Maine environmentalists celebrated Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling that upheld an Environmental Protection Agency rule aimed at protecting states from the air pollution generated in neighboring states. Dylan Voorhees of the Natural Resources Council of Maine says the rule promises "staggeringly large benefits to our air quality."    Voorhees says the E-P-A estimates the rule will translate to 280-billion-dollars worth of health benefits per year.  It also predicts 34,000 premature deaths could be avoided by this rule.

Governor LePage vetoed 16 more bills Tuesday.  They included two attempts by Democrats to expand Medicaid under the federal health care law.   The governor also rejected bills to overhaul the state's concealed handgun permit system and to allow forest rangers to carry firearms.The latest vetoes bring LePage's total to 179 since he took office.   That's far above the record of 118 vetoes issued by Independent Governor James Longley during his one term in office.   Legislators will re-convene tomorrow to take override votes on the latest vetoes.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrat Mike Michaud has raised $464,253 and independent Eliot Cutler $389,467 in the latest reporting period for gubernatorial candidates in Maine.

The reports filed with the Maine Commission of Governmental Ethics and Election Practices on Tuesday cover contributions and expenditures from Jan. 1 through April 22.

Democratic Congressman Mike Michaud is tied with incumbent Republican Paul LePage in a new poll of the three-way race for governor.

The statewide poll, conducted by Rasmussen Reports, surveyed 839 likely voters. It finds both Michaud and LePage garnering 40 percent support.

Independent Eliot Cutler is a distant third, with 14 percent of the vote. One percent of respondents prefer another candidate, and 1 percent are undecided. The poll was conducted last week.