Lawmakers said Tuesday that the state cannot afford to pay for a study of downtown Augusta, putting on hold any plans to investigate whether merchants would do better with two-way, rather than one-way, traffic.

The Thurston Park Committee in China is giving nature lovers a rare opportunity to show their devotion to the outdoors by offering an online naming contest for two trails and four massive trees.

The Augusta Spiritualist Church held an open house Saturday to welcome their neighbors and others to the property, which is behind the Barnes & Noble bookstore.

The former head of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine told lawmakers Thursday that fishermen shouldn’t continue using lead sinkers and jigs that harm loons on local lakes.

China is hoping to recover some of the more than $12,000 it spent on legal fees and demolition costs for the dilapidated buildings on Fire Road 60.

Melissa Giroux of Chelsea is concerned of the potential health problems a powerful electric line soon to be installed in front of her home could cause for her children and Rep. Deborah Sanderson, R-Chelsea, has sponsored L.D. 950, “An Act to Establish the Electromagnetic Field Safety Act.”

A Waterville couple’s concern about how the state approves business names led a legislative committee to vote Tuesday to require the Department of the Secretary of State to examine its practices.

The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted to recommend passage of L.D. 498, preventing sex offenders from residing within 750 feet of the Capitol Area Recreation Association ballfields on the city’s east side.