal funds to help cover repair and cleanup costs caused by this year's winter weather. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already approved disaster assistance for Cumberland, York and Androscoggin counties. (AP)

A Orono man who lured a 15-year-old girl to her death with a fake Facebook profile is going to prison for 60 years. The sentence was imposed Friday on 22-year-old Kyle Dube (DOO'-bee), who was convicted of killing Nichole Cable. (AP)

Police say they are investigating the death of a 6-month-old baby boy in Millinocket. A state police spokesman says an ambulance went to a home in Millinocket on Tuesday night and found the baby unresponsive. WABI-TV reports the baby died at a Bangor hospital Thursday. (AP)

Fifty-two-year-old John Look of Minot man is facing 13 months in jail after pleading guilty to charges that he stole money that rightfully belonged to his disabled brother. He was the legal guardian of his 49-year-old brother, who suffered a brain injury in a motorcycle accident as a teenager and resides at a treatment facility. (AP)

About two dozen people were injured and some homes were completely destroyed after a severe storm struck the small town of Van in northeast Texas, an emergency management official said it was more than likely a tornado. (AP)