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Airstrikes fail to halt attacks on civilians

WAITING FOR UNCLE SAM

Obama says lives have been saved, but Gadhafi remains in control and his forces are still pursuing rebels. By GREG JAFFE and LIZ SLY The Washington Post

Mainers OK’d for low-income home loans feel the effects of federal funding delays By J. HEMMERDINGER Staff Writer

GORHAM — Karen Pitts is in home ownership limbo. Six months ago, she signed an agreement to buy a new home in Gorham, and soon after got approval for a low-income loan from the federal government.

But Pitts still hasn’t moved in – the government hasn’t cut her a check. She and about 50 other Mainers are feeling the effects of the federal budget dispute firsthand. They have been approved for federal home loans, but have been unable to close on their deals because of cuts to the programs on which they rely. Also

would take effect in July. The increases average about 10 percent, but vary according to the policies and the ages of policyholders. The increases would apply to various HealthChoice plans and Anthem’s Lumenos plan. Rates for individual policies are

TRIPOLI, Libya — Four days of allied strikes have battered Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s air force and largely destroyed his long-range air defense systems, a top U.S. commander said Tuesday. But there was little evidence that the attacks had stopped regime forces from killing civilians or shifted the balance of power in favor of the OBAMA FACES rebels. Gadhafi loyalists made CRITICISM further advances into Maine delegathe besieged western tion wants city of Misurata, con- details on tinued to pound the military action small town of Zintan Back Page southwest of Tripoli, the capital, and fired CAPTURED artillery to hold at bay JOURNALISTS the rebels attempting New York to regroup outside the Times team strategic eastern town recounts of Ajdabiya. fearful ordeal The Libyan military’s Page A7 attacks and the mounting civilian deaths call into question whether the internationally imposed nofly zone can achieve its goal of protecting civilians, let alone help loosen Gadhafi’s grip on power. It seemed unlikely that the coalition, which has argued in recent days over the scope and leadership of the allied mission, would countenance a significant escalation. A U.S. fighter jet on a strike mission against a government missile site crashed Monday night in eastern Libya, about 25 miles outside the rebel capital of Benghazi. Both crewmen ejected safely and were rescued after the aircraft spun from the sky during the third night of the U.S. and European air campaign. The crash, which the U.S. attributed to mechanical failure, was the first major loss for the U.S. and European military air campaign. Late Tuesday, Gadhafi made his first televised appearance since the bombing campaign began, delivering a defiant address to supporters at his Tripoli compound, which was struck by Tomahawk missiles a few days earlier. “I am here, I am here, I am here,” he said, as celebratory gunfire echoed across the city. “We will win. We will be victorious in this historic battle.” Heavy anti-aircraft fire and loud explo-

Please see ANTHEM, Page A9

Please see LIBYA, Back Page

affected are some home sellers, who are forced to hold empty properties until the federal government pays up. “It’s a waiting game. It’s frustrating because I know I can have this house,” said Pitts, who is eager to move with her daughter from a trailer in Buxton to the new home in the Hawkes Farm development in Gorham. “I want to have a newer, safer place

Susan Duchaine is developing the Hawkes Farm community in Gorham. She said she has contracts with about 10 buyers but cannot close the deals.

Please see LOANS, Page A6

John Patriquin/ Staff Photographer

Anthem takes heat for proposed rate increases Individual policyholders say the hikes, which average about 10 percent, would hurt their businesses and cause delays in care. “All of my salary and part of my wife’s goes to health insurance,” PORTLAND — The time is com- Stella said. “Another rate increase ing when he will no longer be able to is probably going to put us over the hold onto his campground business top.” or keep his health insurance, Mike Stella was among more than 20 Stella said Tuesday. people who spoke against proposed By JOHN RICHARDSON Staff Writer

Caregivers oppose consent mandate for kids’ treatment By TOM BELL MaineToday Media State House Writer

AUGUSTA — Health care providers and proponents of traditional family values squared off Tuesday over two bills that would give parents more control over the kinds of medical treatment their children receive, including substance abuse counseling and dispensation of birth control pills. Supporters of the Republican-sponsored bills said parents should have the final word in deciding what kind of medical advice and treatment their children get. Opponents said the bills would hamper the ef-

Please see HEALTH, Page A6

health insurance rate increases during a public comment session Tuesday evening at the University of Southern Maine’s Portland campus. Maine Insurance Superintendent Mila Kofman is holding a series of sessions around the state before ruling on Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s requested rate increases for individual health coverage, which

INDEX Advice D5 Business C7 Classified D1 Close To Home B5 Comics D4 Commentary A11 Deaths B8-9 Editorials A10 Local & State B1 Lottery A2 People A2 Sports C1 Television D5 Theaters B3 Volume 149 Number 237

Copyright 2011 MaineToday Media, Inc.

Edition: PD Sec/Page: A1 Rundate: Wednesday, March 23, 2011

MAKEOVER, WITH MOOSE

Licenses getting new look, features By REBEKAH METZLER MaineToday Media State House Writer

AUGUSTA — Maine has a new design for driver’s licenses and state identification cards that includes updated security features to protect against fraud and a picture of a moose and Mount Katahdin. The state will begin distributing the new licenses and ID cards next week, Secretary of State Charlie Summers said Tuesday. The new licenses will first be issued in the Augusta area, followed by the Portland area and then the rest of the state by June, he said. Licenses and ID cards issued to people under age 21 will have information and pho-

Please see LICENSE, Page A9

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