Central Maine News: February 4, 2016

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

(AP) — Democratic rivals Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are expected to appear at a debate on Thursday night in New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Tuesday. But both camps have quarreled over the timing and locations of three debates planned for later this spring. In a forum on CNN, Sanders questioned Clinton's liberal credentials. Clinton questioned Sanders' positions, including his commitment on gun control.

(AP) — It's at the epicenter of the Zika virus outbreak, but international health officials say that Brazil has yet to share enough samples and disease data. Experts are trying to determine if the outbreak is responsible for the increase in the number of babies born with abnormally small heads in Brazil. Laboratories in the U.S. and Europe say they need samples to track the virus' evolution. Under Brazilian law, it is technically illegal to share genetic material. Nine cases have surfaced in Florida.

(AP) -- Maine Attorney General Janet Mills is pushing to make possession of heroin and similar drugs a felony, but treatment advocates and defense attorneys say harsh penalties for drug crimes don't work. Mills drafted a bill that would once again make jail sentences possible for people who possess heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, more than 30 milligrams of oxycodone, and more than 7 grams of cocaine. In testimony Wednesday to the Legislature's Criminal Justice Committee, Mills said a law passed last year that makes heroin possession a misdemeanor has created a "catch and release" pattern. She said prosecutors need the threat of prison to get drug addicts to turn their lives around. Opponents said addicts need treatment and that prosecutors should instead focus on locking up drug dealers and traffickers.

(AP) — Sen. Angus King is asking CVS to make it easier for people to buy a drug that revives people who overdose on heroin. King wrote in a letter to the company Tuesday that Naloxone is a critical tool in the fight against opiate deaths, and allowing people to buy the drug without a prescription would save lives. CVS on Monday announced it will make naloxone available without a prescription at all CVS stores in Ohio. The company has done the same in more than a dozen states, including New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. In Maine, heroin overdose deaths increased from 34 in 201 3 to 57 in 2014, King said in his letter, calling it a "harrowing trend." CVS has 22 stores in Maine.

(WGME) -- The warm weather this week is leading to a thin ice warning across much of the state. It may sound like common sense to many of you, but officials say because of the warm season we're having it doesn't take much to find yourself in a dangerous situation. In Newport on Tuesday, a man learned the hard way just how unsafe it is out there right now. He says he was out with friends a few days ago and thought driving out wouldn't be a problem until he went through. Game wardens say he was lucky he wasn't hurt.

(WGME) -- Some roads are off limits to heavy trucks in Augusta, because of the warmer weather. The city's Public Works Department says many streets aren't frozen, but are instead "soft" and in some cases muddy. The department says this will be in effect until all roadways can support normal loads. There are more than 20 roads that are impacted by this. Here is the list!

(AP) — Young women named Hard Dash, Kill Any and Betty B. Tough are putting the squeeze on Maine lawmakers to make it easier for them to expand the sport of roller derby. Roller derby advocates told a legislative panel that an old statute that prohibits skaters from hitting each other is prohibiting them from building a new rink. Two women testified wearing skates and their roller derby uniforms.  Alyssa Bergeron said the sport is increasingly popular in Maine and the United States. She says Maine skaters have been forced to break the law for the last 10 years and now want to play their sport legally. Committee members said it seemed unfair that hockey players are allowed to check each other but derby skaters can't.

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