Financial turmoil lets towns, cities lower interest load

There is an upside to all the financial turmoil and the sluggish economic recovery of the past few months: Maine towns and cities are taking advantage of very low interest rates to refinance debt, with significant savings for taxpayers.

Boys of summer

At right, James Leicester, 4, of Charlotte, N.C., hides in the bushes while playing hide-and-seek in Portland’s Post Office Park on Friday.