AUGUSTA (AP) – Maine drug agents have completed their probe of an alleged cross-country Oxycontin distribution ring that resulted in the arrests of six people.

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency says a California man shipped more than 40 packages containing OxyContin to Maine over a six-month period last year. The drugs were valued at $140,000.

Drug agents say they have arrested five Mainers – two from Madawaska, two from Van Buren and one from Waterboro – on drug trafficking charges.

DEA officials say they contacted police detectives in Petaluma, Calif., who then arrested the sixth man on drug charges there.

State finds school units overspending

AUGUSTA (AP) – The Maine State Planning Office says four years after tax and spending caps took effect, state government, as well as most counties and municipalities, have stayed within set limits.

But the new planning office analysis says the trend of school units exceeding their spending caps continues.

According to the report released Tuesday, state appropriations declined for fiscal year 2008-09 by 2.2 percent, $221 million below the established limit.

Fifty-six percent of municipalities reporting were under 2008 property-tax caps, according to the report, while 13 of Maine’s 16 counties stayed within limits.

But the report says 88 percent of school administrative units exceeded spending benchmarks – collectively, $220 million above target.

State expects plea in triple murder

ALFRED AP) – The lawyer for an Old Orchard Beach man awaiting trial for killing his mother, stepfather and brother says his client will plead guilty later this month.

Twenty-two-year-old Matthew Cushing previously pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of arson.

He’s accused of stabbing his mother and stepfather, Carol and Christopher Bolduc, and his 15-year-old half brother, and then setting fire to the their Old Orchard Beach home in February of last year.

Defense lawyer Joel Vincent says Cushing always took responsibility for his actions, but he says it was necessary for the process to play out. Now, he says, his client is ready to plead guilty.

Vincent says there have been discussions with prosecutors, but he says there’s no formal plea agreement. The hearing will be on Feb. 25 in York County Superior Court.

AP-ES-02-10-09 1535EST

Copy the Story Link