Central Maine News: July 23, 2015

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

Dozens of employees in Gov. Paul LePage's administration are getting a pay boost. The governor has authorized pay increases averaging 4 percent for nearly 50 employees within his administration. The commissioners who lead the state's agencies are among those who will see their pay checks go up. The increases were part of a legislatively-approved effort by LePage to bring the salaries of executive branch managers in line with top legislative staff. The 12 commissioners who head Maine's agencies will now be paid nearly $128,000 a year. They now make between roughly $103,000 and $118,000. (AP)

A Republican lawmaker who's serving his third term in the Maine Legislature has withdrawn from his party. Rep. Larry Dunphy said that he withdrew from the Republican party last week and will serve the remainder of his term as an unaffiliated member of the Legislature. Dunphy said that he has become frustrated by partisan politics and "the antics" in the Legislature, and been considering leaving the Republican party for some time. In a piece published by the Bangor Daily News on Wednesday, he and former Democratic lawmaker Brian Jones said that special interests are using political parties to "exert inappropriate influence in government." They said that Maine politics have become "fraught with dirty, personal attacks." Jones said he has left the Democratic party. (AP)

The Maine Department of Public Safety says crime dropped nearly 15 percent last year, the largest drop in the four decades that the state has kept detailed records. Commissioner John Morris said every crime category tabulated by the state's Uniform Crime Reporting division went down in 2014, a year after similar decreases were recorded in most categories. There is one exception and that is there were more drug arrests. The decreasing crime numbers are encouraging "but also tempered with the growing drug abuse issue." Drugs are still driving most crime in Maine. Among the categories, the biggest drop in 2014 was for burglaries at 22.4 percent. Other crimes that saw declines: Aggravated assaults, motor vehicle thefts, homicides, domestic violence assault, rape and arson. (AP)

The young woman who police say was kidnapped during a violent rampage in northern Maine says she believes that law enforcement could've prevented the shooting spree that left two dead. Brittany Irish told reporters that last week's violence happened after she told police Anthony Lord had sexually assaulted her. Irish says police declined to keep a car outside the family home Lord attacked, shooting and killing her boyfriend. Maine State Police confirmed authorities were investigating a sexual assault case last week in which Brittany Irish was the victim, but said it would be inappropriate to discuss additional details as the case is in now in court. (AP)

Two years ago this week, a 66-year-old grandmother from Tennessee set out to hike a portion of the Appalachian trail in rural Franklin County. She never returned. Geraldine Largay was reported missing after she failed to meet her husband in Mount Abram Township. Searches for the hiker, known by the trail-name “Inchworm”, have been unsuccessful so far but investigators say they’re not giving up. Maine Wardens say they’re planning to focus search efforts this fall on areas that have not previously had ground search resources. Geraldine Largay’s family is still offering a $25,000 reward for anyone who can provide information that helps investigators locate Largay. Anyone with information is asked to call the Maine Warden Service at 624-7076. (AP)

A Maine brewer is offering a quicker way to consume two of the state's summertime staples: beer and lobster. Oxbow Brewing is serving up beer brewed with live Maine lobsters and a dash of sea salt. The brewmaster says the lobsters add a subtle brininess and sweetness that lobster fans will recognize. The beer will is available on a limited basis. The beer is served in the brewery's tasting room. (AP)

A fast-moving wildfire in Glacier National Park in Montana is prompting more evacuations. Officials are clearing the small community of St. Mary, at the park's entrance, as the fire has burned through more than 6 square miles. On Tuesday, park visitors traveling along the popular route, Going-to-the-Sun Road, had to flee their vehicles, and one family found themselves trapped when they briefly stopped on the road to take photos. Another wildfire has charred six square miles in northern California, prompting evacuations about 30 miles north of Napa. (AP)

Secretary of State John Kerry is part of a Cabinet-level lobbying team that will be on Capitol Hill Thursday to try to get Congress to accept the nuclear deal with Iran. President Barack Obama is trying to build support for the easing of sanctions on Tehran in exchange for concessions on its nuclear program. But Republicans are challenging the deal. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters gathered in Times Square, shouting, "Kill the deal!" (AP)

Greek lawmakers have approved a new batch of reforms demanded by the country's international creditors in return for a third multi-billion euro bailout. The reforms were the final step before Greece can start negotiations with creditors on a third bailout worth around 85 billion euros ($93 billion). (AP)