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:

SUNRISE: 5:28 a.m. SUNSET: 7:48 p.m.

At 9 a.m., it was 52 degrees in downtown Portland.

It is Cinco De Mayo, translated: Fifth of May, a holiday of celebration for Mexico.

But it will feel anything like Mexico here in Maine, where a 100 percent chance of precipitation will keep skies gray and temperatures cool.

Highs in the upper 50s, maybe. Grab an umbrella or raincoat. And think warm, Cinco de Mayo thoughts. Ole!

THE SUNRISE HERALD WEATHER WATCHERS REPORT:

Mark in Brunswick says:Gray skies above here in Brunswick, but no rain as of yet. Mild as well with 49 degrees.

Jim in Cape Elizabeth says: Buenos Dias, mi amigos! Esta Cinco de Mayo and it is currently 47 out here on the Cape with cloudy skies, still winds for now, and rain in the forecast for the next few days. It does make our gardens grow! Off on a business trip for the next few days so this is the last report until Friday. Have a great week one and all!

Shawn in Yarmouth says: It is 49 degrees and is dry! It appears to have rained overnight, but there is no precipitation at the moment. There is no wind either. Hopefully the rain holds off, or stops around 2 so my son can have his first lacrosse game of the season. Go Yarmouth Middle School!

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ON THE ROAD:

A number of traffic snags throughout the state can be found in the links below. Nothing unusual, though.

    • The Maine Department of Transportation has a useful map which shows you where traffic is disrupted. Check that out by clicking this link.
    • The Maine Turnpike Authority always posts its planned traffic advisories on its website in a day-by-day format. You can visit that web page by clicking here.

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ON THE OCEAN:

Northeastern winds blow 10 to 15 knots and increase to 20 knots this afternoon. Seas 2 to 4 feet, and rain is certain.

High tide at 8:57 a.m. and 9:24 p.m. Low tide at 3:05 p.m.

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IN THE NEWS:

PORTLAND -- Police this early morning found themselves involved in a car chase, but one that was short-lived.

Around 4 a.m. today, according to Portland Police Lt. Bob Ridge, Portland police received word from the Westbrook Police Separtment to be on the lookout for a stolen Honda CRV. Minutes later, a Portland patrol officer spotted the suspect car on Stevens Avenue and attempted to pull it over.

The driver did not stop and instead tried to shake off the police by driving around the residential back streets of the Rosemont neighborhood, reaching speeds of 45 miles an hour.

The driver finally ditched the car at the intersection of Wolcott Street and Rockland Avenue (see map for detail). The driver got away but police recovered the stolen vehicle, and it seems to show no sign of damage, said Ridge.

The driver did get away though. He is described as a white male, in his late teens or early 20s, with blond hair and wearing a black jacket. Police ask neighbors of the area to be on the lookout and call police at 874-8575 if they have any information on his whereabouts.

View Larger Map

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SCARBOROUGH -- The new Wal-Mart Super Center got a super jolt last night, when a member of the store's customer service department received a non-specific threat by a male caller.

It was a threat that was unwarranted, but before police could determine that, they evacuated the store and brought in a bomb squad and K-9 unit.

The dogs made a sweep of the store, the building was searched, and two hours later, it was determined there was no danger.

The store will be open today for business during regular hours.

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FROM OUR NEWS PARTNERS:

• The Bangor Daily News this morning reports a LaGrange man named Daniel Turner was killed Sunday night in an all-terrain vehicle crash in the town of Medford.

Click here to read more about the fatal crash.

Also from the Bangor Daily news, a couple other stories worth reading.

• Click here to read about a former Glenburn selectman and co-owner of a home child care business who was sentenced Friday in Penobscot County Superior Court to five years in jail with all but four months suspended after pleading guilty to sex charges.

• Click here to read more about the environmental manager of Montreal-based Domtar Corp. who was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with furnishing a place for minors to possess or consume alcohol.

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FROM OTHER NEWS SOURCES:

RIVERVIEW, Fla. -- A Riverview woman has been charged in the March 5 death of a man from Maine who was staying at her residence.

Tamra Suzanne Leasure, 43, of 12920 Shadow Run Blvd., was arrested Monday and charged with the second-degree murder of Arthur R. Tilley Jr., 57, of Dedham, Maine, according to a release by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Leasure shot and killed Tilley, then placed the gun in his hand to make it look like a suicide, the release said.

The pair was arguing in the kitchen when Leasure used a .38-caliber handgun to shoot the victim three times. The victim was shot in the head, neck and body. According to the release she told deputies, "The third shot was not necessary."

She then called 911 to report a suicide, and put the gun in the victim's hand.

This article appeared on the Tampa Bay Online Website yesterday. And you can click this link to see it as it originally appeared.

View Larger Map
Shadow Run Blvd. in Riverview, Fla.
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COMING UP:

In PORTLAND at 1 p.m.: A group of veterans will get together to discuss the economic challenges Mainers, especially Mainers who are veterans, face on a daily basis.

The group, brought together by State Representative and Iraq War Veteran Alex Cornell du Houx (D-Brunswick), will discuss the economy, the wars and how difficult young soldiers are having finding jobs once they return to America after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It should be an interesting discussion. It is being held at the Portland Historical Society, 489 Congress St.

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In AUGUSTA at 10 a.m.: This is not a joke. Gov. John Baldacci and a bunch of bikers will get together and have a tea today (yes, you can say it in an English accent if you want).

The duo seem an unlikely pair, motorcycle enthusiasts and tea parties, but every year members of the United Bikers of Maine rumble up to the State House to join Gov. Baldacci in proclaiming May as Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month.

Gov. Baldacci, owner of a Harley Davidson, and a very nice teapot, will join the bikers in encouraging riders of all ages to drive safely.

"It's not only important for you to ride safe, but also for other motorists to be aware of your presence on the road and for them to drive safely with you in mind as well," Baldacci said at a previous biker tea.

The reception is called a "tea" but any biker interested in attending should know that it is rough and tough tea, and not that wimpy stuff they serve across the pond.

Also, I have no idea if Gov. Baldacci has a nice teapot. Probably. But not certain.
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THE GOOD NEWS:

An occasional Sunrise Herald feature, combating the harmful rays of too much bad news.

Whatever the weather, Key Bank employees today will give back to their community and volunteer.

For you, this means two-thirds of Key Bank transaction windows will be closing at noon. (ATMs still available, though.)

For everybody else, it means 290 employees will head out and do some good for the places they live and work in the bank's annual "Neighbors Make a Difference Day."

They'll head out and volunteer by holding food and bottle drives. They'll be volunteering at homeless shelters, animal shelters, food banks and support groups (like the Boys & Girls Club).

More than 40 branches will send their employees out to volunteer at the same number of organizations.

This program started in 1990 in Alaska, when a group of employees went out on their own to clean up oil-damaged beaches. Today, over 48 percent of Key Bank's employees will put in an expected 32,000 hours of work on 780 projects nationwide.

And we can all take that to the bank!

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