On tap: Booze still allowed on Amtrak in New Hampshire
Riders on an Amtrak train that runs from Maine to Boston can continue buying alcoholic beverages during the 35-mile stretch of the trip that goes through New Hampshire as officials work out a โcreative solutionโ to avoid violating a state liquor law.
L.L. Bean sees sales boom amid pandemic's push to outdoors
Bean saw the best sales in nearly a decade during pandemic. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)FREEPORT, Maine โ With Americans hunkering down and hankering to get outdoors during the pandemic, L.L. Bean recorded its best annual sales growth in nearly a decade, the company said Friday. During the pandemic, L.L. Bean closed all of its stores for 100 days but online and catalog sales remained strong.
Scientists decry death by 1,000 cuts for world's insects
(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)The worldโs vital insect kingdom is undergoing โdeath by a thousand cuts,โ the worldโs top bug experts said. Wagner said scientists need to figure out if the rate of the insect loss is bigger than with other species. Insects โare absolutely the fabric by which Mother Nature and the tree of life are built,โ Wagner said. Scientists have identified 1 million insect species, while probably 4 million more are still to be discovered, Berenbaum said. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Instituteโs Department of Science Education.
Deadly microbe water warning lifted for all but 1 Texas city
LAKE JACKSON, Texas โ Texas officials on Saturday lifted a warning for all but one Houston-area community to stop using tap water because it might be tainted with a deadly brain-eating microbe. The authority initially warned eight communities not to use tap water for any reason except to flush toilets, but on Saturday it lifted that warning for all communities but Lake Jackson. The advisory will remain in place until the authority's water system has been thoroughly flushed and tests on water samples show the system's water is again safe to use. The authority said in a statement that it was unclear how long it would be before the tap water was again safe. The contamination of U.S. treated public water systems by the microbe is rare but not unheard of.
With primary win, Gideon reaps $3.7M more for Collins fight
House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, greets news media near a polling station, Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Portland, Maine. Gideon is one of three Democrat candidates seeking the party's nomination for U.S. Senate in the July 14 primary. The fund was created for Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins eventual challenger during the Senate fight over Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court confirmation in 2018. Creators of the fund said it would be turned over if Collins voted to confirm Presidential Donald Trump's controversial appointee. With the additional funding, Gideons fundraising haul will approach $27 million, compared to Collins $16.2 million.
Democrat Gideon wins primary, will face GOP Sen Collins
House speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, speaks to news media near a polling station, Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Portland, Maine. Gideon is one of three Democrat candidates seeking the party's nomination for U.S. Senate in the July 14 primary. Gideon, whos raised a staggering $23 million in her Senate bid, turned back challenges by activist Betsy Sweet and attorney Bre Kidman. Gideon raised $9 million in the last quarter, extending her fundraising advantage over Collins. Democrats need to gain at least three seats to capture Senate control.