Welcome to the Sunrise Herald with Giselle Goodman, the place to go to get the news from overnight and onward...
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IN THE WEATHER

At 8:45 a.m., downtown Portland was under clearing skies at 63 degrees.

The sun comes back for a visit time and again today, as the wicked weather of yesterday that dumped tons of rain on Maine with a few powerful thunderstorms has moved on.

Don't get me wrong here. I'm not calling for bright blue, friendly skies. There is still another chance of really severe thunderstorms in the later afternoon, mainly from 4 to 8 p.m. The reason? A very warm and muggy day (with temperatures rising to about 80s inland and 70s along the coast) hits a cool front that will clear out the humidity and set us up for some spectacular summer days, once it moves through.

From Bill in Rockland: 61 slightly foggy and overcast degrees in Rockland at 5:30 a.m. A slight breeze does a little to relieve the mugginess, but not much.
From James in Cape Elizabeth: 58 and breaking sun this morning in Cape Elizabeth. Had another 0.30 inches of rain yesterday.
From Mark in Brunswick: I could be wrong, since it seems like so long since I've seen them, but it looks like rays of sunshine poking through the mist on this muggy morning with 60 degrees here in Brunswick.
From Shawn in Yarmouth: The dreary fog and clouds are gone. It is 60 degrees here in Yarmouth. The sky is blue with some high wispy clouds, no wind. And all the plants are very green and lush. Hopefully my peonies will dry out and pick their heavy heads off of the ground.
From Karen in Steep Falls: The sun is finally out! Temperature is 63 degrees at 7:15 a.m. and it's a bit hazy but the sun is peeking through. After all the thunder/lightning we've had the last few days, this is a nice break. Not sure how long it'll last though. Happy Tuesday!

ON THE ROAD:

• There was a messy car crash at 1685 Congress St. (see map below) around 7:15 a.m. that clogged traffic for a little while.

A 37-year-old male was transported to Maine Medical Center after complaining of shoulder pain. One car rear-ended the other, causing significant front-end damage to the car in the back.

ON THE OCEAN:

A uncertain day on Casco Bay with hard-to predict winds blowing around 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet with a chance of severe thundershowers later in the afternoon.

High tide was at 3:13 a.m. and will be high again at 3:52 p.m. Low tide will be around 9:34 a.m. and then again at 9:51 p.m.

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UPDATED @ 8:30 a.m.

PORTLAND — Police have arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with a shooting that happened in front of the Cactus Club on Fore Street just after midnight.

Brandon Brown, hometown unknown as of yet, was charged with elevated aggravated assault and reckless conduct with a firearm after shooting off a gun in the Old Port at 12:01 a.m.

Police say the shot was fired after Brown and another man got into a confrontation outside the bar. Brown shot the gun and it hit the other man, whose name has not yet been released pending notification of his family. Police said the bullet went through the victim and hit a wall.

He is in a non-life-threatening condition at Maine Medical Center.

Brown was also arrested on two outstanding warrants, one for an unpaid disorderly conduct fine in Cape Elizabeth and another from South Portland for providing alcohol to minors.

He is being held at the Cumberland County Jail.

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EASTPORT — The Coast Guard says 41 passengers were evacuated from a schooner that ran aground south of Indian Island off Eastport.

The Coast Guard station in Eastport received a report Monday evening that the 82-foot Sylvina W. Beal, had run aground near the island in Head Harbor Passage and needed help. The Coast Guard evacuated the passengers from the stranded vessel.

No injuries or pollution are reported and the Coast Guard says the vessel was not taking on water.

The case is under investigation. It is the second case of a ship running aground in the week. A charter boat carrying 136 passengers ran aground Sunday, also with no injuries or pollution.

In that case, the 65-foot Argo was reported aground near Spruce Point at 12:07 p.m. Sunday. The Coast Guard dispatched two boats to assist, but the Argo was able to re-float on its own and was escorted to its destination at Cabbage Island.

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FARMINGTON – Two men were arrested by Franklin County sheriff’s investigators Monday night in connection with two dozen break-ins and vandalism at camps in Strong and New Vineyard that sustained tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage last week.

Timothy Lagasse, 18, of Farmington, was arrested on 13 counts of burglary, theft and aggravated criminal mischief and is being held on $10,000 cash bail. Shane Sturgeon, 21, of Livermore, is facing 24 counts of burglary, theft and aggravated criminal mischief and his bail is $15,000 cash, according to an intake officer at the Franklin County jail.

The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are anticipated, police said.

The break-ins over two days last week hit high-end seasonal homes and small camps alike along Porter Lake, which borders Strong and New Vineyard. Extensive vandalism was reported, including furniture and televisions thrown through plate glass windows, doors and windows smashed, liquor stolen and property damaged.

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OXFORD — Farmers who suffered quality losses to their crops in recent years are now able to sign up for the federal Crop Disaster Program 2005-2007 at local Farm Service Agencies.

"We have been conducting sign-up since last fall for quantity losses for the 2005-2007 crops and now we are ready to conduct sign-up for quality losses," said Marcia Hall, executive director for USDA's Farm Service Agency in Oxford. "We have already paid producers more than $1.8 billion for quantity losses and over $274 million for livestock losses. Now we can get the final piece of the disaster programs implemented."

The enrollment began yesterday and offers assistance to farmers who suffered losses to their 2005-2007 crops due to natural disasters and related conditions. However, there is a catch. The program applies only to those farmers who obtained crop insurance coverage under the Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for the year of loss.

To learn more, visit the USDA Website for disaster programs.

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NEW GLOUCESTER — Daycare providers here will have a chance today to learn more about fire prevention and how to pass the information along during a workshop at the New Gloucester fire department.

During the workshop, "Play Safe! Be Safe!", led by Maine Juvenile Fire Safety Program director Jerry DiMillo, daycare providers will learn more about:

1)The frequency of children's fire play and fire setting.
2) Preschoolers' understanding of fire.
3) Teaching methods for preschool children safety skills
4) Family role playing in fire education.
5) Smoke detector safety.

To learn more about hosting or attending a juvenile fire safety workshop, CLICK HERE.

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