Central Maine News: May 20, 2015

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

The debate over the safety of so-called smart meters installed by Central Maine Power across the state is going back before the state supreme court. Opponents have filed a legal brief that challenges a December conclusion by the Public Utilities Commission that smart meters pose no credible threat health risk. Opponents contend the PUC disregarded its mandate to ensure "safe, reasonable and adequate services." Among other things, they contend CMP's measurements of radiofrequency radiation from a "typical" smart meter are not representative of all of CMP's 600,000 smart meters. (AP)

State police say they've charged three people following a burglary at a state trooper's home in West Gardiner after one of the stolen items, a kayak, showed up for sale online. Police said Tuesday the arrests happened after the kayak was sold. They say they arrested 29-year-old Dustin Woodworth of Augusta, 27-year-old Ian Watson of Farmingdale and 25-year-old Sarah Giampetro of Farmingdale over the weekend. Trooper Tim Black found his garage had been broken into last week. Items including the kayak, ammunition, mountain bikes and a police jacket were gone. Troopers found the kayak advertised on Facebook and Craig's List for $140 and tracked the seller. Police said the money was being used to buy drugs. (AP)

An Oakland church closed three years ago by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland has been sold to an independent Catholic congregation. St. Theresa's has been sold to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church Inc.  Our Lady is part of the Religious Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen, a group that follows a traditional approach to Catholicism and rejects the modernization of the church by the Second Vatican Council. The church held its last Mass in 2012. (AP)

A new report says Maine has some of the worst rural roads and bridges in the country. The report says 26% of Maine’s rural roads have pavement that is in poor condition, which is the eighth highest rate in the country. Most of the rural roads in Maine are maintained by each city or town. According to WGME the study found 15% of Maine’s rural bridges were rated as "structurally deficient." DOT officials say they spend $70 million on bridges but they say they should be spending twice that. State officials say their department relies heavily on the federal Highway Trust Fund. That program is set to expire at the end of this month but they hope congress votes to extend it. (WGME)

A Leeds man prohibited from owning any guns was arrested after police say they found an arsenal of weapons and ammo inside his home. According to WGME Guy Shultz can't own guns because of a prior felony burglary conviction. Police say they searched Shultz's home after getting a call that he was shooting close to a neighbor's property. Shultz told police he was shooting at a rat. (WGME)

Vermont Congressman Peter Welch is being joined by food industry entrepreneurs to criticize a bill in Congress that would bar state laws requiring that genetically modified foods be labeled as such. Executives from Ben and Jerry's, Chipotle, Stonyfield Farm, Happy Family and Patagonia will join Welch at a news conference in Washington to express their view that the bill should be allowed to die. Three states, including Vermont , have passed GMO labeling laws and 17 others are considering similar legislation. Vermont's law is expected to be the first of the laws to take effect, in July of 2016, if a food industry lawsuit trying to block it isn't successful. (AP)