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ROUGH CHILDHOOD: Grace Akallo speaks about being a child soldier when she grew up in Uganda to Lawrence High School students on Thursday. At right is a map of Africa. Akallo showed a video of child soldiers who were forced to kill others, including their own mothers, or be killed.
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Students hear of plight of child soldiers in Uganda
FAIRFIELD -- There are no Amber Alerts for Uganda's lost children, no pictures on milk cartons.

Electricity shutoffs on the rise Maine utilities see consumers forced to choose between paying for food, gas or power
AUGUSTA -- More central Mainers are at risk of having their electricity disconnected this year, as consumers appear to be making hard choices about what bills to pay.

State's high court affirms personal watercraft ban
A state law that gives towns the power to ban personal watercraft on public lakes and ponds was upheld Thursday by Maine's highest court.

VOTERS OK SAD 53 BUDGET Residents seek no changes in $10.3M spending plan, despite 3 percent increase
PITTSFIELD -- A gathering of nearly 70 residents on Wednesday accepted a $10.3 million School Administrative District 53 without any changes.

Nothing half-baked for Mom Customers shuffling to stores to buy lobster on first day of summer selling season
WINSLOW -- Mother's Day lobsters are all the rage in central Maine.

Kennebec Federal Savings named business of year
WATERVILLE -- Warm sun and cold beer seemed to make up for the gusty winds as the city's Main Street program partied on Silver Street in celebration of Kennebec Federal Savings bank as its choice for business of the year.

Ex-ski resort owner launching pellet-heat effort
A Maine entrepreneur wants to convert tens of thousands of homes in the Northeast from oil heat to wood pellets through an ambitious new business venture.

Beulah Fortier is Thorndike benefactor
THORNDIKE -- Most people frown when they come into Thorndike town office to pay taxes or fees. Beulah Fortier came in Thursday smiling from ear to ear and gave the town a $6,500 gift not because she was asked to, she said, but because she cares.

SAD 9 directors ratify 4% raise for district teachers
FARMINGTON -- Increases in base pay and incentives for advanced degrees are included in a new two-year contract for School Administrative District 9 teachers.

POLICE
OAKLAND -- Police are investigating a possible sexual assault of a junior high school student.

SKOWHEGAN DISTRICT COURT
SKOWHEGAN -- Cases closed or handled in Skowhegan District Court between Jan. 10 and March 21 include the following, with all respondents pleading guilty, found guilty, waiving hearing, or defaulting on court appearance unless otherwise noted:

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SPECIAL REPORTS Capitals series Concord, N.H.

All the pieces fell into place for Concord a decade ago
[April 13, 2008]

Concord's business owners jump at chance in limelight
[April 13, 2008]

New Hampshire's Statehouse has proud past
[April 13, 2008]

Montpelier, Vt.

Augusta, Montpelier split on use of downtowns
[April 6, 2008]

Frugal approach keeps Statehouse well-preserved
[April 6, 2008]

Four factors contribute to city's success
[April 6, 2008]

'If you don't have pedestrian traffic, you can't cut it'
[April 6, 2008]

About this series Our three-part Sunday capitals project compares the capital cities of northern New England. Augusta, Maine's capital, is trying to reinvent itself. Two other New England capitals offer lessons.

APRIL 6: The Capitol and downtown are inseparable in Montpelier, Vt., a key reason the city remains vibrant. APRIL 13: Concord, N.H. invested in infrastructure 10 years ago. The payoff has been lower taxes and a healthier downtown. APRIL 20: Augusta's downtown merchants are committed to staying, and yearn for development along the Kennebec River.

Maine's aging boomers Maine's aging boomers face a different retirement [February 20, 2008] For many boomers, working longer is desire and necessity [February 19, 2008] Who will pay for long-term care? [February 19, 2008] New retirees' housing needs challenge communities [February 18, 2008] Impending retirements will have profound impact on Maine [February 17, 2008] Health care in crisis as work force declines [February 17, 2008] BOOMER PROFILE: Tim Bolton [February 20, 2008] BOOMER PROFILE: Sylvia Yeaton [February 19, 2008] BOOMER PROFILE: Harold Booth [February 18, 2008] BOOMER PROFILE: Penny Hathaway [February 17, 2008] BOOMER PROFILE: Mike Barden [February 17, 2008]

A look back at Maine's Governors
Dead Serious; Independent Jim Longley wanted to be 'the people's governor' [December 31, 2007] Devoted and Loyal Edmund Muskie made his mark on Maine, U.S. [November 26, 2007] 'Proper and efficient' Gov. Gardiner [November 5, 2007] Full-time governor Carl Milliken led Maine with forward thinking [September 24, 2007] Plaisted's term a painful legacy [August 27, 2007] Gov. John Hubbard 'Well-educated doctor' left his mark on Maine [July 30, 2007]

'For I Was Hungry' Series
"For I was hungry," a seven-part editorial series, documents the depth and breadth of hunger in Maine, from the dramatic increase in food pantries to the thousands of children who come to school hungry to the elderly with bare cupboards. For more, click here.