Central Maine News: July 13, 2015

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

The Canadian economy is in decline and Maine's tourism industry is feeling the pinch. Maine estimates that about 4 million Canadian tourists will visit Maine this year, a drop from 5.5 million in 2013. Canadians' buying power in the U.S. is down from what it was then. The Canadian dollar coin once equal to the U.S. , is now worth 78 cents. Maine tourism officials say that in 2014, 22 percent of the state's visitors came from Massachusetts. Tied at second place were New York and Canada at 16 percent. (AP)

Democratic lawmakers say that another 51 bills have become law after Republican Gov. Paul LePage missed his deadline to act on them. LePage says he can still veto the bills on his desk when lawmakers return to Augusta because they adjourned last month. But Attorney General Janet Mills said Friday that that scenario applies only when lawmakers have adjourned with no intention of returning. They plan to return this week. LePage's spokesman said that the governor believes that Mainers deserve an objective opinion from a higher legal authority. He's expected to take the issue to the Maine Supreme Court. Among the bills that Democrats say are now law are measures to expand access to a drug overdose antidote and provide insurance coverage for reproductive services to more women. (AP)

Maine Democratic Speaker Mark Eves is heading to Washington this week to attend the annual White House Conference on Aging. Monday's conference will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss issues related to older Americans. Eves has focused on aging issues throughout his legislative career in Maine, which has the oldest population in the country. He spearheaded efforts approved by the Legislature to boost reimbursement rates for direct care workers, among other things. President Barack Obama and senior administration officials are expected to deliver remarks at the conference. (AP)

A stalled engine is being blamed for forcing a small plane to make an emergency landing on Interstate 95 in Maine. No one was injured when the plane landed Saturday in Houlton, near the Canadian border. The pilot told police the 1961 Cessna 172 carrying him and two passengers had engine problems after taking off from the Houlton International Airport. As he tried to return to the airport the engine lost power and stalled. The pilot landed the plane on the northbound side of the interstate. The plane was towed back to the airport. (AP)

Two men have died in an in Vassalboro after they fled police who pulled them over for broken tail lights. Police say the car slammed into a tree on a sharp curve on Bog Road around 1 a.m. Saturday. 32-year-old Ronald Willey of Chelsea, and passenger, 28-year-old Joseph Knox of Randolph, were killed instantly. Police say a Winslow police officer tried to pull Willey's car over for defective tail lights but the car took off. The police sergeant followed the vehicle at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour on Route 32 and then onto Bog Road. Police say the sergeant did not see the crash but came upon it moments later. Maine State Police are investigating. (AP)

Maine Attorney General Janet Mills says roughly 20 bills that Republican Gov. Paul LePage has held for more than 10 days have become law. Mills released her opinion Friday that LePage missed the deadline to veto the bills. LePage said this week that the Constitution allows him to veto several bills on his desk when lawmakers return to Augusta for at least three days. Typically, bills become law if the governor doesn't take action on them in 10 days. But LePage said the situation changed because lawmakers adjourned last month. Mills said in her opinion that that scenario only applies when lawmakers adjourn with no intention of returning. Lawmakers have been planning to return on Thursday to finish their business. (AP)

A man is in custody after police say he confessed to stealing from a recreation center. According to WGME, Andrew Flagg approached the deputy chief Saturday and admitted to breaking into a shed at the rec center.  The deputy chief says he checked on the shed before filing charges.  He confirmed Flagg's story, and said Flagg took a golf club and smashed up items around the rec center.(WGME)

Gardiner’s proposed budget that City Council will likely approve Wednesday will raise taxes by 2.4 percent, about a $73 increase for those who own homes priced at the city’s average. According to the KJ, much of the council’s discussion about the city budget involved the roughly $115,000 the city manager recommended giving to nonprofit organizations, an amount encompassing about 2 percent of the overall city budget and slightly down from previous years. City Council will hold the final public hearing and reading at its meeting Wednesday. (centralmaine.com)

Talks between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and European leaders have dragged past a self-imposed weekend deadline and beyond dawn Monday without an agreement that would give the Greek leader a rescue package to prevent his banks from collapsing. As talks enter a third straight day Monday, Tsipras continues to hold out for a better deal to sell to his reluctant legislature in Athens next week. (AP)

A widespread manhunt has failed to turn up any trace of drug trafficker Joaquin Guzman, who escaped from a Mexican prison Saturday night. Guzman slipped down a shaft from his prison cell's shower and disappeared into a sophisticated mile-long tunnel with ventilation, lighting and a motorcycle apparently used to move dirt. The escape route apparently was built over the last year right under authorities' noses into a supposedly escape-proof lockup. Before his escape, Guzman had been captured just last year. (AP)