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

Maine lawmakers are promoting a bill that seeks to ensure that parents can let their children sit out of standardized tests. The measure would mandate that a school has to excuse a student from a test if a child's parent or guardian submits a written request. The bill’s sponsors supports putting the rights of parents into law is important to eliminate any confusion.The measure has not yet had a public hearing. (AP)

An effort to make the Labrador retriever Maine's official state dog has been dealt a blow by the Senate. The Senate voted 24-10 in favor of killing the bill. The State and Local Government Committee voted 9-2 against the bill last month. Supporters had said that dog would represent Maine well because it's friendly, hard-working and loves the outdoors. But many lawmakers said the bill was unnecessary and argued that it was inappropriate for the Legislature to play favorites by choosing one breed over another. The bill now heads to the House. (AP)

Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King are joining Gov. Paul LePage in urging the federal government to provide assistance to towns still dealing with the costs of the January blizzard. Collins and King are asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to approve LePage's request to declare a major disaster and provide federal funding to Maine due to the snowstorm and flooding from Jan. 26 to 28. (AP)

A bill seeking to crack down on "cheater pints" of beer has overcome its first hurdle in the Maine Legislature. The Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee voted in support the bill. The version the committee supported would require bars and restaurants that advertise that a beer is a pint to sell it in a glass that's at least 16 ounces. Some establishments use 14-ounce glasses even though they advertise the beers as pints. However, the state's top liquor inspector, told lawmakers that the bill would be impossible to enforce. The Maine Restaurant Association and others have said that he bill is unnecessary because of consumer protection laws. (AP)

The Rockland-area school board voted to hold classes on Saturdays to make up for  snow days.The Regional School Unit 13 board voted to approve the plan for school to be held on four Saturdays; March 21, March 28, April 11 and May 9. In addition, a scheduled March 13 teacher workshop day will be a half day for students. According to WGME, the district has called off school 10 times this year but had five school days set aside within the calendar. (WGME)

The combination of deep snow and extended cold snaps has upped the potential for spring flooding. The members of the River Flow Advisory Commission see that snow depths are dramatically above normal for this time of year in central and coastal areas, but Maine actually have less snow on the ground and less water content in the ground in far northern Maine than we do in that sort of swath along the coast. According to the Bangor Daily News, many of the factors into spring flooding are normal, what is different is the large amount of snow in the lower third of the state.  (Bangor Daily News)

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