Central Maine News: August 14, 2015

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

Augusta police have made arrests in a pair of robberies Tues. & Thurs. at the Big Apple at Grondin's Certified Cleaners. Arrested were Daysha Hannan, 21, and Paul Fazzi, 23, both of Augusta. (WGME)

Dwight Stanley, 52, of Wilton is being charged with unlawful sexual contact with a girl under 16. Police in Jay arrested him and say he also threatened to hurt her and her family if she told police about it. (centralmaine.com)

Portland police have arrested 3 men in connection with the killing of a 49-year-old Fred Akoa, who was discovered dead in his apartment Tuesday. The three men — who were in custody on unrelated charges — all are from Portland. Arraignment is expected today or Monday. (AP)

BethMarie Retamozzo of Fairfield, who took her two young children and fled Maine in 2013, is seeking permission from the state to go to Florida to allow her to fight to keep custody of a third child. In February she was convicted on two counts of criminal restraint by a parent. (centralmaine.com)

A 34-year-old woman claims to have been sexually assaulted this week in Portland while walking on the Back Cove trail. She says a man dragged her off the path and sexually assaulted her in the grassy area. Portland are increasing patrols in the arera and yesterday used a K9 unit to search for any evidence in connection with the alleged assault. (WCSH)

A U.S. District Judge this week said that the LePage administration missed its chance to challenge the federal government's decision to strip the Riverview Psychiatric Recovery Center, in Augusta, of its federal certification. That loss is expected to cost the state about $20 million. Maine has continued drawing down federal funds as it challenged the decision. (AP)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will be in New Hampshire today and he is currently leading in the polls. Trum will host a rally at Winnacunnet High School. (AP)

State police are investigating the death of a woman who was found earlier this week in the Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land. Authorities didn't identify the woman. Investigators didn't say whether they suspect foul play. (AP)

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is urging safety after 2 fatal crashes. The group says both crashes occurred on roads without sidewalks, which illustrates the need for infrastructure to protect cyclists and walkers. The crashes occurred in Harpswell and York earlier this month. (AP)

Maine's elver fishermen will face the same quota next spring when they fish for the valuable baby eels. The fishermen are dealing with fluctuating volume and value in a fishery that exploded in interest in the early part of this decade. Regulators instituted a 9,688 pound quota for the 2015 fishing year and fishermen fell short of it. It will remain next year. (AP)

Cuban-American poet Richard Blanco of Maine has a new poem that he's going to read at the reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Havana today. Blanco, who wrote and delivered the poem "One Today" for President Obama's second inauguration, says he's "humbled, honored, and elated" to participate in the event. (AP)