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

Republican legislative leaders have blocked an effort by Democrats to fix an error that could cause energy efficiency funds to be cut. The PUC recently voted to put a $25 million cap on one source of funding for Efficiency Maine Trust. Lawmakers intended for the cap to be $60 million, but there was a drafting error in the complex formula. There was an effort to fix the drafting error so the full efficiency funding could be restored. (AP)

The U.S. Census says Maine's most populous county was also its fastest growing for the year that began on July 1, 2013. Cumberland County grew more than half a percent in that time. The county has about 280,000 residents and includes Portland, the largest city in the state. York, Knox, Waldo and Kennebec counties followed Cumberland as the fastest-growing in Maine. Cumberland added 1,931 people during the period. York, the state's second-most populous county, added 1,247 people. Knox, Waldo and Kennebec all added less than 100 residents between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2014. (AP)

A group of more than 200 Maine business owners say they support the creation of a national park and recreation area on 150,000 acres east of Baxter State Park. The businesses sent letters to Maine's congressional delegation on Thursday urging support for the project. They also released a plan they say sets a "conceptual framework" for the project. Most of the businesses are in the Bangor and Katahdin areas. Supporters of the national park plan say it would include recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, fishing and horseback riding. They say the recreational area would protect hunting access. Opponents of the proposal have criticized it for a battery of reasons, including perceived loss of recreational access and a lack of desire to turn land over to the National Park Service. (AP)

Gov. Paul LePage says he doesn't owe Stephen King an apology. The governor responded to a question about the spat during a public discussion by saying he never stated King moved to Florida to dodge income taxes. Instead, he contends he said King is "not in Maine right now." But that's not how King saw it. The governor referenced King during a radio address after noting that former Gov. Kenneth Curtis moved to Florida "where there is zero income tax." He said King "moved away as well." The reference to King was removed from a transcript of the address. King, who lives in Bangor and pays Maine income taxes, demanded an apology. He said "I repeat: He's not man enough to admit he made a mistake," but ended the statement by saying ‘now let's let this rest’.

Maine lawmakers are getting closer to passing a law to ensure your pint is really a pint. After 15 minutes of debate, the Democratic-led House voted 83-62 to give initial approval to a bill that would require that beers advertised as a pint are sold in a glass that's at least 16 ounces. The measure seeks to crack down on establishments that sell beer advertised as pints in glasses that really only hold 14 ounces. The bill faces further votes in the Senate and House. (AP)

More From B98.5