Seven suspected in Vermont-based ring linked to 99 burglaries

PUTNEY, Vt. (AP) - Seven people are suspected in a burglary ring that police say is linked to about 100 burglaries in five states, Vermont State Police said Monday.

Most of the burglaries - 60 of them - happened in Vermont. Another 30 were in New Hampshire, plus four in Maine, four in Massachusetts and one in Virginia, police said following a multistate investigation.

Maine girl bouncing back after six-organ transplant

HOLLIS, Maine - A 9-year-old Maine girl is home from a Boston hospital healthy, active and with high hopes - and a new stomach, liver, spleen, small intestine, pancreas, and part of an esophagus to replace the ones that were being choked by a huge tumor.

Treasure hunter claims $3 billion platinum find in torpedoed British ship

PORTLAND, Maine - A treasure hunter said Wednesday he has located the wreck of a British merchant ship that was torpedoed by a German U-boat off Cape Cod during World War II while carrying what he claims was a load of platinum bars now worth more than $3 billion.

If the claim proves true, it could be one of the richest sunken treasures ever discovered.

Police say father of missing Maine toddler not telling all

WATERVILLE, Maine - Unable to find any evidence missing toddler Ayla Reynolds was abducted, police on Monday pressed the three adults who were home with her on the night she disappeared to provide a full account of what happened.

Extent of bat deaths questioned by national organization of cavers

MONTPELIER, Vt. - A national organization of recreational cavers is questioning a new estimate of the number of bats killed by a mysterious ailment that is spreading across the country.

Congressman Barney Frank to marry longime partner

WASHINGTON - Retiring Rep. Barney Frank, a gay pioneer in Congress, said Thursday that he will marry his longtime partner, Jim Ready.

Frank spokesman Harry Gural said the liberal Massachusetts Democrat's wedding will be in his home state, but that no date had been set.

Gulf of Maine shrimp limit increased by 10 percent

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Fishery regulators have increased the amount of shrimp that can be caught from the Gulf of Maine this season, but fishermen and processors say the higher limit won't do much to sustain their industry.