Police determine latest blaze to be arson

The resort community of Provincetown, which has been on edge after a series of arsons over the past two weeks, was hit by another fire Friday night, which authorities determined to be arson. The blaze destroyed an unoccupied house, authorities said. Some of the fires have been set in daylight, in the town's busiest areas. But until Friday night, all were spotted quickly, before they could do major damage. Warren Tobias, the town's police chief, said the community is at risk as long as the arsonist remains on the loose because of the large number of closely packed, old wooden structures. Fire Chief Michael Trovato said he worries a firefighter will get hurt or killed battling a blaze. (AP)

Governor John Lynch told mill workers the state will not forget them as they prepare for their mill to close. Lynch visited the Wausau Paper mill Friday and spoke with dozens of employees who will lose their jobs at the end of the year. "We will give personalized attention to every single one of the 303 workers," Lynch said. "It's not enough to get to 90 percent of them." The governor said he will ask the federal Labor Department to speed up an application for assistance. Members of the congressional delegation also urged quick action for aid that will release benefits such as job training and health insurance coverage. (AP)

One of the men charged with helping tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown evade arrest in New Hampshire has been hit with new, more serious charges. A new federal indictment says Robert Wolffe, of Randolph, Vt., has been charged with two counts of conspiring with other supporters to hinder the US government. When arrested in September, Wolffe was charged with aiding and abetting the Plainfield couple. He is accused of lending the Browns his car, staying at their house in his camper, providing armed security, and performing countersurveillance by videotaping federal marshals. The indictment also joins Wolffe's case with those of three other Brown supporters charged as coconspirators. (AP)

Investigators are looking for the cause of a four-alarm apartment building fire that left 20 people homeless. Flames broke out around 9:30 a.m., Friday in the Oyster River Arms Apartment building. Fire officials say two of the 12 apartments were destroyed by fire and the rest were damaged by smoke and water. Three people were home at the time and got out safely. Officials believe the fire began in wiring in the walls, but the cause is under investigation. (AP)

The driver of a tanker truck and two Connecticut residents have been identified as the victims of a fatal crash that shut down Interstate 95 for hours Friday and prompted an environmental cleanup. Peter M. Derry III, 51, of Webster, Mass., was killed when his northbound tanker lost control and broke through the highway's guardrail, crossed the median, and struck a southbound tractor-trailer and other vehicles, police said. Two people in those vehicles also were killed. State Police identified them yesterday as Luann Dugas, 54, of East Lyme and Fred Held, 33, of Milford. The collision occurred shortly after 10 a.m. Friday, forcing emergency crews to close all lanes of I-95, along with parts of Interstate 395 and Route 1. The last of the blocked lanes was reopened early yesterday. (AP)

The metallic click-clack of levers and handles has given way to soft scribbles and electronics as Connecticut fully ushers in its first new voting system in 75 years. Tuesday's election will be the first time that optical scan machines, the most prevalent voting technology in the country, will be used statewide. Although some voters may mourn the passing of the aquamarine lever voting machine, which was first used in the state in 1932, election officials and political specialists say it's time for a better way of casting and counting votes. (AP)

The bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States says church members unhappy with the ordination of a gay bishop in New Hampshire should worry about more pressing world problems. "Obviously a handful of our church leaders are still upset and would like to see the church never ordain and never baptize a gay or lesbian person," Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said in Burlington. "We need to refocus on more life-and-death issues like starvation, education, medical care." (AP)