Things You Need to Know: Charming Charlie + Cosmic Charlie’s…Both Stores Closing

Here are the things you need to  know today......

Zone forecast from Maine.gov

Gov. LePage is being pressed to consider a run for U.S. Senate by none other than President Trump himself. WCSH reported Trump has told advisers he plans ask LePage to enter the 2018 race but to also offer his endorsement in a run against Angus King.

A 16 year old Mount View High School student died in a car crash Wednesday morning in Montville. WABI reported Riley Boulay of Liberty was on his way to school when his car went off the road and hit a tree just before school.

Cosmic Charlie's is closing. Centralmaine.com reports the downtown business will close at the end of the year unless he finds the right buyer.  He is doing this to take care of his health.  Not to be confused with ...Charming Charlie in the Marketplace at Augusta, the accessories store will close before the end of the year.

AOS 92 board; Waterville, Winslow, Vassalboro voted to authorize the superintendent to create a plan to dissolve the AOS. Centralmaine.com this would let the communities go ahead with a restructuring plan being presented to voters next year.

From the Associated Press:

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins' office says she's confident President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will back two health care bills she wants as part of her support for the Republican tax overhaul. Democrats are criticizing Collins' vote on the tax bill and say she traded her support for concessions that Republicans will block. A spokeswoman says Collins is confident fellow Republicans Trump and McConnell will make sure the bills to strengthen the health care law get approved.

A Maine sheriff facing sexual misconduct allegations says he has decided to resign. The Sun Journal reports Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant on Wednesday submitted a letter of resignation to the Oxford County Commission and Gov. Paul LePage. Gallant's resignation comes after county commissioners voted Tuesday to file a complaint asking the Republican governor to remove Gallant.

Maine municipalities are battling for bragging rights when it comes to the best-tasting drinking water. Maine Rural Water Association's 31st annual Best Tasting Water contest is being held Thursday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Last year, first-time entrant Caribou Utilities District took the prize.

Officials with a pair of Maine state agencies say they will participate in a study to evaluate the effectiveness of anti-bullying laws. The Maine Department of Education and the Maine Center for Disease Control are taking part in the study as part of a partnership with a group of universities. The education department says the study will review the efficacy and implementation of anti-bullying laws that have been in effect since 1999.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is accusing his American counterpart of throwing the Middle East into a "ring of fire" by declaring the divided holy city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He also compared President Donald Trump to a "blender" that is stirring up trouble in the region. The Turkish leader also said: "If Trump says 'I am strong therefore I am right,' he is mistaken."

A surge from the biggest of the wildfires burning in Southern California has forced several thousand more people to evacuate in a community of artists and resorts. Ventura County sheriff's Sgt. Eric Buschow says flames have been creeping closer and slowly surrounding the town of Ojai (OH'hi), and on Tuesday night increasing winds brought them close enough to expand evacuation orders there.

Five lawmakers have registered their opposition to Australia's bill allowing same-sex marriage across the nation. The bill passed Thursday by a majority that was not challenged, though the five lawmakers' positions opposing the bill were recorded. The bill changes the definition of marriage from a union between a man and a woman to "a union of two people."

Shattering the wall of silence imposed by the Islamic State group, an anonymous historian gave a news feed to the world on Mosul's suffering. Known only as Mosul Eye, he roamed the streets gathering information. He chatted up Islamic State fighters and forced himself to watch the killings so he could note the names of the dead and their supposed crimes. Now the anonymity that allowed him to survive in Iraq is a burden he is ready to shed. Mosul Eye is coming forward with his name and identity.

North Korea says a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula has become a matter of when, not if, as it continued to criticize a massive joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea. North Korea also claimed high-ranked U.S. officials, including CIA Director Mike Pompeo, have confirmed American intent for war with "bellicose remarks." The Foreign Ministry spokesman said Pompeo provoked the country by "impudently criticizing our supreme leadership."