News in brief BANGOR: SOLDIERS MAKE OVERNIGHT STOP

A battalion of more than 500 soldiers that included 86 from Maine was laid over Monday night in Bangor after their plane experienced mechanical problems. The Wisconsin-based 121st Field Artillery Battalion had flown out of Camp Shelby, Miss., and was on its way overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Capt. Shanon Cotta of the Maine Army National Guard said Wednesday. The unit flew into Bangor International Airport, then checked into the Holiday Inn on Main Street and other local hotels early Tuesday morning and stayed through the afternoon. The battalion departed Tuesday to the best of his knowledge, Cotta said. The Maine platoon was composed of soldiers from all over the state, he said.