Welcome to the Sunrise Herald with Giselle Goodman, the place to go to get the news from overnight and beyond...

IN THE WEATHER

At 9 a.m., it was 54 degrees and cloudy in downtown Portland.

We welcome the rain back today as a storm that was really wicked in the middle part of the country yesterday exits stage right via the northeast today. Expect periods of rain and drizzle through the early part of the day with possible clearing in the afternoon hours.

From Bill in ROCKLAND: Calm, 50 degrees, and sort of wimpishly drizzly here in Rockland early this morning - pretty gray here so far. Some bird was noisily protesting for a while, but either found a worm or went back to bed.
From James in CAPE ELIZABETH: At 5:45 a.m. it was 53 and sprinkling here in Cape Elizabeth. No measurable rain yet, but I feel it is a-coming! Just what the gardens need....more rain!

From Shawn in YARMOUTH: This morning in Yarmouth, it is a balmy 52 degrees. It must have rained overnight as all is damp, but it seems to be drying out this morning.
From Mark in BRUNSWICK: It looks like the rain has stopped, but we still have gray skies and 51 degrees.
From Karen in STEEP FALLS: It's 52 degrees at 7:30 am out here in Steep Falls. Everything is wet but it's only drizzle outside.

ON THE ROAD:

• The Maine Turnpike was clogged this morning near the Scarborough exit after a fender-bender in the northbound lane blocked traffic around 6:30 a.m. There were only minor injuries reported in the two-car crash. But, as of now, all three lanes are back open and the slow moving traffic should be clearing out soon.

ON THE OCEAN:

A chance of showers lowers visibility this day on Casco Bay. A south wind blows 10 TO 15 knots, but increases as the day progresses. The seas swell 2 to 4 feet.

High tide today in Portland at 2:11 p.m. Tide will be lowest at 7:54 a.m. and then again at 8:04 p.m.

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GOV. JOHN BALDACCI WILL SPEND THE DAY with Premier Shawn Graham of New Brunswick touring the flood-ravaged disaster areas on both sides of the border.

The Maine schedule is as follows:

•10– 11 a.m. Emergency Management Agency briefing at the Town Office, 416 West Main St., Fort Kent, where Baldacci and Graham will receive an update on disaster assistance, impact on businesses and communities, the International Bridge and other issues.

•11 a.m. - 1:15 p.m Tour of impacted area in Fort Kent, which will include St. Louis Church and Main Street businesses.

The schedule for the New Brunswick side of the border has not been finalized.

BUXTON POLICE SAY ONE PERSON WAS KILLED during a single-car crash on Route 112 last night.

The person's name is being withheld until the family is notified. However, police did say he was a 31-year-old male.

Police also said the crash occurred at around 1:24 a.m. on the Beech Plains Road (Route 112) near the Robert Road intersection. The car was traveling south when the driver lost control of the car, struck a culvert, two trees and a telephone pole, according to police.

Police said the driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the car and died at the scene. The crash closed down Route 112 through most of the night.

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A PUBLIC HEARING IS SCHEDULED IN PRESQUE ISLE today for wildlife officials to hear what people think about cutting the number of any-deer permits for this year's regular and muzzle-loading hunting seasons.

Because of the harsh winter's heavy toll on the deer herd, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing to reduce the number of any-deer permits - also known as antlerless or doe permits - by 23 percent.

Commissioner Roland ''Dan'' Martin is recommending that about 51,000 any-deer permits be made available to hunters, a decrease of 15,150 permits from last year. He is also proposing to restrict the regular archery season and youth hunting day to bucks-only in some districts.

A REMINDER TO PORTLANDERS THAT a public hearing is scheduled for 5 p.m. in room 209 of City Hall to discuss the city's Health and Recreation Committee's proposed smoke-free ordinances. These changes would make playgrounds and outdoor dining areas smoke-free.

It is a controversial issue that will undoubtedly bring many people to City Hall to voice their opinions. Go early if you want a seat.

Following the public hearing, the committee will make a recommendation and present the proposed ordinances to the entire City Council for consideration.

YOU DID NOT WIN THE POWERBALL JACKPOT. But don't worry, nobody else did either. None of the tickets sold for the Powerball game Wednesday night matched all six numbers drawn, which were: 9-25-26-28-42 with a 26 Powerball.

Players matching all five numbers and the Powerball would have won or shared the $15 million jackpot. Alas, the prize marches on and goes to an estimated $20 million for Saturday.

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