AUGUSTA (AP) – Maine lawmakers took another step Monday to make it harder for youths to get their hands on cigarettes.

A bill that received initial Senate approval prohibits minors from entering tobacco specialty shops unless accompanied by a parent. It also would impose the same restrictions on who can sell tobacco products in retail stores as those already in effect for the sale of alcohol.

A series of measures taken by the state helped to reduce Maine’s youth smoking rate by 48 percent between 1997 and 2003.

Besides increasing cigarette taxes, the state has bolstered identification checking and other safeguards against sales of tobacco to youths and increased advertising and school smoking-prevention programs.

The bill that advanced Monday faces further House and Senate votes.

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Land use board, UMaine trustees appointments finalized

AUGUSTA (AP) – Ten of Governor John Baldacci’s appointees to Maine’s higher education boards and wildlands regulatory panel won their final Senate confirmations on Monday.

The Senate routinely confirmed University of Maine System trustees nominees Marjorie Medd of Norway and Chad Marquis of Fort Kent. Paul Dowe Jr. of Bangor was confirmed for another term on the board.

Three other Baldacci appointments to the UMaine trustees’ board – Jean Flahive of Eastport, Paul Mitchell of Waterville and Victoria Murphy of Portland – were confirmed last month.

Senators on Monday also confirmed three appointees to the Maine Community College System board. They are Shepard Lee of Cape Elizabeth, Doris Belisle-Bonneau of Lewiston and Brian Thayer of Cumberland.

Winning confirmation for reappointment to the Land Use Regulation Commission were Ernest Harvey of Millinocket, Edward Laverty of Milo and Stephen Wight of Newry. Gwendolyn Hilton of Starks won confirmation for a new appointment on LURC.