PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ Responding to Maine's spring flooding, President Bush has expanded his disaster declaration to include Penobscot County.

That announcement yesterday frees up federal grants and low-interest loans to individuals and loans for businesses. The funds can be used for temporary housing, repairs and disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.

Aroostook County, which was hit hardest by the flooding, has qualified for similar help. Six Maine counties _ Aroostook, Knox, Lincoln, Piscataquis, Somerset and Waldo _ are eligible for federal help in repairing roads and other public property.

AUBURN, Maine (AP) _ An Auburn man has been sentenced to four years in prison for providing liquor to a teenager who died after gulping down most of a bottle of vodka.

Twenty-four-year-old Larando Sweeting pleaded guilty Thursday to a single count of felony furnishing liquor to a minor in connection with November's alcohol poisoning death of 18-year-old Adam Beggs.

According to court documents, Sweeting bought a half-gallon of vodka and a fifth of whiskey with money pooled from underage drinkers at his apartment.

After Beggs drank about three-quarters of the vodka in a continuous stream, Sweeting bowed down to him in a show of admiration. Sweeting told police that Beggs also drank about half the bottle of whiskey.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ Two leaders of referendums aimed at challenging a state law that bolsters driver's license requirements to bring Maine closer to compliance with the federal Real ID law are kicking off a petition-gathering campaign.

Today's appearance of Kathleen McGee of Bowdoinham and Donna Bendiksen of Portland along with others opposed to the state law showed a united front during a petition drive aimed at collecting 55,000 signatures by July 17th to put the proposal on the November ballot.

McGee says state lawmakers overwhelming barred the state from complying with Real ID but backed down because of what she called ``intimidation, abuse and tyrannical tactics'' by the Department of Homeland Security.

Critics describe Real ID as an unwanted invasion of privacy as well as an unfunded mandate. They say it would do little, if anything, to boost security.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ Maine's Labor Department says the state's unemployment rate in April was 4.7 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from the March figure.

The national rate for April was 5 percent.

State Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman says April unemployment was down as the number of working residents increased. She says that's encouraging, but would have to continue for several months before it can be considered a trend.

Fortman says the figures are adjusted to reflect seasonal fluctuations in the labor market.

SKOWHEGAN, Maine (AP) _ The weather may be iffy this weekend, but bargain hunters are sure to be out in force at the 25th annual 12-mile yard sale that runs from Skowhegan to Cornville.

Since 1983, on the Saturday and Sunday before the Memorial Day weekend, residents have lined the route with all sorts of items they're looking to unload. The sale draws buyers from throughout Maine as well as from other New England states and Canada.

The event began as a community yard sale that ran for six miles along West Ridge Road in Cornville. It has since doubled in length and now stretches along Malbons Mill Road in Skowhegan.

Organizer Janet Bernard of Cornville estimates that 50 to 60 households take part. She says it's a win-win situation, benefiting people trying to thin out their possessions and do some spring cleaning and others who are in the market for a good deal.