Heating oil prices go higher in state

AUGUSTA (AP) – Maine’s energy office says statewide average heating oil prices have risen by 8 cents per gallon in the past week to $3.45 per gallon. The average price as of Monday is also $1.06 higher than at this time last year.

Prices fluctuated significantly within the state. Samples of prices ranged from a low of $3.19 to a high of $3.60 per gallon, both in southwestern region of the state.

The energy office says crude oil prices that broke an inflation-adjusted record are the main cause of the high heating oil prices.

Statewide kerosene prices are also up 8 cents per gallon since last week to $3.86 per gallon.

Candidate home on leave from war

SCARBOROUGH (AP) – Navy reservist Charles Summers, a candidate for the open seat in the 1st Congressional District, is in Maine on a 15-day leave during his 10-month tour of duty in Iraq.

The Scarborough Republican, who returned home Thursday, said he is spending time with family and friends and catching up with people he hasn’t seen in a while.

Summers said Navy regulations bar him from making any campaign appearances or even discussing the race until his stint of active duty ends in May.

Summers, a lieutenant commander based in Baghdad, said he has been traveling around Iraq while working in a public affairs role with provincial reconstruction teams.

Couple charged in dognap plot

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (AP) – Police in Windsor Locks say they’ve charged a 22-year-old man with dognapping his mother’s Chihuahua and demanding hundreds of dollars in ransom money.

Luke Stetson has been charged with first- and third-degree larceny and third-degree burglary. He was being held on $100,000 bond and was due in court Monday.

His girlfriend, 25-year-old Coryn Harvey, has been released on bond on a charge of first-degree conspiracy to commit larceny.

Police say Stetson stole his mother’s dog, Lola, and demanded hundreds of dollars in ransom money.

Police say they arrested the pair as they tried to run from a local park with the money.