Central Maine News: May 12, 2015

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

The Health and Human Services Committee began examining a bill yesterday that would remove the philosophical exemption that allows parents to send their unvaccinated kids to school. Another measure would require parents to consult with their doctor and get a signature to opt out for personal reasons. Opponents say the state shouldn't take away a parent's ability to choose whether to vaccinate their kids. (AP)

The family for Dawn Habash, have had to halt their search for their mother. the 57-year-old yoga instructor from central Maine was last seen on April 25, the day of the Nepal earthquake that killed at least 8,000 and injured thousands more. The halt in their search is because of another rash of avalanches that has forced the evacuation of the area near where their mother was traveling. (Kennebec Journal)

Gov. Paul LePage stopped in Skowhegan last night. It was the ninth town hall meeting on his proposed budget plan. LePage has said it will eliminate income taxes. He hopes to capitalize on vacationers by increasing sales tax. Those against the plan have said it will lead to cuts in services. Last night dozens were frustrated as their questions had to be submitted and asked to the governor by a moderator. (WGME)

Gov. Paul LePage plans to introduce a bill that would implement a tiered welfare system. The bill would increase the amount of earned income that the state disregards when it determines how much state support someone receives if that person meets the welfare work requirement. It would also set aside money for welfare recipients' transportation costs, among other things.(AP)

Gov. Paul LePage has vetoed a bill that would require lawmakers to sign off on proposals to offer keno in Maine. In his veto letter yesterday it said that lawmakers shouldn't restrict the State Liquor and Lottery Commission's ability to develop new games.(AP)

51-year-old Michael Van Eekhout of Westbrook will spend nine years in prison for transporting child pornography and making extortion threats. He posed under a fake name online and persuaded a woman to send him nude photographs of herself in 2011. He then threatened to "widely disseminate" the photos unless she took explicit photos of herself and sent them to him. (AP)

A 20-year-old Anthony Thea of Portland has been sentenced to six years in prison for child pornography. Investigators found about 80 secretly made digital recordings of boys using restrooms, saying Thea he also had more than 2,600 still images and more than 900 video images of child porn on his computer. (AP)

Portland homeless advocates today plan to lay out 75 foam mats in City Hall Plaza to call attention to the loss of overflow shelter space. The Portland Press Herald reports Homeless Voices for Justice is protesting a plan to close one of the city's emergency shelters on July 1 and to stop using hotels as an overflow shelter for homeless families. (AP)

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration says New England's spring and summer red tide will be similar to the past three years. Red tide is an algal bloom that produces a toxin that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. Some clam flats were closed in the state due to red tide last year. (AP)