Auburn Man Arrested for Kidnapping Teen Girl

The Auburn Police Department say 24-year-old Razel M. Gavin of Auburn has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

According to WGME, a friend of the girl had called her parents to tell them the girl had suddenly dropped from a phone call under duress.

The missing teen was later found in a vehicle driven by Gavin, which was pulled over during a traffic stop. Police say there were signs the girl was physically assaulted.

PHOTO: Androscoggin County Jail

Latest Local Central Maine News

The post Auburn Man Arrested for Kidnapping Teen Girl appeared first on True Country 93.5.

Nationwide Recall of Ground Beef Due to Possible E Coli Contamination

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service says over 120,000 pounds of ground beef sold nationwide has been recalled due to a possible E. coli contamination.

Lakeside Refrigerated Services in New Jersey is recalling the beef after the issue was discovered during routine testing. The beef is sold under the brand names Nature’s Reserve, SEG, Thomas Farms and Tajima beef patties.

The recalled products were produced between Feb. 1 and April 8, and have an establishment number of “EST. 46841” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

More HERE!

Latest Local Central Maine News

The post Nationwide Recall of Ground Beef Due to Possible E Coli Contamination appeared first on True Country 93.5.

Cony Middle and High Schools Evacuated

After a call to 911, Cony Middle and High School were evacuated this morning, April 26.

 

This is Kim Silsby, principal of Cony Middle and High School, out of an abundance of caution due to a threat received…

Posted by Cony Middle and High School on Tuesday, April 26, 2022

 

 

Latest Local Central Maine News

The post Cony Middle and High Schools Evacuated appeared first on True Country 93.5.

Twitter board accepts offer from Elon Musk to purchase the platform for $44 billion

The board of social media platform Twitter announced on Monday it has accepted a $44 billion offer from SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk to purchase the company and make it private. The company said that under the terms of the deal, Twitter stockholders will receive $54.20 in cash per share, representing a 38% premium to its April 1 stock price — the last trading day before Musk disclosed his about 9% stake in Twitter.

The announcement came after reports that Musk would move ahead with his bid to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the company he didn’t already own.  Musk said in a statement: “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square, where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated. I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots and authenticating all humans. Twitter has tremendous potential — I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it.”

Board Chairman Bret Taylor said, “The Twitter Board conducted a thoughtful and comprehensive process to assess Elon’s proposal with a deliberate focus on value, certainty and financing. The proposed transaction will deliver a substantial cash premium, and we believe it is the best path forward for Twitter’s stockholders.”

The 50-year-old Musk has said that Twitter is not living up to its potential as a communications giant, and has long been highly critical of the social platform.  Musk said that under his ownership, Twitter would reach “extraordinary potential” as a private company.   However, critics note that Musk has shown a pattern of not tolerating criticism and using Twitter to publicly mock people. Some fear that that the platform under Musk may institute a hands-off policy on content meant to stir up social unrest, after the billionaire decried the platform’s decisions to bar some offensive posts as censorship.

Editorial credit: Rokas Tenys / Shutterstock.com

Texas criminal court grants stay of execution for death row inmate Melissa Lucio just two days before planned death

On Monday, Texas’ highest criminal court delayed the execution of death row inmate Melissa Lucio, who was set to die Wednesday.  The decision from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals means a lower court can now review Lucio’s claims that she is innocent and that her execution should be stopped, based on new evidence that would clear her in the death of her 2-year-old daughter.

Lucio, the only Latina on Texas’s death row, was sentenced to death 14 years ago in a capital murder case involving her daughter, Mariah. During her trial, prosecutors argued that Lucio physically abused the toddler, and that Mariah had bruises on her body, signs of a head injury, and an untreated broken arm when she died in February 2007.  Lucio’s legal team denied those claims and argued that prosecutors built their case around false medical evidence and a coerced confession from Lucio, following an hours-long interrogation with Texas Rangers. The defense argued that Lucio was sleep-deprived and pregnant with twins, and asserted her innocence more than 100 times, but was ignored.

Lucio’s lawyers have also said that she was susceptible to falsely claiming responsibility for the death because of her past experiences with physical abuse and sexual assault.  According to those supporting Lucio and her lawyers, Mariah’s death was accidental and she died after falling down a flight of outdoor stairs as the family was preparing to move to a new apartment. They said Mariah had a mild disability that caused her feet to be turned in and that the child was prone to falling. On the day of the incident, Mariah was crying but did not seem to be seriously injured; however, the girl died two days later.

After the high court issued the stay of execution, Lucio said in a statement shared by her legal team: “I thank God for my life. I am grateful the Court has given me the chance to live and prove my innocence. Mariah is in my heart today and always. I am grateful to have more days to be a mother to my children and a grandmother to my grandchildren.”

Editorial credit: Jerry-Rainey / Shutterstock.com

Jake Owen announces his 2022 “Up There Down Here” tour

Jake Owen has announced his 34-date North American “Up There Down Here Tour,” set to launch this May.  Said Owen: “Looking forward to getting back out there, bringing smiles and happiness and some new tunes. The world needs more of that.” 

The tour kicks-off on May 5 in Troy, Ohio and will include stops at festivals such as Faster Horses, Watershed, and Country Stampede, along with shows at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Rockin’ Derby Eve in Louisville at Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, and more.  For ticket info, head here.

Owen dropped new music last month with his single, “Up There Down Here.”  He also teased on social media this past weekend that he will be releasing new music this Friday, August 29th with the track “1×1.”

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Maddie & Tae announce rescheduled 2022 CMT Next Women of Country tour dates

Maddie & Tae have announced the rescheduled dates of their 2022 CMT Next Women of Country Tour Presents: All Song No Static Tour.   The tour will now kick off on September 15th in Oklahoma City, before wrapping up on October 15th in Grand Rapids.  Tickets can be purchased at the link – here.

Joining the duo will be CMT Next Women of Country colleagues Abbey Cone and Sacha, who will appear at various stops along the tour. Cone will replacing Callista Clark, who was on the initial set of dates.

Maddie & Tae were originally scheduled to launch the tour back in January; however, were forced to postpone due to Taylor (Tae) Kerr’s pregnancy. Kerr’s baby, Leighton Grace, was born prematurely and spent 53 days in the NICU before being sent home last month.

Editorial credit: Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

Take a look at the trailer for Hulu’s romantic-comedy ‘Fire Island’ starring Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang

Hulu has shared a trailer for the LGBTQ romantic comedy ‘Fire Island,’ featuring Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang.

Fire Island follows Noah (Booster) and Howie (Yang), two gay best friends who vacation on Fire Island, a hotspot for queer culture in New York. The pair party with friends and flirt with two wealthy vacationers, Will (Conrad Ricamora) and Charlie (James Scully).  Matt Rogers, Margaret Cho, Nick Adams, Tomás Matos and Torian Miller also star.

Booster is a writer, actor and comedian who appeared in his own Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents special in 2017. Yang is a writer for ‘Saturday Night Live’ and also starred on Awkwafina is Nora from Queens.  Booster wrote and executive produced the film, with Andrew Ahn as director.

Fire Island premieres June 3 on Hulu. Take a look at the trailer  – here.

Editorial credit: Quinn Jeffrey / Shutterstock.com

Britney Spears says she is taking a ‘social media hiatus’ amid pregnancy

Britney Spears has shared in an Instagram post that she will be on a break from social media for “a little while.”  The 40-year-old singer wrote“I’m going on a social media hiatus for a little while!!!  I send my love and God bless you all.”

The social media hiatus for Spears follows her recent announcement that she expecting her third child, her first with her fiancé, Sam Asghari. Spears shares two sons, Sean Preston, 16, and Jayden James, 15, with her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Said Spears earlier this month:  “I am having a baby. I obviously won’t be going out as much due to the paps getting their money shot of me like they unfortunately already have.”

Spears and Asghari got engaged in September 2021 amid Spears’ conservatorship battle. In November, a Los Angeles judge officially ended Spears’ 13-year conservatorship.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Police Seeking Public’s Help in Locating 2 Skowhegan Men

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office is looking for two Skowhegan men who removed their ankle monitors and are now missing.

Jacob Savage, 36, Terry Nurmi, 46, are required to wear an ankle monitors because domestic violence related charges.

They both have active arrest warrants out for aggravated criminal mischief and violation of conditions of release.

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating Terry J. Nurmi, age 46, with a last known…

Posted by Somerset County Sheriff's Office on Monday, April 25, 2022

The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating Jacob G. Savage, age 36, with a last known…

Posted by Somerset County Sheriff's Office on Monday, April 25, 2022

Latest Local Central Maine News

The post Police Seeking Public’s Help in Locating 2 Skowhegan Men appeared first on True Country 93.5.