Central Maine News: July 8, 2015

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

Authorities say a 9-year-old boy was killed and a 10-year-old girl suffered smoke inhalation in a fire in Hermon. The Maine Fire Marshal's Office says Wyatt Parker of Levant was spending the night with two cousins when a fire swept through the mobile home Tuesday morning. His body was found by firefighters in the living room. Officials say adults had left the children alone while they were running errands. Investigators believe the fire started in the kitchen. They say there were smoke detectors but they're not sure if they were working.(AP)

A business in Gardiner is celebrating its grand opening with a huge grant. The Gardiner Food Co-op & Cafe is getting an award worth thousands from an insurance neighborhood assistance program. According to WABI, the money will fund the co-op’s initiatives that teach and promote healthy eating in the community. Gardiner’s Food Co-op & Cafe opened about a month ago and sells mostly local food. State Farm Insurance Company will present the check for $25,000 to them for education and outreach efforts.(WABI)

Gov. Paul LePage has thrown a new wrench into the gears of the Legislature, this time with a move to “pocket veto” at least 19 bills, despite the fact that conditions for such a maneuver have not been met. According to the Bangor Daily News if a Legislature is in session and the governor does not sign a bill or veto it within 10 days of receiving it, the bill becomes law. But, if a Legislature adjourns for the year before the 10-day window for a governor to act on legislation has elapsed and the governor does not sign the bill, it dies. There are 19 bills that the governor has not signed. But, the only hang-up is the Legislature has not adjourned. Knowing it needed to give LePage up to 10 days to act on bills it has passed, the House and Senate on June 30 went “at ease” until July 16. (Bangor Daily News)

A divided Waterville City Council adopted a $37.4 million budget over objections from the Mayor, who questioned the council’s decision to put about $58,000 in unexpected revenue from the state into the town’s surplus rather than use it to offset property taxes. According to the KJ, the extra money comes from an increase in school funding approved by the Legislature. The council also voted to ratify contracts with Waterville police patrol officers and commanders. (centralmaine.com)

Some employees in Portland are going to start making more money next year. The minimum wage in the city is going up. According to WGME , the city council members voted to boost the minimum wage from $7.50 an hour to $10.10 an hour starting January 1, 2016. While employees say it's a much needed change, some employers say it's going to hurt. Portland City Council members voted 6-to-3 to increase Portland’s minimum wage by $2.60. (WGME)

The South Carolina House is expected to begin debate Wednesday on a bill to remove the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds. The state Senate gave its final approval to the bill Tuesday. If the House goes along with the Senate's bill, the flag could be removed by the end of the week. But if the House changes it, either the Senate would have to agree with the changes or lawmakers would have to reconcile their differences in a conference committee, possibly delaying action for weeks.(AP)

Greece has until Thursday to present a proposal to its eurozone creditors that addresses ways for the country to avoid financial collapse. Leaders were surprised when Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras  showed up at an emergency meeting in Brussels on Tuesday without a reform blueprint. A final summit is set for Sunday. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warns that plans have been made for all scenarios, an apparent reference to the possibility that Greece could be forced out of the currency union.(AP)