Central Maine News: June 29, 2015

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

The debate over the Skowhegan Indians continues. Letters have been sent to the state commissioner of education and to members of the state Board of Education, to the Skowhegan-based SAD 54 school board and to the Maine Press Association. The controversial question may have reached a peak in public last month when the school board voted to keep the Indians name. According to the KJ they are the last high school in the state to have imagery that Maine’s Indians have asked to be removed. But behind the scenes the struggle is continuing as opponents of the mascot name seek different ways of pushing for change. (centralmaine.com)

After a few days off, Maine lawmakers will head back to Augusta this week to consider dozens of bills vetoed by Gov. Paul LePage. Lawmakers plan to return Tuesday to consider a few remaining bills and debate whether to override outstanding vetoes from LePage. Among the vetoes that lawmakers are expecting they'll have to try to overturn is that of the $6.7 billion state budget. The governor has vetoed more than 100 bills this session. Lawmakers are expected to return again in July for more veto votes. (AP)

East Millinocket is slated to hold a nonbinding referendum about a controversial proposal to create a national park east of Baxter State Park. Town residents are scheduled to vote on the proposal on today. Residents have debated the merits of the proposal park in recent public meetings. The vote was originally scheduled for June 25 but was pushed back. Medway voters voted "no" in a similar vote. The park would be made up of 75,000 acres owned by Roxanne Quimby, founder of Burt's Bees. Another 75,000 acres would be a recreation area. (AP)

Republican Governor Paul LePage's leadership style long ago alienated Democrats. Now even some in his own party are fed up, saying his high-profile antics have squandered his political capital. Critics say his decision to retreat to his office and issue a flurry of vetoes shows a lack of leadership and that his attacks on fellow Republicans are counterproductive. A spokesman says LePage has been forced to use unconventional tactics to bring change. (AP)

Maine is getting $15 million from the federal government to develop housing in low-income communities and improve emergency shelters for homeless individuals and their families. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King say that the funding will help people who are struggling to maintain a stable home and focus on a path forward. (AP)

Republican Governor Paul LePage vetoed 31 bills, accusing lawmakers of "passing bills at breakneck speed, just so they can pack up and go home for the summer." LePage threatened to veto all bills because lawmakers didn't pass his income tax proposal. But he has allowed several to become law without his signature. Lawmakers return Tuesday to consider whether to override more of LePage's vetoes. He has vetoed more than 100 bills so far this session. (AP)

The Democratic leader of the Maine House says that lawmakers are reviewing all options for possible actions against Republican Gov. Paul LePage for his recent behavior. Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves accused LePage last week of blackmailing a school by threatening to withhold funds to get him fired from a job there. Eves has said he's considering suing LePage. That has prompted a few liberal lawmakers to call for a formal investigation that could potentially lead to impeachment. (AP)

North Carolina authorities have recaptured a prisoner who escaped Saturday, allegedly with the help of a prison worker. Authorities believe that 29-year-old Kristopher McNeil, who's serving time for second-degree murder, scaled the fence of the Brown Creek Correctional Institution. He was picked up walking along a road about 80 miles away after citizens recognized him from media reports. Prison kitchen worker Kendra Lynette Miller has been charged with and abetting a fugitive, having sex with an inmate and other offenses.

Authorities in upstate New York say a convicted killer who broke out of prison June 6 will be charged with escape, burglary and other charges, if he survives. David Sweat was captured Sunday afternoon when a state police sergeant spotted him in the town of Constable and gave chase, shooting Sweat twice in the torso. He's in critical condition. Sweat and fellow convicted killer Richard Matt had eluded authorities for about three weeks. Matt was tracked down and shot dead on Friday. (AP)

More than 200 people are being urged to leave their homes as a fast-growing grass fire burns in central Washington state. Emergency Management officials in Chelan County say the fire has damaged or destroyed at least nine structures. They say the evacuations are occurring at the north end of Wenachee. News reports say the blaze had grown to about 2.6 square miles Sunday night and an emergency shelter has been opened in a high school. (AP)

Stock markets around the world are expected to react negatively as Greece's five-year financial crisis appears to worsen. Asian markets sank Monday after Athens decided to close the country's banks for six working days and impose restrictions on cash withdrawals. Oil prices have also declined and the euro has edged down against the dollar. (AP)

The average price of regular gasoline has dropped 2 cents over the past two weeks to $2.85 a gallon. Analyst Trilby Lundberg says the decline comes amid a 42-cent jump recorded over the previous nine weeks. The highest price recorded in the continental U.S. was $3.52 a gallon in San Diego. The cheapest was $2.44 a gallon in Jackson, Mississippi. (AP)

It's a sad time for fans of the progressive rock band Yes. Chris Squire, the bassist who co-founded the group, has died. Squire recently announced he had leukemia. The band posted a statement on its Facebook page Sunday, writing that Squire "peacefully passed away" Saturday in Phoenix, where he lived. The London-born rocker was 67. (AP)