Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today that his office has filed court papers under the Maine Civil Rights Act against Steven Wadleigh, 40, of Vinalhaven. The State alleges that, on April 20, 2005, Wadleigh approached a 33-year-old African American man while boarding the ferry between Rockland and Vinalhaven, and directed racial epithets at him. Rockland police responded and warned Wadleigh to refrain from harassing the victim.

Today at Baxter State Park Headquarters in Millinocket, long-time Baxter State Park Director Irvin "Buzz" Caverly announced his decision to retire. Caverly announced that he will retire on July 1 after more than 46 years of employment with the Park. Caverly has served as the Park's Director since 1981. Caverly made his announcement before a gathering of the Baxter State Park Authority and staff.

Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today that Susan Cole, 54, of Kennebunk, will serve five days in jail for stealing narcotics from Kennebunk Nursing Center, where she worked as a nurse from February through May, 2004. A York County Superior Court jury found Cole guilty in May of this year following a two day trial, and Superior Court Justice Arthur Brennan sentenced Cole to jail on Friday, June 17, 2005.

Attorney General Steven Rowe today warned Mainers that professional con artists are using the pretense of a Canadian lottery to bilk Mainers out of thousands of dollars, with a new twist: they send a cashiers check. "IGA Management Payment Systems," which claims to do business from Ottawa, is mailing letters to Maine residents announcing that they have won the "North American Prize Pool." Recipients of the letter are told that they have won over three hundred thousand dollars in cash.

Consumers who purchased the brand-name prescription medication Hytrin are eligible for refunds from a $30.7-million settlement agreement, Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today. The refunds to consumers and health plans in 18 states will be paid by two companies which, the complaint alleged, conspired to engage in anticompetitive conduct that delayed the availability of a more affordable generic version of the medication.

As Eastern Regional Chair of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe organized a methamphetamine (meth) summit in Boston today.

Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe announced today that his office has filed court papers under Maine's Unfair Trade Practices Act against home contractors Mark Smith and David Blais of Livermore who do business as CBS Enterprises. The State is seeking an injunction that will prohibit Smith and Blais from doing any further home contracting in the State of Maine.

Attorney General Steven Rowe is reviewing the Law Court's opinion in Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc. v. State of Maine, issued today. The case is about public access to investigative records related to allegations of sexual abuse by eighteen deceased Roman Catholic priests. The Court's opinion is available online at http://www.courts.state.me.us/opinions/2005%20documents/05me56ble.htm.

Attorney General Steve Rowe today announced that his office has filed a lawsuit under the Maine Civil Rights Act against Jonathan Fuller, 35, of Hallowell. The AG's suit alleges that the defendant verbally berated Eddie Daniels, 46, of Augusta, while Daniels was playing pool at an Augusta night club on March 19, 2004. The suit alleges that Fuller repeatedly directed racially derogatory comments at Daniels, who is African-American, and his companions.

Attorney General Steve Rowe today announced that his office has filed court papers in Aroostook County Superior Court alleging that a Hodgdon high school student violated the Maine Civil Rights Act when he taunted and attacked a student of Mexican descent. The suit alleges that the defendant, who is a minor, followed the victim through the halls of Hodgdon High School, taunting him with ethnic slurs, and then subsequently attacked him in the school parking lot.